FAQs about Email at NYU

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Receiving blank email messages after sending an attachment with Microsoft Outlook?

If one person uses Microsoft Outlook to send an email message with an attachment to a second person who uses Messenger Express (the NYUHome email client), and the second person then sends back an email in reply, the first person may not be able to see that response (even though they can see their own original message). This problem appears to be due to a rendering issue in Microsoft Outlook.

To fix this problem, do one of the following:

Set the NYUHome WebMail Client to send and receive email using HTML. This preference is set at the upper right corner of the window used to compose a message. The button toggles between plain text and HTML by clicking it. You will know that you have selected HTML format if you can see editing tools such as the "B" for bold type, "I" for italics in the NYUHome WebMail window.
In the Microsoft Outlook Tools menu, select Options, then Mail Format, then select "Compose in this message format: Plain Text".
Other email clients do not encounter this issue, and can be used as an alternative.

Receiving or sending winmail.dat files instead of email messages when using Microsoft Outlook?

If you use the Microsoft Outlook email client and the people that you send email messages to report that your messages are arriving as winmail.dat files instead of text, do the following:

Open the Outlook Tools menu, select Options, then Mail Format.
If you see a "Compose in this message format" option, select "Plain Text" or "HTML".
If you see "Send Mail as Rich Text Format (RTF)" and "Let Outlook choose best format" options, make sure they are NOT selected.

How do I activate an NYU email account (and my NYUHome service)?

If you are an NYU faculty or staff member, or a student in a degree or diploma program, an email account is provided to you as part of your NYUHome service. In order to access this account, you need to first activate your NYU NetID and set your password.

You can activate your NetID at any time, from any Internet-connected computer, by going to the ITS Start page (http://start.nyu.edu) and following the online startup instructions. If you know your NetID, enter it in the appropriate field and click "Start!"; if not, follow the instructions at the top of the page. Then, complete the steps for setting up a password (click here for password tips) and beginning your service.

Once that is done, either follow screen prompts to activate your NYUHome email account or go to: http://home.nyu.edu. On the main login screen, enter your NetID and the password you just created. This first login will activate your NYUHome email account. You will also access your email and all the other features of NYUHome in this same way each time you return.

If you encounter any problems, either come to an ITS computer lab, or visit or contact the ITS Client Services Center, 10 Astor Pl., 4th Fl., 1-212-998-3333, askits@nyu.edu.

What is my NYU email address?

The default format of your official NYU email address is: YourNetID@nyu.edu, for example, aqe123@nyu.edu. Click here for more information about your NYU NetID and password. Please note that it is now possible to select a personal email address which can be used in addition to your official address. See below for details.

What is my Directory address?

For information about your NYU Public Directory address and how to change it, see the NYU Public Directory page.

Can I select my own personal email address?

Yes, it is now possible to set up a personal email address (or "alias") of your own choosing through NYUHome. In addition to your official NetID@nyu.edu address, people can use this alternate address to send you email. You may also have this personal email address listed in the NYU Online Directory, if you so choose. Instructions for configuring this personal address are available in the NYU Email section. Note: NYU faculty and staff are encouraged to use a "business card" format (yourfirstname.yourlastname@nyu.edu) for their personal and directory address.

How do I request a departmental or school email address?

An email alias for an entire school, department, or administrative or academic division at NYU can be requested through ITS. First, please see http://www.nyu.edu/webguide/faqs/alias.html for an explanation of the policies governing departmental aliases. When you are ready to request an alias, send email to aliases@nyu.edu.

What is the basic NYU email server configuration information?

For basic configuration information, and to find out more about other settings that you may wish to customize in your email client (e.g., Microsoft Outlook or Thunderbird), please visit www.nyu.edu/its/email/configure.

What should I do if I receive a threatening or harassing email message?

If you receive a threatening or harassing email message, immediately forward the message to ITS Technology Security Services: security@nyu.edu. If you feel that you are in physical danger, you can also call the NYU Office of Public Safety's emergency number: 1-212-998-2222 (8-2222 if dialing from an on-campus telephone).

I am graduating or retiring from NYU. Can I still use my NYUHome service and email account after I leave?

Yes, but the details vary depending on your situation. For more information, please go to the ITS Accounts section.

How can I set up a forwarding address for my NYUHome email account?

To set up email forwarding from your NYUHome email to another email account, see the NYUHome Email Configuration page for details. This service is available to current students, faculty, staff, and alumni (see below), but is limited to six months of forwarding for students departing non-degree programs or interrupting their studies prior to earning a degree.

Alumni email forwarding services are also available. See the Alumni Office's web pages about Lifetime Email Forwarding for details.

Can I use a non-NYU email program to check my NYU email?

Yes, NYUHome has a web-based email client built into it, but if you prefer, you can use desktop email programs to check your NYU email. For instructions, please see the Email Configuration page.

How can I change the way my name appears on my outgoing email?

If your name appears incorrectly on your outgoing email messages sent using the NYUHome/Messenger Express mail client (for example, you use your middle name professionally, or you go by a different first name) you may request to have this information modified. To do so, send email to accounts.reply@nyu.edu requesting the change.

If you are using a desktop email client Thunderbird or Microsoft Outlook to read and send mail, you can configure the mail client specifically for how you want your "From" field to appear. See your program's help documentation for instructions.

Please note: We receive our information from the Registrar's Student Information System (SIS) database (for students) and the Human Resources main database (for staff and faculty). If your name is misspelled on your official university records, we recommend that you consult directly with a representative from the appropriate office to advise them of the error.

How do I change my password?

Instructions on how and when to change the password you use with your NetID to access campus services such as NYUHome, NYU Email, and Albert are available on the NYU NetID & Password page.

Why is there a blank screen when I open my NYUHome Email?

If you get a blank screen when the NYUHome web mail program opens, hit the F5 key to refresh the screen. With the Macintosh, press the Command key (the Apple key) and the R key to refresh the screen.

If you receivejava_script errors when the page opens, click through them and then refresh the screen. Clearing your disk cache is also recommended.

What are full email headers and how can I view them?

All email messages have two parts: a header and a body. The body is the main part of the email, which contains the sender's message. The header is the part that contains technical information about the message, including the identity of the sender and the recipient, the date and time the message was sent, and its subject. In addition, there are portions of the email header that are usually not visible, since many users are not interested in the technical details they contain, such as formatting and routing information.

Information about how to make these hidden headers visible in various email programs is provided below. The full headers of your email can be helpful when diagnosing any sort of some email problems you may encounter. For example, the ITS Client Services Center uses the routing information in these headers when we want to determine the origin of a message. If you have a question about an email message you received, and you would like to send it to the Client Services Center (askits@nyu.edu) for analysis, be sure to follow the instructions below.

To View Full Email Headers

Select your email program:

Messenger Express

Click on the "headers disclosure" triangle, on the far right side of the headers section. This button is used to toggle between displaying full headers and brief headers (see figs. #1 and #2).

Fig. #1 - Messenger Express Window with Brief Headers

screenshot of Messenger Express Window with Full Headers

Fig. #2 - Messenger Express Window with Full Headers

MS Outlook

Open the message, then go to the View menu and select Options. This will display the Message Options window, with "Internet Headers:" information at the bottom.

Fig. #3 - Outlook Message Options

Microsoft Entourage

Open the message, then go to the View menu and select Internet Headers. You can also highlight the message in your inbox, go to the View menu, and select Source.

screenshot of Full Headers Displayed in MS Entourage

Fig. #4 - Full Headers Displayed in MS Entourage

Apple Mail

Open the message, then go to the View menu and select Show All Headers (or simply press Apple+Shift+H on the keyboard). (NOTE: To return to the simple headers, select Show Filtered Headers from the View menu, or simply press Apple+Shift+H on the keyboard again).

Fig. #5 - Full Headers Displayed in Apple Mail

To Forward an Email with Full Headers

After revealing the full headers in your email message (as described above), highlight the entire contents of the headers. Press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard, then press the C key to copy the text. Press the Forward button (to forward the message). If the full headers are not automatically included, paste the copied header text in the body of the email by pressing Ctrl and V. Address the message as appropriate, compose the rest of the message body as you like, and click the Send button.

This FAQ reprinted from the Spring 2003 issue of Connect: Information Technology at NYU, with permission from the author, ITS User Support Specialist Eduardo DeLéon.

Page last reviewed: August 24, 2009