Email in Outlook Express inbox but not in Comcast inbox

Over the last few days, Comcast.net has decided to “upgrade” its email system. For a day or two, I could not access my email. According to the message at Comcast, I was informed that I could still get my mail by using Outlook Express.

So I blow the dust off OE and set it up according to the instructions given by Comcast. Surprisingly, it works the first time. Now here’s the weird part. When I access my mail through OE, I can see my old messages I need to keep. When I sign on to Comcast (which has reverted to its regular format), I cannot see the same messages!

What’s the deal?

When Outlook Express checks your mailbox, it downloads the messages to your PC, and deletes them from the mail server. If you go to Comcast’s webmail, the messages are no longer there - they’re on your PC. Think of it this way: Comcast’s webmail is like a box at the post office, while Outlook Express is like a mailbox at your house. Once the mail has been delivered to your house, it can’t also be stilll at the post office, now can it?

Ahhhhh…so simple.

Thanks!