Subscribing to Newsgroups

Newsgroups are online discussion groups. A newsreader program is required to view and post to newsgroups. Of the various programs available, ITS currently supports Outlook Express, which may be configured to read and reply to newsgroup postings. As described on the right, If you wish to use NYU's news server (news.nyu.edu), you will need to request access. Otherwise, you will need to know the address of the news server from which you wish to view newsgroups.

• Subscribing Using Outlook Express for Windows
• Subscribing Using Outlook Express for Macintosh

Subscribing Using Outlook Express for Windows

• From the Tools menu, select Accounts.
  

• The Accounts window opens. Select the News tab. Click on the Add button to add a news server.
  

• Scroll down to the News option to add a new News server account.
  

• The Internet Connection Wizard window opens.
• If you're using Outlook Express to retrieve your NYUHome e-mail, you will see your preferred name appear in the Display name: section. If not, type your name as you would like it to appear. Click on the Next button to continue.
  

• Your NYUHome address should appear in the E-mail address: section. If not, type in your preferred e-mail address. Click on the Next button to continue.
  

• In the News (NNTP) server: section, type: news.nyu.edu Click on the Next button to continue.
  

• Click on the Finish button to end the set up process. Your new News account will now appear in the Accounts window, which you can close by clicking on the Close button.
  

• An icon for your newsgroup will also now appear in the main Outlook Express window.
• You may be prompted to download newsgroups from the news server you just added. You may do this, or in the main window, click on the Newsgroups... button to connect to the news server and display all available newsgroups. This may take a few moments.
  

• The Newsgroup Subscriptions window will open. To scan through all available groups, use the scroll bars. When you find a group to which you wish to subscribe, highlight the group name in the window. Then, click on the Subscribe button.
  

• An icon will appear next to the group name. Click on the OK button to return to the main window.
  

• The group will appear listed in the main Outlook Express window under the associated newsgroup header. Click on the Synchronize Account button to retrieve messages for the group. The newsgroup name will appear in bold.
  

• Click on the icon for the newsgroup to begin downloading group messages.
  

• Click on a message subject to view the message. Or double-click on the message subject to open the message in a new window.
  

• To compose a new news posting, click on the New Post button in the menu bar. The compose window will open. Compose your message. When you are ready to post, click on the Send button in the menu bar.
  

• If you want to reply to a posting, click on the Reply Group button in the main window. You also have the option to reply directly to the sender of the post.
  

  Subscribing Using Outlook Express for Macintosh

  • From the Tools menu, select Accounts.
    

  • The Accounts window opens. Select the News tab.
    

  • Click on the New button to add a new News server account.
    

  • The Edit Account window opens.
  • In the Account name: box, choose an appropriate name for your news account.
  • If you're using Outlook Express to retrieve your NYUHome e-mail, you will see your e-mail account appear in the E-mail account: section. If you send mail to the newsgroup, this account will be used. If you wish, the Organization section may be left blank.
  • Under the Receiving news section, if you wish to view groups using the main NYU News Server, type in: news.nyu.edu
    

  • Click OK to save your changes.

  
  

  • Your new News account will now appear in the Accounts window, which you can close by clicking on the small box in the upper left hand corner.
    

  • An icon for your newsgroup will also now appear in the main Outlook Express window.
  • Clicking on the icon will display all available newsgroups for this server. To scan through all available groups, use the scroll bars. When you find a group to which you wish to subscribe, highlight the group name in the window. Then, click on the button Subscribe in the upper menu bar.
    

  • The group will then appear in bold in the newsgroups window and appear listed in the main Outlook Express window under the associated newsgroup header.
    

  • Click on the icon for the newsgroup to begin downloading group messages.
    

  • Status of your message download will appear in the progress window.
    

  • To see the messages, click on the newsgroup's icon. Click on a message subject to view the message.
    

  • To compose a new news posting, click on the New button in the menu bar.
    

  • The compose window will open. Compose your message. When you are ready to post, click on the Post Now button in the menu bar.
    

  • If you want to reply to a posting, click on the Post reply to newsgroup button in the main window. You also have the option to reply directly to the sender of the post.
    

    Page last reviewed: August 19, 2008