Email problems

[callumacrae]

My dad is having problems with his computer. He can't receive emails in outlook express any more, just getting an error. (just saying error recieving emails) I have recommended that he re-installs outlook, but he says it might go wrong and that all his contacts will get deleted.

What do you think he should do?

Thanks if you can help.

[componentwarehouse]

Are you sure its a problem with Outlook Express and not the email provider? Before he reinstalls outlook express I would recommend trying the settings on another computer (if possible) and see if you can send/receive from that one. If you cant send/receive from the other computer, then contact your ISP.

I wouldnt have thought outlook express would be the problem, are you sure theres not a big message (eg with lots of photos) trying to come through the line and its timming out? You could try the webmail service from your ISP (if they have one) to see if theres any big messages there.

If you post details of the error (any codes/info) people might be able to help you out a bit more.

Alex

[TechAsh]

You could ask him to try a different E-mail client, like Thunderbird. Thunderbird will import all contacts etc. so he won't lose anything, and trying a different client will help to troubleshoot the problem.

You should also go to your ISP's website, and make sure that they are not having any problems at their end.

[dwd2000]

My ISP (cable company) sometimes changes server or POP settings, etc. with little or no warning. Try them first, especially if you know that you or he didn't make any changes within your settings.

[tnl2k7]

And if you used Outlook's automatically-detected settings, I've found them to be unreliable. Try manually checking up the port numbers and addresses at your ISP then change his settings to see if that works.

-Luke.

[callumacrae]

He won't give me details of the error (helpful) but I don't think it is the ISP (tiscali) as he can still receive them online. They might have changed server details, I'll tell him that.

[DragonMaster]

I don't think you can reinstall Outlook Express, it's embedded in Windows. The mail server settings might be the problem.

Thunderbird can import the mail server and contacts from Outlook Express when you install it, might be worth a shot, just to see if it works.

[chianghl]

If you want to reinstall your Outlook Express, you will need your original Windows installation CD. However, before you reinstall your Outlook Express, please backup your Address Book and Messages.

In order to do that, the following steps will guide you through.

Backing up Messages in Outlook Express

1. Open Outlook Express and go to Tools > Options
2. Click the Maintenance tab and then click Store Folder
3. A small dialog box will come out, so what you have to do now is to Right-Click and press Select All (Ctrl + A) then Right-Click and press Copy (Ctrl + C). After this quit your Outlook Express.
4. Go to your Start Menu and Click Run
5. Right-Click and then press Paste (Ctrl + V) and then press OK
6. A new window containing all your Outlook Express message files will appear. All you have to do is to copy them to your desired folder.

Restoring Messages back to Outlook Express

1. Follow Step 1 to 5 of Backing up Messages in Outlook Express
2. Copy your files that you have backup (Step 6) back into this folder.

Backup Address Book (Contacts)

1. Open your Outlook Express and go to File > Export > Address Book.
2. Choose Text File (Comma Separated Values) then click Export.
3. Click Browse to save the file in your desired backup destination.
4. Type your desired backup file name then click Save.
5. Click Next and Select all the fields that you want to backup then click Finish.
6. Click OK then Close.

Restore Address Book (Contacts) from file (CSV)

1. Open your Outlook Express and go to File > Import > Other Address Book.
2. Click Text (Comma Separated Values) then Click Import.
3. Click Browse to look for your backup file then Click Open.
4. Click Next then Finish then OK and finally click Close.

Uninstall Outlook Express

1. Go to Control Panel > Add or Remove Program.
2. On the left panel of the Add or Remove Program, click Add/Remove Windows Components.
3. Scroll down the list and uncheck Outlook Express.
4. Click Next and then Finish.

Install Outlook Express

1. Insert your Windows installation CD (For those people with branded PC like Compaq/HP, I don't think you will need the CD since most of the time the manufacturer has already copied the Windows Setup files to the hard disk already)
2. Follow step 1 to step 2 of Uninstall Outlook Express
3. Scroll down the list and check Outlook Express
4. Click Next and then Finish.

Hope all that I have written helps. All the best.

[blingladen]

see if his mailhost changed their security. so the pop3 port changes from 110 to port 995 with ssl. this can be checked under account info in outlook.

[DragonMaster]

Scroll down the list and uncheck Outlook Express.

In XP it just removes the shortcuts, same as if you'd remove Internet Explorer or Windows Media Player.

I just found that in the Tools section of the Dial-a-fix utility, there's an option to reinstall Outlook Express.