Windows 7: Why does Outlook 2010 still leave e-mails on my e-mail server???

Dear all,



I don't know what the deal is, but my Outlook Pro Plus 2010 does not have that option in the advanced settings window as Golden and Irene mentioned. The last item on the advanced settings window is a setting to choose "Folders"?

Anyone know why?

Hello Phil79, welcome to the forum.

Your path to the setting, using Outlook Professional Plus, would be:

1. With Outlook open, Click the File tab.
2. Click Account Settings, and then click Account Settings.
3. Select the account for which you want to change settings.
4. Click More Settings.
5. Use the Connection tab to configure how Outlook connects to the mail server. You can then change the setting for leaving/not leaving messages on the server, and for how long.

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Dear Irene,

Thank you for the fast response. However, I was up late last night (again ) and I believe I solved the problem. You see, I had been using the same email software for about 10 years until recently. With this recent upgrade in software, I have learned the real differences in configuring POP3 and IMAP accounts. Now I know that most IP providers have recently (or at least within the last year or two) made IMAP a default setting for the new email software's "wise(z) installers". So, my account was set at IMAP and in IMAP there is no "Delivery" option to be unchecked under the "Advanced" tab. So, I had to reconfigure a new account "Manually" in order to be able to choose a "POP3" setting (which does let you choose whether to leave your mail on the server or not), then delete the first one which was automatically configured as an IMAP.

Would you confirm for me that my conclusions are correct? By the way, what does the seemingly useless IMAP stand for and what is its main purpose or difference that mail servers wanted to make it a default?

Cheers
Phil

Some interesting information and comparisons here :
Windows Mail IMAP accounts: frequently asked questions

and here - it mentions Mac, but the explanation about POP3 and IMAP is good:
POP & IMAP Accounts

Well done for solving the problem.

Main reasons for Choosing IMAP, (Internet Mail Access protocol), over POP3

If you use web access to check your mail the changes that you make at home, to your mailbox, are available from anywhere
Automatically synchronises mail between multiple systems, (desktop, laptop, Mobile Device, Etc)
If you lose your home system, (major failure, fire or theft), all your mail is backed up

Disadvantage is one of speed as the synchronisation can take time on a busy system

Thank you Irene for the links. You sure have incredible knowledge of where to find information resources!

After reading the articles, I have concluded (in my opinion) that IMAP is only good if you are using multiple computers. However, when I travel on business around the world, I always take my computer (with external backup). If I am forced to use another computer (which I prefer not to) I will check my mail via a web mail link (then download when my computer has access). To me, IMAP my only have been promoted by other corporate agendas (such as monitoring employees) which I am glad I do not have to deal with.

In any case, thank you for all the assistance and inspiration.

Cheers
Phil

You're very welcome, Phil.

Please come back and visit us again.

I'm using Micorosft Exchange, is there any other way to download all my emails and leave nothing on my server? I need that because my server has allotted capacity.

There's no check/uncheck option in advance tab. (see below)

Thank You in advance

Exchange is designed to work as a remote storage system for emails, which is why there is not an option to do as you wish.

If you discuss this with your system administrator it may be possible for you to manually archive older mails to your local machine and then get these purged from the server.

You would of course have to arrange for backup of these older archived messages as they would be outside the remit of the server backup