If you have a Hotmail email account you know that the messages are stored on web servers. You need an active internet connection and a web browser to check your Hotmail email.
The graphical user interface (GUI) that loads in your web browser window allows you to manage your email account including organizing email messages, creating folders in Hotmail, automatic sorting of email messages, configuring an email signature or an autoreply, changing the look at feel through themes.
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However, the main drawback to this web based system is that without an internet connection you are left stranded – forget new messages, you cannot even access your old emails. The best solution to this predicament is set up Hotmail email account to download and store email messages on your computer. All email will then be available to you even when you don’t have a working internet connection. (Please note you do need an active connection to check for new email messages).
Setting up your Hotmail account has many more benefits.
- You can maintain two copies of Hotmail email messages one on the server and another on your local computer.
- The copy of the emails on your hard disk protects accidental online deletions or account hacking.
- You can now take a backup of all your Hotmail email messages.
- You can never run out of storage space, as long as you keep taking a backup and cleaning your online account.
You need an email program to set up your Hotmail account on your computer
To set up a Hotmail account on your computer for free, you need an email program also called an email client. FYI, most of you would already have one installed on your system. If you don’t you can get one free – refer list below and also the list of popular email programs.
- Windows XP: Use the inbuilt Outlook Express or choose from Windows Live Mail, Thunderbird, Yahoo email program Zimbra desktop, IncrediMail etc.
- Windows Vista: Use the native email client Windows Mail or pick up Windows Live Mail, Thunderbird, Yahoo! Zimbra desktop, IncrediMail etc.
Sorry no Outlook Express for Vista users – you cannot install this email program on the operating system. - Macintosh systems: Apple mail, Zimbra desktop email program from Yahoo!, Thunderbird etc.
- Linux computers: Thunderbird, Yahoo! Zimbra desktop etc.
POP settings for Hotmail account set up
Once you have chosen an email program, note the Hotmail POP settings and configure and set up your Hotmail email account on your computer. I have step by step instructions with screenshots for Windows Live Mail – actually you can add your Hotmail account just like you add any new POP based email account. Please refer other articles on this web site for details.