Outlook 2003 is no longer supported. We do not support checking settings / configuring accounts / anything. The reason is that it does not support modern security standards.
If a customer calls in with problems and is using Outlook 2003 please let them know these are the best two options.
- Try Thunderbird
– it installs easy and can be obtained from getthunderbird.com
– Only requires full name, email address, and correct password to set up
– user can keep Outlook 2003 on his computer for his archived e-mail/contacts - Contact Microsoft or his software vendor about upgrading
Customers will usually provide some of the same old arguments trying to defend using Outlook 2003.
- well it used to work – I agree and say “yes it worked and then it stopped working because it is now out of date”
- well it worked until you changed stuff – I agree and say “yes when we advanced to modern security standards the out of date software stopped working properly and that is because it is now out of date and does not support modern security standards”
- why should I have to pay to upgrade my 10 year old program? – I respond with “you don’t have to pay anything if you don’t want to – try Mozilla Thunderbird”
- I don’t want to lose my old e-mails – respond with “You don’t have to as you can leave your installation of Outlook 2003 installed so you can access your old archived e-mail and other information”
Usually after we let them throw in a few arguments they will begin to understand and then give Thunderbird a try. We can even install and configure it for them very easily over ScreenConnect.
Hope this helps save time on future calls that involve Outlook 2003.