How to Find Past Messages on Yahoo Groups

If you have a nagging feeling that you've already seen a certain question answered or read a piece of information before, you may be able to find it in past messages on Yahoo Groups. Past messages are also a great way to decide if you really want to join or stay in a particular group. Follow these steps to learn how find the past messages you want.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Membership in a Yahoo Group

Find Past Messages on Yahoo Groups

1. Sign in at the Yahoo home page (see Resources below). Click on the "Groups" link.

2. Locate the particular group you are interested in. If you're already a member of the group, locate this link within "My Groups." If you're not yet a member, you'll have to click through the appropriate links in the "Browse Groups" section.

3. Click on the group's link once you have located it.

4. Click on the "Messages" button. If it's listed under "Members Only," you'll have to sign in or join that group in order to find past messages.

5. Read the messages, starting with the oldest (or as far back as you have the patience to go). Scroll backwards to keep the messages in the right chronological order until you reach the most recent message. This will bring you up to speed with the current threads, which are called "conversation topics."

Tips & Warnings

• If you encounter any issues or need assistance while participating in Yahoo Groups Web, you can find help by going to the Groups Help Web page (see Resources below).
• You may not be able to access past messages without first joining a Yahoo Group. Some groups allow any viewer to see prior messages. Others have limited the view of archives to group members. Still other groups have opted not to archive their messages or restrict access to the sender of a particular message or the group moderator.
• Your travels through the different Yahoo pages aren't secret. Your personal information gathered during registration may be used to solicit your participation in surveys or contests. Yahoo may also lend that information to marketing partners looking to target individuals with similar characteristics as the ones you put in your profile.