I recently installed Outlook 2007 to my laptop (which uses Vista). Upon
trying to "setup" Outlook a small box appeared in the upper left corner of
the screen which stated "configuring outlook accounts." A box appeared asking
for "Microsoft Exchange Server" and "mailbox." I was not sure as to what to
enter so I entered "dss.sc.gov" (which is everything listed after the "@" in
my job email address) for the server and my name for mailbox. I then
received the following error message: "The connection to Microsoft Exchange
is unavailable. Outlook must be connected to complete this action." I am so
new to this. Please advise. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You need to add the name of your mail server, not the last portion of your
email address. If this laptop is company-issued, wouldn't your Exchange or
Network Admin have set this up for you or given you instructions? Contact
them for the correct information. It surprises me they'd leave you to your
own devices with this and be unable to pull your email and work.
If this is your own personal laptop, you need to ask your network people if
they will even allow it to connect to the network from outside to pull work
e-mail. Most companies or agencies don't allow a PC/laptop that is not issued
by them to do this for security purposes. If they do allow it, then you need
to find out the method and procedure.

--
Kathleen Orland - MVP Outlook
Outlook Tips: http://www.outlook-tips.net/
http://www.howto-outlook.com/



"Rice" wrote:

> I recently installed Outlook 2007 to my laptop (which uses Vista). Upon
> trying to "setup" Outlook a small box appeared in the upper left corner of
> the screen which stated "configuring outlook accounts." A box appeared asking
> for "Microsoft Exchange Server" and "mailbox." I was not sure as to what to
> enter so I entered "dss.sc.gov" (which is everything listed after the "@" in
> my job email address) for the server and my name for mailbox. I then
> received the following error message: "The connection to Microsoft Exchange
> is unavailable. Outlook must be connected to complete this action." I am so
> new to this. Please advise. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Ah, check the address of the OP - working for a government agency often means no support from IT departments. I should know. However, you are likely correct that the agency does not allow non-agency boxes to connect to their network, if they are smart.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.

After furious head scratching, K. Orland asked:

| You need to add the name of your mail server, not the last portion of
| your email address. If this laptop is company-issued, wouldn't your
| Exchange or Network Admin have set this up for you or given you
| instructions? Contact them for the correct information. It surprises
| me they'd leave you to your own devices with this and be unable to
| pull your email and work.
| If this is your own personal laptop, you need to ask your network
| people if they will even allow it to connect to the network from
| outside to pull work e-mail. Most companies or agencies don't allow a
| PC/laptop that is not issued by them to do this for security
| purposes. If they do allow it, then you need to find out the method
| and procedure.
|
|
|| I recently installed Outlook 2007 to my laptop (which uses Vista).
|| Upon trying to "setup" Outlook a small box appeared in the upper
|| left corner of the screen which stated "configuring outlook
|| accounts." A box appeared asking for "Microsoft Exchange Server" and
|| "mailbox." I was not sure as to what to enter so I entered
|| "dss.sc.gov" (which is everything listed after the "@" in my job
|| email address) for the server and my name for mailbox. I then
|| received the following error message: "The connection to Microsoft
|| Exchange is unavailable. Outlook must be connected to complete this
|| action." I am so new to this. Please advise. Your assistance is
|| greatly appreciated. Thanks.