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Quite a few of our customers use AOL, so we have added the following tips and advice on AOL mail.
AOL mail security
The default security settings AOL mail should warn you of any virus or trojan horse attachment before your download it. A safe rule of thumb is never download an attached file if you do not know who the sender is. Because of the dangers that viruses and trojans can cause, take the time to read the tips in AOL mail home on how protect yourself from viruses, trojans and other hazards of online life.
AOL Mail is unavailable
From time to time you may get a message when checking your AOL mail that says the AOL mail system is unavailable. This is because the AOL mail system needs periodic upgrades and maintenance. During these normally brief periods of time you will not be able to see your online email. Wait a little while and try again.
Automatic AOL mail
Automatic AOL is a service that gives you a way to check AOL mail and read it offline. AOL will automatically check your email, download new mail to your computer, and send any AOL email you have marked as send later. If you have a poor connection, this is a good way to handle your correspondence. This feature used to be called "Flash Sessions" on earlier versions of AOL.
Recovering deleted AOL emails
If you delete an email from your mailbox, you have 24 hours to recover it. Go to the Mail menu and select Recently Deleted Email. You will see a list of email you have deleted. Find the email you want to restore and place it back in your In Box. If you delete email from your Spam folder, that will be permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.
Storing sent AOL mail
In recent versions of the AOL software, any AOL email you have sent will stay in your "Sent" email folder for two weeks and then it is deleted. If you do not want it to be deleted, go to the Mail menu on the AOL toolbar and select Mail Settings. From there you can set your AOL email to store all your sent email on your computer for as long as you want.
The AOL mail address book
The AOL mail address book has many useful functions. Did you know that you can retrieve a map of a specific location directly from your address book? On the Mail menu on the AOL Toolbar, click on Address Book. Select the person or company whose address you wish to map. Under the person's contact information, scroll down if necessary, and click the "Map It! with MapQuest?" link.
AOL email mailing lists
If you use AOL mail to send email to the same group of people, use the address book to create a mailing list. To create a mailing list you need to open your address book from the Mail option on the AOL toolbar and look under Groups.
Using AOL web mail
You can use any internet-connected computer to check your email using AOL web mail. Even your personal address book is available. To access AOL web mail, go to the AOL website and use you screen name and password to sign in. Then click on the Mail icon to check your AOL email.
Using Outlook Express to access AOL mail
You can configure your Outlook Express so it will send and receive your AOL emails. Microsoft have a web page on the steps you take on this:
How to configure an AOL email account in Outlook Express.
However, I would suggest you get one of AOL's support staff to talk you through it.
You can also use other email programs to access AOL mail (such as Thunderbird). This AOL web page gives you more information:
Read and send AOL email with other email programs.
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