ITS Frequently Asked Questions

Microsoft Outlook Email Questions

Resources for the Outlook Web Application

IT Services has upgraded the email system from Microsoft Exchange 2007 to Exchange 2010. View the Outlook Web App (OWA) 2010 guide [PDF] for information on using some of the new features OWA 2010.

Outlook Web Application Questions

Postini Questions

Postini Resources

Outlook 2007 Client Resources

General Questions

Printing Questions

Outlook Web Application Questions

Which browser works best with OWA 2010?

OWA 2010 works best when accessed using the Microsoft Internet Explorer version 7 or higher. It will also work well in other browsers such as Mozilla Firefox 3.0 or higher, Google Chrome 5.0 or higher and Apple Safari 3.1 or higher.

  • If you encounter any problems, check these additional browser settings: enable session cookies, enable JavaScript, and allow pop-ups.

  • Note: The Skype plugin for Chrome may interfere with sending email. Disabling the Skype plugin may resolve this issue.

With OWA 2010, Mac users will have the same user experience as Windows users.

If you are experiencing a slow Internet connection, it is recommended that you choose the "Light" mode. This will speed up your logon time.

Will OWA 2010 work on a Macintosh?

Yes. To use OWA 2010 from a Macintosh, simply navigate to https://webmail.albanylaw.edu/ from almost any Mac OS X browser. Safari (pre-installed on all new Macs), Camino, and Firefox are all known to work well with OWA.

Mac users will NOT have to work in "Light" mode with OWA 2010.

What is the difference between the two logons (public and private)?

Select "This is a public or shared computer" if you use Outlook Web App where others could have access to your computer. Be sure to log off when you have finished using OWA and close all windows to end your session.

Select "This is a private computer" if you are the only person who uses this computer. Your server will allow a longer period of inactivity before logging you off.

How do I change my email password?

  1. Log into OWA.
  2. Click "Options" on the top right.
  3. Select "Change Your Password" from the dropdown menu.
  4. In the pop-up window that appears, fill in your current password and then your new password as twice as indicated. (Remember the password must be at least 7 characters, contain characters from 3 of the 4 following categories: English uppercase (A-Z), English lowercase (a-z), base 10 digits (0-9), non-alphabetic (i.e. !, $, #, %) and NOT contain the your account name or parts of the your full name that exceed two consecutive characters.
  5. Click "Save" on the bottom right to save your new password.

Once your password has expired, you can change it by clicking here.

Keeping your password confidential is critical to ensure that your account can be seen and used only by you. To facilitate the security and confidentiality of our systems and information, we ask you to please commit your passwords to memory.

****** Remember if you changed your email password, you have also changed your Portal password and the password that you use to sign onto a school-owned computer.

What are Conversations and how to I use them?

OWA 2010 gives a new view for emails by default, which is termed "Conversation View." The view that you are used to is "arrange by date."

The conversation view sorts all these lengthy emails by conversation. So, all the emails shown above are shown as a single entry. You can expand the emails and it will show a snapshot of all the replies that has come for that conversation.

If you belong to mailing lists, sometimes the group will engage in discussions that don't interest you at all. Now you don't even have to see them. Just right click on the conversation and select "Ignore Conversation" and any further messages in that conversation will be automatically deleted.

To go back the view that you are used to (emails arranged by date), just right click on "Conversations by Date" and uncheck the box next to "Conversations."

How do I setup or change my signature?

  1. Log into OWA.
  2. Click "Options" on the top right.
  3. Select "See All Options" from the dropdown menu.
  4. Select "Settings" on the left.
  5. In the "Email Signature" box and create your signature.
  6. If desired, click the check box next to "Automatically include my signature on outgoing messages"
  7. Click "Save" on the bottom right to save changes to your signature .
  8. (If you are unable to add your signature, on the Webmail log-in page, select Use Outlook Web App Light. IE is the preferred browser for this.)

How do I set up my Out of Office Assistant?

If you're going to be out of the office for an extended period of time, the Out of Office Assistant provides an easy and professional way to inform colleagues that you may not be able to read or respond to their messages promptly as usual.

  1. Log into OWA.
  2. Click "Options" on the top right.
  3. Select "Set Automatic Replies" from the dropdown menu.
  4. Check "Send automatic replies."
  5. Check "Send replies only during this time period" and select the appropriate time period.
  6. In the "Send a reply once to each sender inside my organization with the following message" text box, create your message.
  7. Click on "Send automatic reply messages to senders outside my organization."
  8. Check "Send replies to all external senders."
  9. In the "Send a reply once to each sender outside my organization with the following message" text box, create your message.
  10. Click "Save" on the bottom right when finished.

Note: The message with Automatic Replies is sent only once to each user.

How do I have my Albany Law School email automatically forwarded or redirected to another email address?

  1. Log into OWA.
  2. Click "Options" on top right.
  3. Click on "New."
  4. For "When the message arrives," and" select "[Apply to all messages]" from the dropdown.
  5. For "Do the following:," select "Redirect the message to..." (or "Forward this message to...")**
  6. Click on "Select people..." and on the bottom, enter the email address to which you want to re-direct or forward you law school your mail. (Be sure to enter this address correctly because all of your email will be re-directed or forwarded there.)
  7. Click "OK"
  8. Enter a name for this rule.
  9. Click "Save" on the bottom right.

** If you create a rule in Outlook Web Access to forward your emails to another account, all emails will appear to be from your Albany Law School email account once they reach the final destination rather than from the original sender.

By using Microsoft Outlook to create a redirect rule, each email will be sent on and retain the original sender information. However, any other recipients that the email was originally sent to, copied to, or blind-copied to will not be retained in the redirected email.

How do I send attachments?

If you need to send something that has a specific formatting, pagination, font and look (like a form) or if it is so very long that insertion in the body of a mail message won't work, you may need to attach the file.

  1. Log into OWA
  2. Click the disclosure triangle located just to the right of the "New" button. A drop-down menu will appear. Select "Message" from this menu
  3. Click on the Paper Clip
  4. A window will pop up. Click "Browse" to find the file on your computer that you want to attach to this email. When you locate this file, click "Open" and then "Attach"
  5. The file will be uploaded and you can proceed to send the email.

How do I send a Bcc (Blind Copy) message?

Bcc recipients receive a copy of an email message, but their names do not appear in the list of recipients. Bcc recipients cannot see the names of other Bcc recipients.

  1. Click on "Options" on the top right.
  2. Select "See All Options" from the dropdown menu.
  3. Select "settings" on the left.
  4. Under "Mail Format," check the box next to "Always show Bcc."
  5. Click "Save" on the bottom right.

These steps only have to be done once.

How do search for particular emails?

Searching in OWA 2010 is more powerful and provides you with advanced options. You can also save and access favorite searches.

  1. Click on the dropdown to the right of the Spotlight.
  2. Enter your search term and check the box of the desired option (such as Category).
  3. Click on the Spotlight or hit the Return key.

How do I change the Reading (Message Preview) pane?

The default is for the message preview to be on the Right. On the View dropdown menu, select Bottom or Off, as desired.

How do I add an event/appointment to the calendar?

  1. Log into OWA.
  2. Select "Calendar" in the navigation pane on the left
  3. On the right, double click on the time and day where you want to add an event/appointment.
  4. In the pop up window that appears, complete all appropriate information and click "Save and Close."
  5. To set a recurring event/appointment: Click the circular arrow, select the appropriate check boxes and click "OK."

How can I create folders?

Folders are useful for managing and organizing mail.

While viewing your Mail, right click the "Cabinet" button, then select "Create New Folder..." Type in a name for the folder.

How do I set up my smartphone to access my Albany Law School email?

Smartphones with Windows Mobile and iPhones seamlessly integrate with Outlook 2007. Those phone manufacturers provide an Outlook phone application and a utility called ActiveSync which enables the Outlook mailbox and calendar to sync with the Law School system.

Although, Blackberries and Palms do not use ActiveSync to access the Outlook email system, directions on setting them up to access school email are provided below.

iPhone 2.0+ Directions: (View the iPhone guide [PDF])

  1. Tap "Settings" on the main screen of your iPhone
  2. Tap "Mail, Contacts, Calendars"
  3. Tap "Add Account"
  4. Tap "Microsoft Exchange"
  5. On the next screen, enter your email address, username (without @albanylaw.edu) and password, for domain name, enter albanylaw
  6. Tap Next
  7. For Server name, enter webmail.albanylaw.edu
  8. Tap "ON" next to Mail, and tap "Save"
  9. To read your email, tap "Mail" on the mail screen.

Windows Mobile Phone Directions: (View the Windows Mobile 6.1 guide [PDF])

  1. On your phone, go to messaging and select "New email account"
  2. Enter your email address and uncheck the "Try to get settings automatically"
  3. Select your provider as "Exchange Server"
  4. Click "Next"
  5. For Server name, enter webmail.albanylaw.edu
  6. Check "This server requires a SSL connection"
  7. Click "Next"
  8. Enter your username (without @albanylaw.edu)and password, for domain name, enter albanylaw
  9. If desired, check "Save password"
  10. Click "Next"
  11. Check those items you would like to sync with your phone.
  12. Click "Finish"

Blackberry Directions: (View the Blackberry guide [PDF])

Method 1:

  1. On your Blackberry device, select "Blackberry Setup," and select "Personal Email Setup."
  2. Scroll down to "Add My Existing Email Account," and select.
  3. Enter your Albany Law School email address and password in the spaces provided, and scroll down to and select "Next."
  4. You should get a screen that says, "We were unable to configure..." Scroll down to select the option "I will provide the settings to add this email account."
  5. Scroll down and enter your Albany Law School email address in the space provided (leave password blank), and scroll down to and select "Next."
  6. You should get a screen that says, "We were unable to set up..." (Note: if you have the option to select Personal or Work account, select Work.) Scroll down to select the option "Outlook Web Access," and scroll down to and select "Next."
  7. In the space for "Outlook Web Access URL," enter the following address: https://webmail.albanylaw.edu/owa
  8. In the space for "User name," enter the prefix to your Albany Law School email address (without the @albanylaw.edu).
  9. In the spaces provided, enter your password and Albany Law School email address.
  10. In the space for "Mailbox name," enter the prefix to your Albany Law School email address (without the @albanylaw.edu).
  11. Scroll down to and select "Next."
  12. You should get a confirmation that the email account was set up. On your home screen, there should be a new icon labeled with your Albany Law School email address. You will receive an Activation email, and it will take about twenty minutes for your school emails to be directed to your Blackberry device.

Method 2: Assuming, you have a data plan, use your phone's web browser and go to http://webmail.albanylaw.edu/owa. The browser will default to OWA Light, which is slightly less feature-rich than the regular OWA version but the basic email functionality works with OWA Light.

Method 3: Purchase AstraSync ( http://www.astrasync.com/) for $49/yr or NotifySync ( http://www.notifycorp.com/) for $120 first year and $30/yr thereafter. Then follow instructions for setting up a Windows Mobile Phone.

Palm Centro/VersaMail Directions: (View the CentroVersaMail guide [PDF])

  1. Go to Applications and select Email to open the Versamail application.
  2. If this is the first account you have setup in Versamail, you will see an Account Setup option, select Continue. If you've already setup an account in Versamail, you'll see the inbox. Press Menu. From the accounts menu. select Account Setup. Then select New.
  3. Enter your email address and password.
  4. Select OK then press Next.
  5. Select Outlook (EAS) from the drop-down menu.
  6. Enter the server name - webmail.albanylaw.edu. Make sure the Username is correct (without the @albanylaw.edu). You do not need to change the advanced settings.
  7. You can test the settings by pressing the button.
  8. Click OK. Then click Finish to go to the inbox of the account you just created.

Motorola Droid (& all Android 1.0-2.1 phones) Directions: (View the Android 1.0-2.1 Guide [PDF])

  1. Touch Applications tab.
  2. Touch Email.
  3. Enter your email address and password, then touch Next.
  4. Touch Exchange account
  5. Enter \username (without @albanylaw.edu) for domain\username (this should autofill).
  6. Enter your password
  7. Enter webmail.albanylaw.edu for exchange server
  8. Check Use secure connection and Accept all ssl certificates, then touch Next.
  9. Touch Email Checking Frequency and touch the desired frequency.
  10. Touch Amount to synchronize and touch the desired amount.
  11. Check the desired account options and touch Next.
  12. Enter an account name and outgoing message name, then touch Done.

Motorola Droid X & 2 (& all Android 2.2 phones) Directions: (View the Android 2.2+ guide [PDF])

  1. Open Applications tray and select MyAccounts or on the main menu, tap Settings, then Accounts.
  2. Tap Add Account.
  3. You will be at the Set-Up accounts menu with several other social network icons.
  4. Select Corporate Sync

  5. Enter the following information:
    Domain\Username (albanylaw\jsmith) or just enter Username (jsmith)
    Password
    Check Use secure connection
    Email address
    Server (webmail.albanylaw.edu)

  6. Tap Next.
  7. Tap Done.

iPad Directions:: (View the iPad guide [PDF])

  1. Tap "Settings" on the main screen of your iPad
  2. Tap "Mail, Contacts, Calendars"
  3. Tap "Add Account"
  4. Tap "Microsoft Exchange"
  5. On the next screen, enter your email address, username (without @albanylaw.edu) and password, for domain name, enter albanylaw
  6. After it tries to find the server, manually change the server name to webmail.albanylaw.edu
  7. Tap "ON" next to Mail, and tap "Save"
  8. To read your email, tap "Mail" on the mail screen.

How do I retrieve my deleted e-mails?

You can retrieve deleted emails in OWA 2010 with a single click.

  1. Right click on " Delete Items" and select " Recover Deleted Items".
  2. Click the envelope to recover the item or the "X" to purge the item.
  3. If you clicked the envelope, select the folder you want to recover the item to and click " Recover".
  4. If you purged an item, you can no longer recover it.

You will be able to recover items that have been emptied from the Deleted Items folder for up to 14 days.

How do I view more than one calendar?

In OWA 2010, you view up to 5 calendars at once.

  1. Open your own calendar by clicking on Calendar on the bottom left of the screen.
  2. From the Share dropdown, select "Add Calendar"
  3. Enter the name of the person whose calendar you want to view
  4. Click "OK." (You will be sending an e-mail to that user requesting access to their calendar.)
  5. Once you are granted access to this shared calendar, you will see it under " People's Calendars." Check the boxes of all calendars that you wish to view at once.

You can also share your own calendar.

  1. From the Share dropdown, select "Share This Calendar"
  2. Enter the name of the person with whom you want to share your calendar.
  3. Check the information in your calendar that you want to share.
  4. Click "Send."
  5. That recipient will get an e-mail with instructions on how to add your calendar.

From the Share dropdown, if you select "Calendar Permissions", you can see who has access to your calendars and the permissions granted. You can stop sharing a calendar by selecting a name and clicking Delete. (Calendar permissions that have been customized using Calendar Permissions in Outlook can't be changed in Outlook Web App.)

How do I access another mailbox?

OWA 2010 works similar to Outlook 2007. If you have full mailbox permission, you can view another user's mailbox on the same screen as your own.

  1. Right click on your mailbox on the left and select "Open Other User's Inbox..."
  2. Enter the other user's mailbox name and click "OK."
  3. You will then see the new mailbox on the left below your own.

Postinti Questions

How are spam messages filtered?

All of Albany Law School's email passes through an antispam/antivirus filter called "Postini." As a convenience, you will receive a daily email notification listing all messages that have been recently quarantined at Postini's Message Center. This notification allows you to quickly scan quarantined messages and deliver to your mailbox any messages that are NOT spam.

How do I access my Postini spam quarantine? (View the Postini FAQ [PDF])

  1. Go to http://login.postini.com/
  2. Log in using your email address and your Postini password. (It's recommended that you bookmark this page, so you can visit Postini in the future)
  3. During the first month of using Postini, you are advised to review messages on your Junk Message tab to be sure valid messages aren't falsely quarantined.
  4. Click a message's Subject to safely view its contents.
  5. If you find a valid message you want to retrieve, click its corresponding Deliver button to deliver it to your inbox.
  6. If you deliver a message from the Junk tab, Message Center asks you whether you want to add the sender to your Approved Senders list. Messages from senders on this list bypass the junk filters, so they won't be falsely quarantined in the future.
  7. All messages that you don't deliver are automatically moved to the Trash after 14 days. Messages remain in the Trash for another 3 days before Message Center permanently deletes them.
  8. The daily Quarantine Summary email message from helpdesk@albanylaw.edu also provides you the ability to see the contents of your quarantined junk and deliver a falsely quarantined message to your email.

How do I reset my Postini password?

  1. Go to http://login.postini.com/
  2. Fill in your email address and ANY password. Then click LOG IN.
  3. Now click Forgot your password?
  4. When you click Submit, a instructions with a link to re-set your password will be emailed to you
  5. Go to your email and click on that link.
  6. You will now be prompted to select a NEW PASSWORD. Enter it twice.
  7. Click Submit.

Can I opt out of spam filtering?

No, Albany Law School cannot provide this option.

General Questions

Do I need to buy a particular type of laptop for law school?

Albany Law School students are not required to own computers, but most all do. Whether you choose a PC or Mac is a personal preference and not dictated by the school. There is wireless Internet throughout the campus, so all notebooks should have an 802.11g or greater wireless card. For those who do not have a computer, there are computer labs available in the library and on the 4th floor of the 1928 building.

While we do not recommend any specific manufacturer, past experience indicates that students are better off with a name brand laptop - like IBM/Lenovo, Dell, HP or Apple - that can be serviced quickly in Albany. You do not want to be without your laptop for a long period of time - especially as exam time nears and papers come due.

Do I need any particular software?

We recommend that you purchase Microsoft Office 2010. It can be purchased at a significant discount through your current college bookstore, or through Microsoft. Professors should provide documents in a Microsoft Office or PDF format.

While not required, we highly recommend regular backups. Your computer will have all your notes, which you do not want to lose just before exams. We recommend the use of an online backup service, such as Mozy or Carbonite, which will backup your computer without any action on your part.

I have a computer problem, where can I find someone to help me?

To obtain timely assistance, for best results, email our Help Desk: helpdesk@albanylaw.edu. Please indicate the nature of the problem and a contact number.

When time matters, please use helpdesk instead of emailing or leaving voice mails for individuals. By emailing helpdesk, you can be sure that someone here will learn about your problem.

If you do not receive a reply within a reasonable time frame, please call our main number: 518-472-5837.

Our office hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All requests for technology assistance in the classroom should be made by submitting the form found here.

What do I do if my machine does not shut down?

If your machine has not shutdown after you have waited at least one minute, you may have to manually hit the power button on your computer. If hitting the power button does not shut your computer off, press and hold the CPU's power button for 15 seconds or so until the machine powers off

I have a document/image that I would like scanned. Where on campus can I get this done?

There are two multi-function machines in the copier room on the main level of the Library, one in the copier room on the upper level of the Library and one multi-function machine in the Career Center. These machines can scan documents/images for students. Please follow these instructions:

  1. 1. On the bottom left-hand side of the machine, press the "Scanner" button.
  2. 2. Select "Manual Entry" (located in the middle of the screen). If you do not see an option for "Manual Entry," look at the lower right of the button menus to the "Simplified Display" button. If this button is green, press it, and you will expand your menu on the unit's home screen for the "Manual Entry" option.
  3. 3. Enter the complete e-mail address, including @albanylaw.edu, to which you are sending the scanned file. By default documents being scanned are in PDF format.
  4. 4. Select "OK" (located at the top right of the screen).
  5. 5. Place the original(s) face-up in the document feeder and press the "Start" button.
  6. 6. When you are done, press the "#" button.

To change the scan file type from the default of .PDF to .TIFF:

  1. Follow step one above.
  2. Press "Send File Type/Name" on left side of the screen.
  3. Under Single or Multi-Page select the desired file type. Default is .PDF.
  4. Press "OK" at top right of screen.
  5. Follow steps 2-6 above.

To change the scan's resolution:

  1. Follow step one above.
  2. Press "Scan Settings" at left of screen.
  3. Press "Resolution" tab.
  4. Select desired resolution. Note: the higher the resolution the larger the file size.
    Standard Resolution of 200 dpi should be ok for text pages.
  5. Select "OK".
  6. Follow steps 2-6 above.

Laser Printing


How can I print to the Albany Law School laser printers?

You can print to laser printers located in the computer labs and on the lower level in the library and on the 4th floor of the 1928 building. In order to print, you need the following:

  • You must be an Albany Law School Student.
    You must have sufficient funds in your copy/print account.

To print a document, follow these steps:

  1. Log on with your username and the same password you use for e-mail
    Open your document from whatever source
    Print to the installed printer

Printing Type Cost (per copy):

Letter (8.5x11) B&W $.08
Legal (8.5x14) B&W $.16
Letter Color $.24
Legal Color $.48
Letter B&W Duplex (Back to Back) $.14
Legal B&W Duplex $.30
Letter Color Duplex $.46
Legal Color Duplex $.94

To add money to your account, use Card Dispenser/Add Value Machine by waving your Proximity (or Albany Law ID) Card. Directions are posted on the wall.

How can I save money on Printing?

  1. Students can print Lexis and Westlaw documents for no charge if they send the documents to the respective "standalone" Lexis and Westlaw printers assigned to their Lexis and Westlaw IDs. There are standalone printers on the Main Floor of the Library in the Lexis and Westlaw rooms near the Library Circulation Desk. There are also Lexis and Westlaw printers in the print room on the top floor of the Library. DO NOT simply click file-print and DO NOT use the browser tool bar print icon. These methods will print to the school's printers and charge you five cents per page. Do use the appropriate print icons on the Lexis and Westlaw Web pages to print to the "standalone" printers to print without charges.

When printing to the Library MFU printers, use Duplex printing to save money.

How can I print from my laptop?

You can print from your laptop to the printers located in the library. To print a document from your laptop, follow these steps: (View the laptop printing instructions [PDF].)

  1. First, install the printer drivers onto your laptop ( Windows – Download link for Windows drivers, Mac – Download link for Mac drivers.) This only has to be done ONCE.
  2. On your laptop, open the document that you would like to print and from the Printer Menu, select one of the printers listed below:
    • MFU BW –located in main floor and upper level copier rooms, in Lexis Lab & 4th floor of the 1928 bldg. (See printing costs below.)
    • MFU Color – located on the lower level (Color is the default. Change printer preferences to use the printing options below.)
  3. Enter your Username (Visitors can use their full name.) and a name to identify the print job. Then hit “ Print.”
  4. To retrieve your print job, go to the location for the printer you selected. At the Printing Station, move the mouse.
  5. On the screen of the Printing Station, enter your Username (Visitors must type the name they entered in step #3) and hit “ Logon.”
  6. At the Card Reader next to the Printing Station, wave your Proximity Card (or Albany Law ID) at the bottom (Visitors must swipe their Magnetic Stripe Card on the right side), type PIN & hit “ Enter.”
  7. On the screen of the Printing Station, select the print job and hit “ Print.”
  8. When you are finished, hit “ Log off” (on the bottom left.)

NOTE: Print Jobs only remain in the cue for 2 HOURS!!

If you have any printing problems, please see someone at the Circulation Desk.

To add money to your account, use Card Dispenser/Add Value Machine by waving your Proximity (or Albany Law ID) Card. (Visitors must swipe their Magnetic Stripe Card). Directions are posted on the wall.

Printing Options Cost (per copy):

Letter (8.5x11) B&W $.08
Legal (8.5x14) B&W $.16
Letter Color $.24
Legal Color $.48
Letter B&W Duplex (Back to Back) $.14
Legal B&W Duplex $.30
Letter Color Duplex $.46
Legal Color Duplex $.94

Every student has a copy/printing account that is built into their network account. Charges are automatically deducted from this account as each page is printed.

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