Before you can use Outlook to read your email you need to configure it with certain basic information about your email account. The first time that you run Outlook it will automatically start the Outlook 2000 Startup Wizard to help you enter this information. If you have used Outlook before, you will need to start the Internet Connection Wizard manually.

Start Outlook. You can usually start it either from an icon on the Desktop, or by clicking on Start, selecting [Programs] and then [Outlook]. If you are running your copy of Outlook for the first time, a windows with the title Outlook 2000 Startup Wizard will appear automatically. If it does, click on Next and skip to step 2 below.

If the Outlook 2000 Startup Wizard doesn't appear when you start Outlook, then once the program has started, select [Accounts] from the [Tools] menu and on the Internet Accounts screen that appears, click on Add and select [Mail...] from the menu that appears. Now skip to step 3 below.

On the E-Mail Service Options screen, select the [Internet Only] option is selected and click on Next.

At this point you may an information message as shown below. Click on Yes to continue.

Enter your name as you would like it to appear in any messages you send, and click on Next.

On the next screen, enter your email address and click on Next.

On the following screen, from the drop-down list to the right of My incoming mail server is a select the type of email server you are using.

Next enter the Incoming mail (POP, IMAP or HTTP) server name.

Finally set the Outgoing mail (SMTP) server name. If your computer is directly connected to the Internet Service Provider to connect to the Internet, use the smtp host that they specify. Click on Next.

Enter your email account logon username. We recommend that you uncheck the Remember password box, since leaving it enabled is a security risk and could allow others to access your email. If you are the only user of your workstation and it is secure from access by others, you may wish to enable it. Click on Next.

On the next screen you may be prompted as to how you connect to the Internet. Select the appropriate option. For example if you are directly connected to the network, select [Connect using my local area network (LAN)]. If you use a modem to dial up to an Internet Service Provider, select [Connect using my phone line]. Then click on Next.

If you selected the [Connect using my phone line] option, you will now be asked which dial-up connection to use. Select the appropriate connection (you may only have one) and click on Next.

On the next screen just click on Finish.

If necessary, get rid of the Office Assistant (paperclip) by clicking on the [Start using Microsoft Outlook] option (you may not need to do this step.)

If the Internet Accounts window isn't visible (see below), select [Accounts] from the [Tools] menu and if necesary click on the Mail tab.

If necessary, select the account that you have created from the list and click on Properties. When the Properties window appears, click on the Advanced tab. Now click in the box next to the second This server requires a secure connection (SSL) option, i.e. the one that is immediately underneath Incoming Server (IMAP), not the one underneath Outgoing Mail (SMTP). Make sure that there is a tick in this box as shown in the picture below and click on OK to close the account properties box, and then on Close to exit from the Internet Accounts window.

Your email account is now set up. In order to view the folders for your email account you may need to click on the [View] menu and choose [Folders]. You will see your new email account either above or below the Outlook Today - [Personal Folders] entry. Alternatively you should have a new shortcut to the Inbox of your email account in the list under Outlook Shortcuts on the left-hand side of the screen (you may have to scroll down to see it.)

In order to check your email, click on Send/Receive below the menus at the top of the Outlook screen. You will probably be prompted to enter your email account password. Do this and click on OK.

At this point you may see a message telling you that the server your are connected to is using a security certificate that could not be verified.