Windows XP Power Hound

Just for Outlook Express

For you Outlook Express fans out there, here're a few tips to make your software experience even more pleasing.

Killing the Outlook Express Startup Screen

If you hate wasting even a nanosecond on the way to your inbox every morning, you can set Outlook Express to take you there immediately. In your Folders pane, double-click the Outlook Express folder (if you don't have the Folders pane open, press Ctrl+Y and in the window that appears, double-click the Outlook Express folder.) At the bottom of the new screen, turn on "When Outlook Express starts, go directly to my Inbox." Ta da.

Renaming the Outlook Express Window

Outlook Express's window title (the name that appears at the top of its screen) is, not surprisingly, Outlook Express. But if you're feeling more creative, you can change the window title to any phrase you want.

To give Outlook Express your own title, first close the program. Then run the Registry Editor (see Section 15.1.2) and go to My Computer→ HKEY_CURRENT_USER→ Identities→ {UniqueIdentity}→ Software→ Microsoft→ Outlook Express→ 5.0. (Note: UniqueIdentity is a number such as {E46F102B-802C-4FF4-B1D3-B574483B2F75}.) Create a new String Value named WindowTitle. In the value field, type your own title for Outlook Express—say, Everything That Matters—then exit the Registry. When you open Outlook Express, your own handiwork greets you at the top of the program.

Backing Up Outlook Express

If you use Outlook Express and you're the kind of person whose ...