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Step 1
Determine whether or not you have a connection to the Internet. To do this, simply open your Internet browser and attempt to browse web pages. If you cannot browse web pages, then you know that the problem is not with your email, but is instead related to your inability to connect to the Internet. If you have an Internet connection, proceed to the next step.
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Step 2
Open your Outlook Express email client and select the option to "Compose" a new message. In the "To" field of the email message, type your own email address. For the subject and body of the email message, type "Testing." Press "Send" to send your message.
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Step 3
Check your email outbox after you have sent the email message to determine whether or not the message was sent. If, after about 3 minutes, the message has not been sent you should verify your outgoing email server settings. To check your settings, click on "Tools" located on the menu bar of your email program. Select "Accounts." Click on the "Mail" tab and select the account you would like to view settings for. Click "Properties" to view mail server settings. Generally, the outgoing mail server settings will be "smtp.youremaildomain.com." This will vary by email provider. Check with your email provider to verify settings.
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Step 4
Check your incoming mail server settings if you were able to successfully send the test message in step 2. If you are able to send but unable to receive messages, you should check your incoming mail server settings. To check incoming mail server settings you will follow the same procedure listed in step 3. This setting will generally be "mail.youremaildomain.com." Check with your email provider to verify.
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Step 5
Delete the old email account and rebuild it from scratch if you have checked incoming and outgoing mail server settings but are still unable to send and receive mail. Before deleting your email account, be sure to save any messages that you don't want to delete since the action cannot be reversed. To delete the email account, click on "Tools," "Accounts," and click on the "Mail" tab. Select the account and click on "Remove." Proceed by clicking "Add" to rebuild the account. You will need to enter your email username, password and mail server settings.
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Step 6
Send another test message to yourself after rebuilding your email account to determine whether or not the problem has been resolved. If you are still unable to send and receive email, contact your Internet service provider to open a trouble ticket or to see if there are system issues.
