Reading E-Mail with Netscape

Quick Reference

Toolbar | Folders | Attachments | Viruses

Netscape Mail can be opened three ways:

Click the Mail button in the lower part of the Netscape toolbar.
Click the in the lower right hand corner of your Netscape screen.
Drop down the Window menu, and click on Netscape Mail.

When you open Netscape Mail, you will be prompted for your password. You can have Netscape Mail save this for you in the Organization section of Mail and News Preferences, but this is only advisable if you are the only person who uses your PC. Otherwise, anyone using your machine can access your e-mail.

Toolbar

After you enter your password you will see a screen that has a toolbar like this:

In the middle of the screen there will be two windows. These windows work just like Windows 3.1 File Manager or Windows 95 Windows Explorer. The left side contains folders, and the right side shows the contents of the folder selected. (If you can not see all the contents in these windows, then use your cursor to move the bar between the windows.)

Folders

The default folder is Inbox and shows your incoming mail. To receive your mail, click on the Get Mail button. Your new mail will be downloaded to your PC into the Inbox. The new messages will be in bold print, as compared to any previous messages you have. (Once the message is read, the print becomes un-bolded.)

The Sent folders contains copies of all messages that you have sent out. These copies stay here unless you delete them. The Outbox contains messages that are waiting to be delivered (deferred delivery, discussed later). The Trash folder contains all messages that have been deleted. So, if you delete a file, it's not necessarily gone. It can be found in the "trash".

Attachments

Files and documents can be attached to e-mail messages. If you receive an attached file, the file name will appear in this window underneath the message. To use or see this file, click on it with your cursor. Windows will start the appropriate program to open that file. If your PC does not have a compatible program, a warning message will appear.

Viruses

Viruses can not be attached to an e-mail. They CAN, however, be attached to certain types of files that are sent WITH an e-mail. If you receive an attached file, make sure you check it for viruses. Protect your machine and your files.

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