Thunderbird V MS Outlook Express

Loobeylou

I am seriously thinking of downloading Thunderbird (as I have problems with the lack of working spellcheck in Outlook Express).

I have Windows XP Home Edition including Service Pack 2 version 2002. I have also downloaded my old version ('97 I think) of Word/Access/Excel if this makes any difference.

However, four points:

1. Has anyone had any experiences - good or bad - with Thunderbird?

2. Do I download Thunderbird Setup 1.0.7 or Thunderbird 1.5 Beta 2 - just don't want to do the wrong thing, and not sure exactly what the difference is.

3. Will Thunderbird ask me during the setup whether I wish it to be my default e-mailing service? (I made a terrible mess of things switching my e-mail from my ISP to Outlook Express.)

4. Also, and this will seem like an incredibly silly question to ask, I am never sure whether to "run" or "save" when downloading these things.

Advice please.

irnbru_2

Sorry, can only help with these ones ....

Loobeylou wrote:

2. Do I download Thunderbird Setup 1.0.7 or Thunderbird 1.5 Beta 2 - just don't want to do the wrong thing, and not sure exactly what the difference is.

Download 1.07. A migration will be possible to 1.5 when it goes final. 1.5 is the new version. Effectivley, beta means its usable but not stable and is there for users to evaulate it and report bugs.

Loobeylou wrote:

4. Also, and this will seem like an incredibly silly question to ask, I am never sure whether to "run" or "save" when downloading these things.

I guess either. I always save it. Create a downloads directory and save any downloaded applications there. You can then periodically update these when you wish. Providing your disk doesn't currput they will be there if you ever have to reinstall.

matty_c608

The BETA is the testing stage and will have more bugs than the other.

If you are not techy minded, and are only looking for a stable version use Thunderbird Setup 1.0.7. When 1.5 Beta is out, you can update then, and know that MOST of the bugs are gone!

Matt.

smcicr

I loved thunderbird - the way it deals with spam and junk mail is (for me) much more intuitive than outlook. personally over outlook express there is no competition, tbird everytime.

the only reason i'm not using it now is because it doesn't have an easy way of sync'ing calendar with a mobile phone and outlook does - as soon as i can get that sync happening then outlook is gone and tbird will be back.

as to the run / save option i always choose save - as irnbru says, just create a 'downloads' folder and then 'save' everything you download into that. this will mean that when you install the downloaded application you are doing it from you local machine so it will be quicker than trying to do it from the online location and if you ever need to re-install the application then it is there ready - you don't have to download it again.

odowdchr

Thunderbird 1.5 Beta has a realtime spellchecker (ie if you type a wrong word it automatically underlines it in red). I've had no stability problems with it, but haven't been around this week to test it much.

The first thing it will do is ask if it should import your email settings from MS Outlook or Express. If you've made a mess of those previously...say NO :-)

It will ask you if it should be the default mail application, yes.

Loobeylou

irnbru wrote:

I guess either. I always save it. Create a downloads directory and save any downloaded applications there. You can then periodically update these when you wish. Providing your disk doesn't currput they will be there if you ever have to reinstall.

OK - another stupid question - under what heading would you create a downloads directory? My documents or what? Just not sure how to go about it. Advice welcome.

smcicr

downloads directory - up to you, it's just another folder at the end of the day.

however, depending on how you have your pc set up you may want to consider creating it on a second drive (or a drive seperate to your windows drive) if you have one (if you download a lot of apps etc then the folder could get quite large). for example, i've got two drives in my pc right now and i use the second drive for storage purposes so i have my folder for all downloaded apps on that drive.

Loobeylou

Well ... I guess I knew it would happen. Downloaded Thunderbird and did a test e-mail but now cannot seem to receive mail unless it is into my plus.net account which I have to log into. The test e-mail does not come into the Thunderbird e-mail account. And ... although I put in a password it will not now recognise it to access mail.

Outlook Express comes up with "Outlook Express has encountered a problem."

Outlook comes up with Outlook.EXE - Ordinal Not Found. The ordinal 36 could not be located in the dynamic link library MAPI32.dll. I have a whole load of contacts in this and is not backed up.

This is presumably because all the setting have been changed due to installing Thunderbird.

God what a mess!

irnbru_2

Loobeylou wrote:

Downloaded Thunderbird and did a test e-mail but now cannot seem to receive mail unless it is into my plus.net account which I have to log into. The test e-mail does not come into the Thunderbird e-mail account. And ... although I put in a password it will not now recognise it to access mail.

Lets just start with the easy stuff.

Your ISP is plus.net and your mail client is Thunderbird.

You want to send and receive with Thunderbird using plus.net.

1. Check Preferences -> Account Settings

You should have an account in there for plus.net ?

2. Logging into plus.net account

Do you have to provide both your username and password?

Loobeylou

Your ISP is plus.net and your mail client is Thunderbird - Correct

You want to send and receive with Thunderbird using plus.net - Yes

1. Check Preferences -> Account Settings - This is where I sound really thick - where are preferences? I have looked but not found.

2. Logging into plus.net account

Do you have to provide both your username and password? - Yes

irnbru_2

Loobeylou wrote:

1. Check Preferences -> Account Settings - This is where I sound really thick - where are preferences? I have looked but not found.

Oops, Edit -> Account Settings

If you have only one account in there then check 'Server Settings' it should have :

Server Type: Pop mail server
Server Name: mail.plus.net
User Name: <you plus.net account name>

You will also have to check this one too

Outgoing Server (SMTP): relay.plus.net

Click 'OK' if you made any changes.

Loobeylou wrote:

2. Logging into plus.net account

Do you have to provide both your username and password? - Yes

It sounds like the account isn't set up properly. Once it is, you won't need to keep entering them.