Outlook Express Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

NEW - I can not receive any attachments using Microsoft Outlook Express.  I see a message saying "OE (Outlook Express) removed access to the following unsafe attachments in your email."

Note: caused by Microsoft Outlook Express and not YK Communications.  The following information is provided from  Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 329570

SYMPTOMS After you install Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows XP SP1 (both of which include Outlook Express 6 SP1), access to some of your e-mail attachments in Outlook Express may be removed. For example, you may experience any of the following symptoms: When you click the paper clip in the Preview pane, the Save Attachments and file_name commands are unavailable. When you open an e-mail message, the Save Attachments command is unavailable on the File menu, the Attach field is missing from the e-mail message, and the following message is displayed in the message alert bar at the top of the e-mail message:   Outlook Express removed access to the following unsafe attachments in your email: file_name1, file_name2 CAUSE This behavior occurs if the Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus option is enabled, and the e-mail attachment is determined by Outlook Express to be "unsafe". By default, the Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus option is enabled in Outlook Express 6 SP1. When this virus-protection feature is enabled, Outlook Express uses the Internet Explorer unsafe file list and the Confirm open after download setting in Folder Options to determine if a file is safe. Any e-mail attachment with a file type that is reported as "unsafe" is not downloaded, and access to the attachment is removed. WORKAROUND If you are sure that the attachment is safe to download or open, use the following method: NOTE: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.   Turn off the Option to Use the Unsafe File List To turn off the Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus option: Start Outlook Express. On the Tools menu, click Options. Click the Security tab, click to clear the Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus check box under Virus Protection, and then click OK. STATUS This behavior is by design. MORE INFORMATION IMPORTANT: The methods that are described in this article make it possible for you to obtain access to file attachments in Outlook Express. Download file attachments and scan them for viruses before you open them. To save file attachments so that you can scan them for viruses before you open them: Open the e-mail message in Outlook Express. On the File menu, click Save Attachments. Specify the folder in which you want to save the attachments in the Save To box, and then click Save.

My Outlook program "freezes" every time I try to receive mail.  It says receiving message 3 of 8 (for example) and stops at the same place every time.

Chances are that the Outlook program is still working fine.  We've seen this several times lately when you have been sent a message that contains a very large graphic file, sound file or even a video file.   Outlook will appear "stuck" while the large file is being downloaded to your computer.  I've received files attached to an email message that actually took 20 minutes to receive!  Outlook is not able to receive the next messages until this message and attachment have been received completely.  Do not stop the program even if it appears it has become "stuck".  Give it time to receive all messages and files that are waiting.

I keep receiving the same messages over and over.  The program says receiving message 3 of 8 and then stops.  When I try again, I keep getting the same 3 messages.

This is related to the same issue described above.  Outlook does not tell the mail server which messages have been received until it gets to the end of the new messages.  If this process is stopped before all new messages have been received, it will start at the top of the list again the next time you try.  Do not stop the program even if it appears it has become "stuck".   Give it time to receive all messages and files that are waiting.

Is there any way I can delete a single message with a large file attached so I don't have to wait on it to download?

Yes.  YKC's Web Based Email http://mail.ykc.com/webmail allows you to view a list of messages and the attachments without the need to download each of them.  Web Mail can be used to locate any messages with large attachments and remove them from your mailbox.  After this removal, Outlook Express can be used to receive the remaining messages as usual.

Can different people with different email accounts use Outlook Express without getting each other's messages?

Yes.  Open the Outlook Express program, click on the "File" menu and click on "Identities".  Information on how to configure Identities can be found by searching the HELP menu for the word "IDENTITIES".

Is it possible to receive my messages at two different places, such as my home and my office?

Yes.  Open the Outlook Express program and click on:
"Tools" > "Accounts" > "mail.ykc.com" > "Properties" > "Advanced"

Look for the area marked "Delivery" and place a check inside of the box labeled "Leave a copy of messages on server".
Check the box labeled "Remove messages from server after 5 days".

This gives you a 5 day time frame to receive a message at your second computer after you have received it at the first.

It is important to mention that using this option means every message you receive will be received at both locations.  This has created a volume of mail that has been a bit overwhelming for some users.

Is there any way I can check my email message while I am traveling away from home?

Yes.  YKC's Web Based Email is perfect for this.  All you need is a computer that has access to the Internet.  Using an Internet browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator) go to http://mail.ykc.com and click on YKC Web Based Email.   Enter your userID and password and you will have full access to all messages in your mailbox.  YKC's Web Based Email allows you to send messages also.

I get disconnected from the Internet after Outlook Express checks for (or sends) messages.

(The following information is directly from the Microsoft Knowledge Base, Article ID: Q176658  -  http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q176/6/58.ASP?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0)

SYMPTOMS

When you are finished checking for new e-mail messages in Outlook Express, Outlook Express may disconnect the current Dial-Up Networking connection even if you used a different program to establish the Dial-Up Networking connection.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur when both of the following conditions exist:

• Outlook Express is configured to check for new messages at regular intervals
• Outlook Express is configured to hang up when it is finished sending, receiving, or downloading messages.
   

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, disable the Hang up when finished sending, receiving, or downloading setting. To do this, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Dial Up tab.
    
2. Click to clear the Hang up when finished sending, receiving, or downloading check box, and then click OK.
    

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