What is a mail server?

[mark227]

I am going through "Craigslist.com" looking for items to buy. When I go to email anyone, a Internet Connection Wizard box pops up. It wants to know what my incoming mail server is, POP3,IMAP,HTTP. Then it asks what my outgoing mail server is, SMTP. I don't know what any of these things are. How do I find out what my incoming and outgoing servers are? It won't let me send mail to any contacts unless I type this info in the boxes. Can anyone help? 

[pcsourcepoint]

Maybe look at the help section for email set up (e.g. Outlook Express) at your Internet Provider's home page. There might be a tutorial...

[Deerpark]

What kind of email do you have?
Pop3, Imap, website based, etc.... in other words how do you usually send email?

[mark227]

I have windows XP and I use IE.  For my emails I have a AOL AIM mailbox and usually send and recieve through them.

[Deerpark]

Is that an online service? As in you use your internet browser to access your emails?

[patio]

Contact your ISP for the settings...and give ThunderBird a try.

[mark227]

Yes it is a online service, and I use my Internet Explorer to access my Aol AIM mail.

[Deerpark]

That's the problem then. Windows doesn't know you use AOL aim mail so when you click a email link on Craigslist windows opens the default choice, Outlook Express. Since you don't use OE it starts asking you to set it up with email server and account info.
You will need to copy the emails you want to write and send them a mail using AIM mail.

[patio]

And you can setup a real mail account available free from your ISP...

[mark227]

Thanks for all the help.......