Kind and Knowledgeable folks:

I'm upgrading to an XP machine from a '98 machine. It's a hand-me-down. (see Hardware: Very Noisy Alienware)

Since Win'95 days, I have been an Outlook Express e-mailer. Have no problems with it whatsoever. However, the inherited machine does not have Outlook Express. I'm under the ASSUMPTION that it could be easily downloaded from the internet. or purchased, but am wondering if there is advice out there as to whether I should just make use of the Outlook 2002 (10.2627.2625), or stick to the familiar. I recall, seems like years ago, that there were Outlook problems with the Microsoft empire. I'm presuming those are fixed now.

Thanks for any opinions.

thetimothEither will work fine. You can get Outlook Express SP1 by download from the Microsoft site. It sounds like you have a copy of the other.Much as I hate to contradict my esteemed colleague, Outlook Express is rubbish. If you have full BLOWN Outlook, use that. If you don't, use Thunderbird (FREE).

If you have a Windows machine, you DO have Outlook Express. It's been with Internet Explorer up until the release of the latest version of Internet Explorer, version 7. It may not visible because it needs to be "installed". To "install" it, go to Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs, Add/Remove Windows Components, find Outlook Express, check the box for it, and proceed.

Having said that, this might be a good time, as Rob recommends, to switch to Outlook.Thanks. I'm planning on moving up to Outlook, I guess, based on what you've said. Which brings me to another question, possibly a stupid one:

How does one maintiain the address book and mail collection from OE when switching to Outlook? I'm sure it's simple. Possibly self-evident. But just in case it's more stupid not to ask, I'm asking.

and thankful for your help.

thetimothOutlook can import all of the OE stuff. I hope this is the right place for this question. Be gentle, this is my first time. I am running Windows 2000, with IE, Office 2000, and Outlook 2000. None of the links in my incoming emails work! The links have worked perfectly for years but, for the past two months, they no longer take me to the url of the links address. Makes no difference if it is an http: address or an imbedded address of a picture or statement. The http address changes colors when I left click on it but nothing happens. Well, sometimes "my documents" box appears. I think that it is looking for a browser when that happens but, I could be wrong. Mouse works fine elsewhere. Work around is to copy and paste in the browser address box but that is a PAIN and doesn't work with pictures/statements. And, most importantly, I cannot click on the addresses to stop spam emails. Bummer. Have tried to install OE per the instructions above but, I think, it is not there. The byte size of OE is shown as 0.0! I have tried to install it twice and nothing new is in the "Program" list when I finish. I used OE for several years before installing Outlook two years ago and had both until about eight months ago. OE and all of the saved emails just disappeared. Hope that this is enough explanation and you can help. jbQuote

I hope this is the right place for this question.