Outlook Express facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Outlook ExpressA component of Microsoft Windows |
|
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Type | Email client, News client |
| Included with | Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 |
| Replaced by | Windows Mail |
| Related components | |
| Internet Explorer | |
Microsoft Outlook Express was a free computer program made by Microsoft. It helped people send and receive emails and read newsgroups. Think of it like a special app for your computer that handled all your messages.
Outlook Express was a simpler, free version of another program called Microsoft Outlook. It came built-in with many versions of Microsoft Windows, starting from Windows 98 all the way to Windows XP.
Microsoft stopped making Outlook Express in 2006. When Windows Vista came out, it had a new program called Windows Mail instead.
Contents
What Outlook Express Did
Outlook Express was mainly used as an email client. This means it was a program that let you manage your emails. You could write new emails, send them to friends, and read emails that others sent to you. It also worked as a news client. This allowed you to read and post messages in online discussion groups called newsgroups. Newsgroups were like online forums where people talked about different topics.
Why Outlook Express Had Problems
Like many computer programs, Outlook Express sometimes ran into issues.
Database Issues
Outlook Express used a special file called a database to store all your emails and settings. Imagine it like a big digital filing cabinet for your messages.
- Damage: Sometimes, this database could get damaged. This might happen if you had too many emails saved, or if the program tried to make the database smaller (a process called compaction).
- Compaction: Compaction was needed when the database file became very large. It helped the program run better, but sometimes it could cause problems with the database itself.
Security Concerns
In the past, some emails or files attached to emails (called attachments) could carry computer viruses. If you opened an infected attachment, the virus could spread to your computer. This was a common problem for many email programs back then, including Outlook Express.
The End of Outlook Express
Microsoft decided to replace Outlook Express with a new program. This happened when they released the Windows Vista operating system in 2006. The new program was called Windows Mail. This change meant that Outlook Express was no longer updated or included with new Windows computers.
See also
- In Spanish: Outlook Express para niños
