Outlook Express Connection Problems

Contributor

By Christopher Capelle
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (0 Ratings)

Outlook Express is a Microsoft product.

Outlook Express is an email program that was produced between 1996 and 2005, and was Microsoft's less feature-intensive version of its extremely popular Outlook mail client. It was available for both Windows and Macintosh computers, but has since been superseded by newer programs (Entourage for the Mac, Windows Mail for PCs). While Outlook Express was regarded as a capable, no-nonsense program, it wasn't immune to the connection problems that plagued virtually every other email software package.

Check the Connection

Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Marco Arment

Confirm your network cable is connected.
The most common email connection problem (no Internet connection) is also the easiest to fix. Simply launch a Web browser to see if the computer is online. Connect to several sites, as your homepage may still be displayed onscreen because it is stored in your browser's cache. If there is no connection, power down the modem (cable or DSL) and router (if you have one), wait 45 seconds and power on the modem. Wait another 45 seconds, and then power on the router. If this doesn't work, try rebooting your computer.

Take it One Step Further

Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Vivek Patankar

Try connecting on a different computer.
If you're still unable to connect after rebooting, try connecting with a different computer on the network. Also confirm that your computer can see other nodes (computers, printers and servers) on the network. If it can't, it might be a hardware issue and not Outlook-related.

Logjam in Outbox

Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Rick Audet

Emailing large files can bring your connection to a screeching halt.
Check your outbox to see if there's an email clogging up the queue. This is caused by an incorrectly entered address or a message containing a large attachment. In both instances, delete all messages from the outbox, or move them into drafts to see if that's what is gumming up the works.

Confirm Settings are Correct

Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of hobvias sudoneighm

Look at your account settings.
Check the Outlook Express settings by selecting "Accounts" under the Tools menu, highlighting your account and selecting "Properties." These are the settings that allow your computer to send and receive email. Under the "Servers" tab, confirm the information displayed is correct---account name, password, incoming server and outgoing server.

Check Advanced Settings

Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Robert S. Donovan

The advanced settings must also be correct.
If all these settings check out, then look at the additional settings. Under the "Servers" tab under Properties, confirm that the appropriate boxes are checked correctly ("Log on using Secure Password Authentication" and "My server requires authentication"). Click on the "Advanced" tab to check the additional connection settings. These are the port numbers for both the incoming and outgoing servers, as well as the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) checkboxes. All these settings are available from your ISP or email provider.

ISP Problem

Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Jesslee Cuizon

If all else fails, call your ISP.
Finally, pick up the phone and call your email provider or ISP to see if there's a problem at their end. Most of the time there isn't, but occasional outages sometimes lead users to assume that there is a problem with the email client. Another factor to consider---if you have multiple computers, check that the other one is offline and not receiving (and removing) your email messages from the server.