Configuring Netscape Messenger for Your IMAP E-Mail Account

If your computer is capable of running Netscape Communicator version 4.5 or newer, you may wish to use Netscape Messenger, the built-in e-mail program. Since Netscape Messenger 4.5 and newer versions are IMAP-compliant, you can have complete access to your e-mail messages from multiple computers (e.g., your computers at work and at home).

If you don't have Netscape Communicator installed on your computer, you can install it from Brit.

If you are using a Macintosh, connect to Brit.Prime, and then go to "Mac Installs" -> "Internet Applications" -> Netscape Applications" -> "Netscape 4.79 Complete" and run the installer. Follow the instructions presented on the screen.

If you are on a PC, while logged in, go to My Computer, then to the I: drive (labelled 'Installs on Brit\Prime\Apps (I:)'), then to "Win95" (even if you are using a newer version of Windows) -> "Network Software" -> "Netscape" -> "4.79" and run the installer. Follow the instructions presented on the screen.

To configure Netscape Messenger to work with your St. Olaf IMAP e-mail account, follow the steps below. (You will need to configure Netscape in this way on every machine you use to access your e-mail.)

  1. Launch Netscape Communicator.
  2. Select "Preferences" from the Edit menu.
  3. On the left-hand side of the Preferences window is a list of categories. If necessary, click the arrow (Mac) or plus sign (PC) to the left of "Mail & Newsgroups" to expand that category.
  4. Click on "Mail Servers."
  5. Near the center top of the window you should see a field labeled "Incoming Mail Servers." If there is an entry for "mailhost.stolaf.edu (Default)," select it and click "Delete." Confirm that you want to do delete this entry.
  6. Click the "Add..." button.
  7. In the window that opens, the "General" tab should be in front; if it is not, click on "General."
  8. Next to "Server Name" enter: 
    USERNAME.mail.stolaf.edu
    where USERNAME is your St. Olaf username. For example, if your username was "smithj" you would enter: 
    smithj.mail.stolaf.edu
  9. For "Server Type," pull down to select "IMAP."
  10. For "User Name," type in your St. Olaf username, without the "@stolaf.edu" (e.g., type in smithj). If you want Messenger to remember your password so that you do not need to type it in, check "Remember Password." Be aware that if you check this box, anyone who uses your computer can use your e-mail, even if they do not know your password. If you want Messenger automatically to check for mail periodically, check the box and enter a value in the minutes box.
  11. Now click on the "IMAP" index tab near the top of the window.
  12. Make sure the box for "Use secure connection (SSL) is not checked.
  13. Under "When I delete a message," click the radio button for "Move it to the Trash folder."
  14. Check both "Clean up ("Expunge") Inbox on Quit" and "Empty Trash on Quit."
  15. Click the "Advanced" index tab near the top of the window.
  16. Make sure the following choices are checked: "Show only subscribed folders" and "Allow server to override these namespaces."
  17. Uncheck the option "Server supports folders that contain sub-folders and messages"
  18. Leave the other fields untouched, and click the "OK" button.
  19. In the "Outgoing Mail Server" section of the Preferences window, make sure that the "Outgoing mail (SMTP) server" is 
    smtp.stolaf.edu
    Note: If you are using an Internet Service Provider (i.e., MRNet, Onvoy, Charter RuralConnections), enter your ISP's SMTP server name instead, NOT smtp.stolaf.edu.
  20. Click the radio button to the left of "Never" under "Use Secure Socket Layer..."
  21. Click the "OK" button to close the Preferences window.

Help Prevent Viruses

To help prevent the spread of viruses through e-mail, perform the following steps:

  1. Launch Netscape Communicator if it isn't already running..
  2. Select "Preferences" from the Edit menu.
  3. A new window will open up and on the left side at the bottom of the list of preferences is the word Advanced, click on it.
  4. On the right side you will see a list of Advanced preferences. You will also see one of the check boxes is labeled "Enable JavaScript", this should REMAIN checked. You should see a sub-category of this checkbox which is the checkbox labeled "Enable Javascript for Mail and News", you should UNCHECK this box.
  5. Click the OK button at the bottom of the window

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