network and outlook express

Yesterday, with help from Netgear and my programmer brother, I installed a Netgear wirless router and usb adapter to my two computers.

I am assuming I shouldn't read my email from my Outlook Express inbox directly from both computers. That assumption is based on nothing since I am such a novice.

So, I decided to set up webmail on the upstairs (secondary computer). When I click on "file" on the toolbar, I am give no options for identities. When I click on Outlook Express on my bottom tool bar, I am told I have performed an illegal operation and will be closed down. At this point, I don't even know if I have Outlook Express on the computer because we had had AOL on this computer for the past four years. AOL is gone and COX.net cable modem is operational.

Please remember when replying that I am a real novice. I really appreciate your help.

M

 

Hi hsjm678
Welcome to the boards!
What version of Internet Explorer are you running? Have you done all your critical updates?
There's no reason why you can't run Outlook Express on both computers. Especially if you're running cable now. Most cable providers allow for multiple email addresses as well. So, setting each computer up with it's own email address is another option?

Daizy

 

Daizy,

Thanks for the welcome. When I say novice, I really mean novice. Where do I look to see what version of IE I have on this computer? This computer was purchased in 1998 and the other one is fairly new so I know they are running different versions. I am sure we have done NO updates on this computer because we were not using Internet Explorer before yesterrday.

What I want to do, is access the same email account and user on both computers and that is why I think I have to use webmail.

M

 

Well hello again hsjm678
Then we've got some work to do. First....open your browser. Go up to Help....then click on "about internet explorer ". The top line will give you your version number.
Are you running Windows 98 do you think?

Daizy

 

Daizy,

Got brave and downloaded updated version of Internet Explorer and am now able to access webmail. I also accessed Outlook Express and was right about not wanting to read mail directly from outlook for the same address on two computers. I'd have to be running up and down the stairs to read email that is filed on the other computer!

I find that the connections are very slow with this networking. Any hints to speed me up?

Also, I asked in the security/virus section of the board if I should reinstall my Norton virus protection but haven't gotten an answer. Any opinions on this? Netgear guy said to uninstall both my firewall and Norton; that I didn't need them. I feel very vulnerable without Norton, though.

M

 

Hi again
Well, I'm behind a Linksys router, and I still run ZoneAlarm as my firewall......and an antivirus. I switched to AVG from Norton's the other day..and am very pleased with it so far.
As for speeding up your computers.........we'll need to know a little more about the computers themselves. You can go to www.belarc.com and download their small free app...that will give you all your computer specs in one fell swoop. Atleast we'd have a rough idea of what you've got?
A tiny thing you can do to speed it up a little, right off the bat..is to right click on my computer. Choose properties. Go to the performance tab......then click on the file system button on the bottom. Under the hard disk tab.....change the typical role of the computer to say Network server.

Daizy

 

Btw? You've not yet said what this updated version of Internet Explorer is?

Daizy

 

hsjm678 - just answered your AntiVirus/Firewall thing under security but will do it again here.

The tech was WRONG if he told you not to put your AV software back on. You should reinstall it now and then run a full scan to make sure you didn't get hit while it was not there.

And there are several ways you can set up (without needing webmail) to get your email so both computers see it. Or to set up several accounts (if your ISP permits) and then get mail from both accounts to one or both PCs. I'm at work now with a different mail client and network setup but if no one has answered by then, I'll check a couple things and put a specific HOW-TO on here tomorrow morning.

 

Daizy,

OE version is 6.

Seems like a lot of my problems yesterday were actually provider problems and I am back up to speed with that. Mail problems for upstairs computer was Outlook Express (or lack thereof!) and is solved.

I am following your suggestion above and will get back to you if I'm still up the creek with half a paddle!

Thanks to you and Newt for your help.

M

 

Daizy,

Just did the right click on my computer. Under properties, I do not find a performance tab. I come up with general, computer name, hardward, advanced, system restore, automatic upddates, and remote.

Under advanced, I find performance and a settings option under than. But, I dod not find a file system button on the bottom, so no hard disk tab, either.

M

 

What operating systems are you running on both computers?
Did you download and run belarc?


Daizy

 

Upstairs is Windows 98 and I just found the buttons you were talking about and changed them.

Downstairs is NT and, no, I didn't download belarc.

M

 

Ok hsjm678
Time for a recap. Are you still having problems with the computers being slow? You do have Outlook Express installed and running on each now?

Daizy

 

Daizy,

I think my problems are solved. Thanks for your help.

M