Newsgroups, sometimes referred to as electronic bulletin boards or BBSs, are organized collections of messages from dozens, hundreds, and even thousands of individuals. These messages are stored on host computers called news servers. Individuals, groups, and companies may host a newsgroup on a server.

With newsgroups, you can choose exactly which topics you want to read about without accumulating unwanted messages on random topics. When you post your own message to a group, other people read it and reply; their messages get added below yours. A message posted on a particular topic attracts responses. These related postings are called a thread.

Get acquainted
Microsoft^® Outlook^® Express includes the special software (called a newsreader) that you need to explore newsgroups. There are no fees to join a newsgroup. Although some newsgroups are monitored, most are not, and messages can be posted and read by anyone who has access to that group. That said, there is an established etiquette for newsgroups that should be followed. Read a selection of postings before placing your own.

Get started by using the Outlook Express default news server, which provides access to hundreds of newsgroups. First you must set up an account: On the Tools menu, click Accounts. Click Add, and then click News. Follow the instructions on your screen. You can go back later and add the address of another news server. However, your Internet service provider (ISP) must have a link to a news server for you to set up an account with that news server in Outlook Express.

Note In some cases, your ISP may have a specific news server that it directs users to. If you have difficulty using the Outlook Express default news server, contact your ISP.

After you set up an account, you can read and post messages on any of the newsgroups stored on that news server. Once the news server has downloaded the available newsgroup headings to your computer (this may take a few minutes, depending on your Internet connection), you can search for newsgroups that match your interest and subscribe to them. See Subscribing to a newsgroup to learn how.

To save time online, you can download newsgroup messages and then read them offline. See Reading newsgroups offline to learn how.