What are my email settings?
How do I setup my email program?
I've setup my email program and I still can't get my email, what do I do?
I can receive email but i can't send any, how do i fix this?
I want to add another email address to my account, can i do this?
How do I setup an "away" message for when I am not in my office?
How can I get my email to automatically forward to another email address?
Do you have a web-based email service?
How do I reduce the amount of "Spam" or junk mail?
Why do I get rejection notices for emails that look like they came from me, but I didn't send them?

What are my email settings?

Please note your basic account settings:

Account Name: your full e-mail address
Password: enter your mail password

Inbound Mail Server / POP3: mail.vsm.net (or your dedicated email server address - check with VSM support)
Outbound SMTP Server: mail.vsm.net (however it is preferable you obtain this from your ISP. Example: Comcast or Sprint.)

I've setup my email program and I still can't get my email, what do I do?

Step1: Make sure your incoming and outgoing mail settings are correct.

Even the smallest typographical error can cause you not to be able to connect to your mail servers. Check all your setting to make sure that nothing has changed since you last used your mail program or to make sure you typed in your setting correctly.

VSM's mail settings can be found here.

Step 2: Make sure you have an active connection to the internet.

If you are using a modem to dial-up to the internet, make sure it is securely plugged in to both the wall outlet and your computer. Once that is established, make sure your can browse the internet on your computer through am internet browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Apple Safari. Once you have establish that you can browse the internet you should be able to get mail.

If you have a high-speed connection, such as a cable or DSL (digital subscriber line), make sure that the modem or router box or boxes that were provided to you by your ISP (internet service provider) are on. Usually there will be a light indicating power is supplied to the box and often one or more activity indicator lights, which typically are blinking. Check all connections and reset the boxes by unplugging the power fro 15 seconds and then reconnecting the power.

Once again, insure that you can browse the internet with an internet browser. If you can you should be able to check your mail.

Step 3: Check for viruses and spyware.

Viruses and spyware are a menace to anyone using a Windows based PC. (Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP or 2003) You need to keep your computer clean of viruses and spyware, which can be a constant threat. Most computers purchased within the last 3 years have anti-virus software installed from the factory, although it may need to be updated or re-purchased.

Check that you have anti-virus software installed on your computer. Some common names of anti-virus software are:

Computer Associates
McAffee Anti-Virus
Norton Anti-Virus
AVP
F-Risk

If you do not have an anti-virus software, YOU ARE AT GREAT RISK! Now would be a perfect opportunity to purchase or download some anti-virus software to protect your computer and date on it.

Run your anti-virus program's scanning utility. Ensure that it performs a "Full" scan of your system. This is usually accessed through the "Start" menu on windows machines under "Programs" This process usually takes a while so a coffee break might be in order while it works. It will inform you of any action that could be take or is needed to be taken by you, when it finishes.

Check that you have anti-spyware/adware software on your computer. Spyware/Adware can prevent you from being able to connect to the internet.

This is a relatively new kind of threat, so chances are that unless you have a computer that is more than 1 year old, you will not have anti-spyware/adware software on your computer. If you do not, YOU ARE AT RISK. Now would be a good time purchase or download anti-spyware/adware software.

Once you have installed the anti-spyware/adware software, run it and tell it to do a "Full" scan of your system. It may take a while for this process. You will be informed of any spyware/adware that was found and be either prompted for instructions or will be informed that the spyware was removed.

PROTECTING YOUR COMPUTER FROM THESE THREATS IS VERY IMPORTANT!

Viruses and spyware/adware can do serious damage to your files that keep your computer operating properly, and can even totally prevent you from connecting to the internet.

I can receive email but I can't send any, how do i fix this?

Chances are you just need to make sure your outgoing settings are correct.

Check our email setup page here.

I want to add another email account to my email client, can i do this?

All email clients have the facility for multiple email accounts from different providers. You will need to access your client's settings. Topically there is a button that allows you to add an additional account.

Browse through our email setup section to get an idea how to do it, here.

How do I setup an "away" message for when I am not in my office?

In OS X Mail:

1. Select Mail > Preferences... from the menu in Mac OS X Mail.
2. Go to the Rules category.
3. Click Add Rule.
4. Give your autoresponder a descriptive name under Description:
5. The criterion lays down what messages Mail will send a reply to automatically. You may select a special Subject line, for example, or a specific To: address.
6. Select Reply to Message under Perform the following actions:.
7. Now click on Reply message text... to enter the text to be used for your reply.
8. Finally, Click OK.
9. Close the Rules dialog.

In Microsoft Outlook:

Defining an Automatic Reply Template

1. Open a new Outlook message formatted as plain text. Note: Do not use Microsoft Word as the e-mail editor.
2. Type whatever information you would like to appear in your reply message.
3. On the File menu, click Save As.
4. In the Save As dialog box, click to select the Outlook Template check box in the Save As Type list.
5. Type a name for your reply template in the File Name box, and click Save.

Defining a Rule to Send an Automatic Reply

1. On the Tools menu, click Rules Wizard.
2. In the Rules Wizard dialog box, click New.
3. Under Which type of rule do you want to create? click Check messages when they arrive, and then click Next.
4. Under Which condition(s) do you want to check?, click to select the Sent Only To Me check box, or any other criteria you want, and then click Next.
5. Under What do you want to do with the message?, click to select the Reply using a specific template check box.
6. Under Rule Description, click the underlined phrase, a specific template.
7. In the Select A Reply Template dialog box, click the template you saved in step 5 of the previous set of instructions, and then click Open.
8. Complete the Rule Wizard instructions, click Finish and then click OK.

NOTE: These procedures only apply if you have installed Outlook with the Internet Mail Only option. To determine your installation type, click About Microsoft Outlook on the Help menu. If you have the Internet Mail Only option installed, you see "Internet Mail Only".

How can I get my email to automatically forward to another email address?

In OS X Mail:

1. Choose Mail > Preferences and click Rules.
2. Click Add Rule and type a descriptive name for the rule.
3. Select Every Message form the dropdown condition list..
4. Choose Forward Message in the Perform the Following Actions: heading.
5. Enter the email address to forward in the to: field and click OK and close the preferences window.

In Microsoft Outlook Express

1. With Outlook Express running, go to the Tools menu and select Message Rules. This will open the Message Rules dialogue window.
2. In the Message Rules window that appears, select New. This will open up a New Mail Rule window.
3. Click 'for all messages'.
4. Click 'Forward it to people'.
5. A link to 'people' appears. Click this link.
6. The Select People window should appear as shown below. Type your new email address, or an email address you can access elsewhere, into the box. Hit OK. You can give this new rule a name if you wish once the Select People window has closed. Hit OK and your new rule will be set up.

Any email will be automatically sent to your new address while Outlook Express is running.

In addition, you can call us if you would like your mail permanently forwarded to another address, at 239-642-0304, or you can CLICK HERE to request a permanent email forwarding. (Make sure you include your Name and Phone Number in case we need to contact you.)

If the above does not function click HERE to email us with your request.

Do you have a web-based email service?

Yes. You can reach it by clicking here.

NOTE: You can also type in "http://webmail.vsm.net" (without the quotes, of course) in any browser to access your mail.

Use your full email address. For example: user@vsm.net or johndoe@smithco.com

How do I reduce the amount of "Spam" or "Junk" mail?

First thing you can do is be care ful about giving out your email address when interacting with websites that are not "trusted". Sometimes when you give certain unscrupulous websites your information they might sell that information to other unscrupulous players and so on. This sometimes explains why you will all of a sudden see a flood of email that is "Spam" or "Junk" mail.

The next thing you could do is install spam filter software on your computer. There are several that can be installed on your PC:

Qurb Anti-Spam
Cloudmark Desktop
SPAMfighter - free

If you own an Apple Computer, you can simply turn on the junk filter in the mail application:

In OS X Mail:

1. Choose Mail > Preferences and click Junk Mail .
2. Click Enable junk mail filtering.

We also offer a third-party spam and virus filtering service called Postini. Postini monitors all mail going into your account and detects spam and viruses, no matter where you might check your email. This is a very good alternative to the other meathods or can be used in conjuction with any other solution, since no solution can prevent all junk email from reaching you. Most of the obove mentioned services can catch 80%, 90% or more. Postini is a subscription based service costing $2.00/Month or $20/Year.

CLICK HERE to request Postini spam and virus filter for your email account. (Make sure you include your Name and Phone Number in case we need to contact you.)

If the above does not function click HERE to email us with your request.

Why do I get rejection notices for emails that look like they came from me, but I didn't send them?