Outlook problem w/ multiple user accounts using same email server

Question

I recently bought a Dell Dimension with Windows XP. I initially created 4 users for 4 family members. I set up Microsoft Office Outlook (configured) while logged into my account (we have one internet account that we share). When the other family members log into their accounts, they cannot access Outlook email - the program prompts them to go through the Outlook configure/setup procedure. How can I get all users to use the same email setup/configuration? Do I have to go through the setup process for each user - that would seem terribly inefficient.

esquire · Answer

It is not inefficient at all - it's by design.

Each additional Windows XP user is treated as a different user from your own setup with separate settings and setup, so Outlook will go through setup again because the email account hasn't been setup for each of these new users.

Dave BTON · Answer

I had the same problem with my new PC. I setup 4 users but found that each user had to be setup individually ie. Outlook accounts, Folders, IE Favourites etc. Although I can see why 2 or more individuals using a shared PC may want this, family members definitely don't.

I couldn't find a solution so deleted 3 of the 4 users and now just use one user that checks each family members email accounts. Only problem I have now is that I can't Send emails from any of the other email accounts I have setup....just the original one.

JRosenfeld · Answer

If you set up the e mail accounts in each user account, their emails will also be stored separately in their user account's outlook.pst files. Does make it easier for each user to keep track of their own e mails. Ditto with favorites and data files.

Rollozo · Answer

I got this far. Now the problem is this: How do I and my wife share folders (inbox, etc.)? If I read the Help files correctly, we must use a Microsoft Exchange server to enable the option. That doesn't seem reasonable, but I've been mistaken before....

JRosenfeld · Answer

Addendum; You can also set up the account groups from tools, send/receive sttings/define send receive groups; and if you want to send/receive for a specific email account, you can use tools, send/receive and select the account there; then only that account's emails will be received and that account should be able to send.

JRosenfeld · Answer

Yes, unless you are on a network with a server that has MS Exchange server, if you want to share the inbox, then you do have to use the same user account. In that case, as you said earlier, you set up all email accounts for that user account; one of these will be the default, from which messages are sent by default. But you can send emails from any of the users' email accounts; when you select New, message, click on Accounts in the new message window and select which email account the message should be sent from. If that does not work, go to Tools, options, Mail setup, click send/receive; unless you set it up differently, this shows one entry, called all accounts. Click edit. In the left column, click on each account in turn and make sure both boxes, 'send email items' and 'receive email items' are checked.

You can also make different signatures and select the appropriate one in Tools options, mail format, signatures; but I think that you have to do that each time you don't use the default email account.

Message Edited by JRosenfeld on 01-16-2004 03:28 PM

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Outlook problem w/ multiple user accounts using same email server

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