Stuff

Stuff I know of the random style, written down to be usefull to you (possibly).

Accesing e-mail using telnet

It is possible to retrieve your e-mail using an application built into Windows that has been around since DOS. This program is called telnet.exe and is a command line interface which allows you to run commands on a remote computer. From this coomand line, you can list the messages on the server for you, read them and delete them. This is very good for dail up users so they can delete a huge file attachment before they have to download it.

To do this you need to know your pop server details, username and password, which can be found in the accounts setting options of your normal e-mail client if you do not already know them.

Use Start, Run and type "telnet mail.yourisp.co.uk 110" to connect. This runs telnet, tells it to go to the server specified and connect to port 110 - the agreed standard for pop mail.

This will get you to a black window with maybe a couple of lines of text at the top saying welcolme, but without any other instruction. Next you type "user your_username" and press return. Next type "pass your_password". This should leave you connected.

To get a list of your messages type "list". This shows a list of message file sizes and the nuber which corresponds to that message. Type "retr ##" where ## is the number of a message to view that message. Type "dele ##" where ## is the number of a message to delete. Finally type quit and if the server is polite it will say goodbye.