Accessing my MS Outlook from the web

[hubieb]

One thing I HATE about outlook, is that i have to be at my computer to check it. This is frustrating. Yet I have seen others who have Outlook via web access.

Is there a way i can put my personal folders file on the web and see my outlook that way? How is this done? This would really free me up..

 

[58sniper]

No. You can't access .pst files across the web. The only supported location for .pst files are on the local computer running Outlook.

In order to have web access, you'd have to use Outlook Web Access, and move your mail back into the mailbox on the server, or to a third party archiving solution.

Pat Richard
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Contributing author The Complete Reference: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007

 

[hubieb]

How can i simply "use Outlook Web Access"? I've never used it before but am interested. Is it a web site?

 

[58sniper]

It's a feature of Exchange Server. Ask your internal IT support.

Pat Richard
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Contributing author The Complete Reference: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007

 

[noveyron]

If you are home/non corporate user, have a look at the logmein free product, It is pretty good. Remotely access your PC from any web browser.

 

[BMcAnly]

Logmein would be my first suggestion as well. You can also use UltraVNC through a tunnel created by Hamachi. This also has the added advantage of allowing transfers of files from host to client and vice versa. Both of these are free as well.

 

[hubieb]

I guess i'm silly for paying for gotomypc then!

 

[hubieb]

ANOTHER QUESTION ON WEB ACCESS - can I transfer my current outlook emails/rules/settings into webaccess? So essentially I can view my outlook, as i see it on my computer now, but via the web?

Do I have to pay for Outlook Web Access? This just sounds so much better than having it on my computer. I need to do this. Where do i sign up!

 

[noveyron]

If you are on a corporate network with an exchange server, then yes, you can do OWA, see Pat's replies above.

If you are a home user, then you may well have some form of web access available to you via whoever hosts your email. In all probability it will have the same functionality as OWA, but a different look.

 

[noveyron]

*SOME of the same functionality

 

[hubieb]

so if i'm not on a corporate network outlook web access is probably not gonna happen for me? (i'm a home user, with only a couple of cpu's that run outlook)

 

[noveyron]

Nope.

You have two main options, either contact the people that host your email and see if they have some sort of webmail facility available to their customers (most do, free of charge), or have a look at the logmein type stuff. Disadvantage with logmein etc is that you have to leave your pc on in order to access it remotely.

Oh, and dont forget, if you do get some webmail access from your mail hosts, you will only see mail that hasnt been downloaded to your pc (unless you ticked the box in the outlook profile to leave a copy on the server)

There are other workarounds, gmail etc, but tbh one (or both) of the above should do it for you.

 

[hubieb]

I'm talking specifically about Microsoft Outlook Web Access.

I have webmail but it sucks. I want my outlook on the web - period.

 

[smah]

As the others have mentioned, Outlook Web Access is a function of an Exchange server (a special Windows mail server). The ability to access any sort of web- based mail interface is dependant upon whoever runs the mail server, probably your ISP.

 

[noveyron]

You could move to a host that hosts your mail on Exchange, and therefore gives you OWA.

I know 1and1 do it, I am sure there are hundreds more who do it too. (I am with 1and1, they are pretty good)

http://order.1and1.com/xml/order/Ma...4B159DF4E4344E.TC61b?__frame=_top&__lf=Static

(If the link ^^ doesnt work it is linked from the home page, click "Exchange" down the LHS)

 

[hubieb]

Thanks!!

Last question...

If I do this right now, can I get everything that's currently on my machine (the outlook i'm using now) and have that show up on the web? what's currently in my inbox, sent mail, etc?

I want to sign up for this, and have a smooth transfer to OWA, including all my old mail...

 

[noveyron]

Well 1and1 say you can have MAPI over HTTP, so possibly you could drag and drop into the Exchange mailbox, which would be seriously tedious.

If I were you I would drop them an email and ask, you would normally get a response within 24 hours.

You also need to bear in mind your storage requirements, how big is your pst, what is the rate of growth etc. The link refers to a 1GB storage, if you are likely to go over this, you need to know in advance what will happen, eg, will they block send/receive until you come back below the limit, or will they simply charge you more?

 

[58sniper]

It wouldn't be that hard at all ASSUMING that the provider gives you enough space to hold everything.

Pat Richard
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Contributing author The Complete Reference: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007