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Web Mail - Frequently Asked Questions

1. What do all of those icons mean? Is there a way I can see text links instead?

2. Where did the old Web Mail interface go?

3. How do I delete a mailbox (folder)?

4. How do I save a copy of sent messages?

5. Why did I get logged out while composing a long message? I lost everything I wrote!

6. Why do I get a message stating that I will be using a nonsecure connection after logging in to Web Mail?

7. How do I change the sort order of the messages in my InBox?

8. Is it possible to create group addresses in the Web Mail address book?

9. How do I display full headers with Web Mail? How do I "bounce" or "redirect" a message that includes full headers?

10. Is it possible to move messages to my local hard drive using Web Mail?

Answers and Resources:

1. What do all of those icons mean? Is there a way I can see text links instead?

For a full listing of icons and their meanings, please see the Glossary section of this site. If you prefer a simpler interface with text labels and fewer options, see the instructions for setting the interface to text display.

2. Where did the old Web Mail interface go?

The old Web Mail interface was disabled on November 4, 2003. It was still available during the early Fall to ease the transition to the new Web Mail Service, and that transition is now complete. If you have not already done so, please take a look at our tips for Getting Started with the new Web Mail interface.

3. How do I delete a mailbox (folder)?

Like most modern mail clients, Web Mail refers to folders which hold mail as mailboxes. For instructions on adding or deleting mailboxes, please see the section of this site on Working with Mailboxes.

4. How do I save a copy of sent messages?

Web Mail allows you to change your settings so that a copy of sent messages gets saved automatically. Please see the instructions for changing Sent and Draft Message Settings.

5. Why did I get logged out while composing a long message?

If Web Mail detects no server activity for 30 minutes, it will automatically log you out. Server activity means clicking anywhere in the Web Mail interface, sending or receiving messages, opening or closing mailboxes, or accessing your address book. Keyboard activity cannot be detected by the server. The logout time is set this way to protect people's accounts from misuse when they forget to log out on publicly accessible computers. We recommend saving a draft after a few minutes to avoid losing content when composing long messages.

6. Why do I get a message stating that I will be using a nonsecure connection?

Login to the new Web Mail service happens over a secure connection -- only the message sending part of
Web Mail is, at present, nonsecure. Mulberry operates in the same way at the present time. Being able to send
messages via a secure connection is on the project list and should be available at a later time.

7. How do I change the sort order of the messages in my InBox?

By default, message are sorted in your InBox from most recently received to oldest received. Please see the instructions for changing your Mailbox Viewing Options to change the sort order or select other options for sorting such as from: address, subject, or size.

8. Is it possible to create group addresses in the Web Mail address book?

At this time, it is not possible to create or view group addresses with the new Web Mail interface. To have more robust address book capabilities, please use a full-featured client such as Mulberry. Upgrades to address books for Web Mail are on the pending project list for the email support team. Please check the What's New section of this site periodically for updates.

9 How do I "bounce" or "redirect" a message that includes full headers? How do I display full headers without redirecting?

You may get a request from postmaster@virginia.edu to "redirect" or "bounce" a message which includes full headers when you are having a problem with your mail, or you may want to redirect suspicious messages including full headers to abuse@virginia.edu. Please see the Redirecting Selected Messages section of this site for instructions.

It is also possible to just view the headers of a message yourself without redirecting it. Please see the instructions for Viewing Full Headers.

10. Is it possible to move messages to my local hard drive using Web Mail?

No, it is not possible to move messages to your local hard drive from Web Mail. Full-featured clients such as Mulberry and Eudora provide that option, although we do not recommend keeping mail on your local computer, since messages stored only locally are not backed up regularly. Messages left on the Central Mail Service servers are saved to backup each night, and can be restored should something happen to your computer. Rather than moving mail off of the server, it is better to either delete older mail to free up space in your account.