Robert

Ok I posted it before but that was quite some time ago. Now that BEP has
opened its doors again I thought it may be worth a re-post.
Looks long and complicated but it aint, also has benefit of giving you
DIRECT access to all
the groups your ISP serves.Can also cut out the delays and missed replies
you probably suffer
on portals such as British ex pats.

A friend asked me how to set up newsgroup reading in outlook express and I
though it may prove useful to post some basic destructions (esp. for those
in "British Ex Pats") This is not definitive by any means but still useful.
If anyone wants to add to it without getting too tech feel free.

Ok lets try the written destructions first.

1. open "outlook express"

2. goto "tools" on top menu bar.

3. goto "accounts"

4. click "add" then "news"

5. For display name don't use your full name use a handle e.g. "fluffy",
"newbie" or whatever. then click ok.

6. DO NOT use real email name! I use "[email protected]" you could use the
same one (its an email black hole !)
or whoever spammed me last ([email protected]) This will prevent
spam !! You could
use the same in both boxes. then click OK

You could also use an older trick that people still use by adding a word in
upper case e.g. [email protected]. where all people need to do to reply
is to remove "REMOVE"

7. this next box requires information that you will find on your ISP's help
page. For Rogers its just "NNTP".

8. When you "finish", "close" a box will open to offering to got get the
newsgroup list.Click "YES"
This may take a little time as there are thousands of groups.

9. Now comes time to choose the group / s. Type "misc.immi" in the "find
groups containing" box at the top. Select "misc.immigration.canada" then hit
the subscribe button. (no money involved !) and click "OK"

10. In the folder view on outlook express you should have a new folder for
you newsgroups, and a sub folder for misc immigration canada.

11. click on the main folder (not misc immi) and you will see some options
in the preview pane. Use the "settings" button and "all messages"

12. now hit the "synchronise" button and wait, and wait, and wait. Ok so
this
doooes take a long time. as there will be approx 13,000 messages to get. no
one posts anything fancy in here and most are just simple text so it does
get them quite quickly all things considered.

14. From here on it only gets any new messages and doesn't need to get them
all each time. First time is always hardest ;-)

This will get you going.

I will tell you a couple of more settings to alter within outlook to help
you along and make thing easy.
But for now you are ready to read em all. Beware there are what we call
"trolls" in newsgroups. Another name for idiots. there are also people
whose posts you will laugh at because they ask some really stupid
questions.

Best is to read and see how people ask questions and the sort of answers
they generally get. HEADS UP !!!! read as many or ALL the posts if possible
as any questions you may have, might have already been answered. some people
(me included) don't take too kindly to people asking questions for a subject
that has already been answered recently.

If you answer anyone
DON'T use all caps locks (considered shouting and bad manners)
DON'T type at the top of a post (bad manners)
DON'T give out telephone numbers or email address (unless you know how to
disguise it so that others can work it out)

There are more do's & don'ts but have given you most important ones.

You will notice that some of the buttons on the top toolbar change when you
are in a newsgroup.

e.g..
"new post" used to initiate a new thread (question/topic)
"reply group" to reply to currently selected message
"reply" reply directly to person whose message is currently highlighted.

A few more setting for you to change in outlook express below to make it a
bit easier.

1. goto "tools" , "options" make sure all the following settings are
ticked.

a. In "GENERAL" tick everything.
b. in "SPELLING" tick all except "UPPERCASE" and "words with numbers"
c. in "READ" tick first three boxes miss one and tick fifth also tick "get"
and make sure says 300 headers, untick "mark all messages as read"
d. In "RECEIPT" I have "request receipt" ticked but that's cos I need
confirmation for some of the stuff I do its optional. I also have the
"Notify" box ticked, again optional
e. In "SEND" all the top 6 boxes are ticked. and "HTML" for mail and "Plain
Text" for news.
f. I have nothing set in "COMPOSE"
g. Anything in "SIGNATURES" is optional.
h. settings in "CONNECTION" should not be altered
i. In "SECURITY" tick the second and third boxes, all others are empty
j. Tick top 3 boxes in "MAINTENANCE" and tick "delete news messages" then
set to "5 days" all other boxes are unchecked.

That's it ! Easier than setting up the groups.