Just my humble opinion, but if Classic Mail does disappear entirely, don't be surprised. When changes like this happen, it's usually because those in charge think their new way is better (or more profitable) and they won't devote time & effort to support the old way of doing things indefinitely. Trying to get you used to the new way of doing things is just their way of breaking it to you gently. Now might be the right time to learn how to install and use an email client of your choice that can be customized to suit your needs rather than leave your mail in the hands of those who are making changes you don't like. There are many good, free programs available. I use Thunderbird.

Not sure this will help but if you use gmail, here's an example of how to set up your email client (outlook express) using IMAP: http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=77659 And here's how to setup gmail with POP for outlook express: http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=76147 I'm sure hotmail and yahoo also have instructions about this. Here's a general link for hotmail from wiki answers: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_set_up_IMAP_for_hotmail If you want to set up outlook express to access your work server, I think you'd probably have to get the server info from the system admin but I'm not sure. Here is a link that might be useful: Microsoft site about setting up outlook express

Don't know much about what otherwise available, now. I've been using "Leopard's" built-in "Time Machine" with an external HD. All I had to do is one short forced back-up before the install to get the last few bits in there. Before that was available, I used manual back-up to the external HD from time-to-time. Seem to recall using carbon copy cloner or some such name, too. Know next to nothing about what available for PC's anymore. I can heap much praise on Apple's Time Machine feature. IMHO, every computer OS sold should have something like it built in. Really takes care of things.

bugsybanks : Finally get back to this . . . . re : "Regarding the change to IMAP, I have 3 e-mail addresses set up through my server on the desktop and all 3 are now POP3 on that computer. Do I delete each account and then recreate it as IMAP? Will I lose the e-mails that have been saved under Local Folders? " One thing . . . my "Local folders" only contain Trash & Outbox. All my other Inboxes, etc. are within separate acct folders. I.E., each other acct. contains an Inbox, Drafts, Sent, etc. - outside of "Local Folders." Anyway, there's a good chance that after you create an IMAP acct., the email that you have already downloaded using POP mail, and deleted from the server - won't show up in the IMAP Inbox. You'd have to import them back in. Just to be safe, I would export all your email first so that you have it as backup. Then make new accts as IMAP. See if everything looks correct, or if you need to import anything from the backup you just made. Finally, delete the POP accts. There is a really handy addon tool for TB : ImportExportTools https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools/?src=search (That page looks complicated, but the use of the tool is not) The two different ways to export using that tool are - (and you get to the choices by right clicking on "Inbox" or any other folder) : 1) "Export folder" (w/ or w/o structure) This makes an Mbox file of everything that you export. It makes for just a few simple files that aggregate everything within the respective folders. So you will end up w/ one Inbox file, one Drafts file, etc. "Structure" just means you will keep the nested structure of the folders. The disadvantage is that you can't read them later w/o importing them back first (using ImportExportTools). 2) "Export all Messages" (and choose "eml" format here) This exports each email as a .eml file - and you can identify and read each one separately later after exporting. So if you export 500 emails, you'll get 500 .eml files. You can batch import them though using ImportExportTools. And you can read them just by clicking on them individually. There's no harm in exporting both ways if you like. Just create separate folders so you can keep it all straight. Play around with it a bit until you get the hang of it. For all the people recommending this way to do email or that - this debate has been going on for years. There are advantages and disadvantages to each - it really depends on your needs. I wouldn't say that any one of them is "unusual" as someone commented - what's unusual to one is likely normal to someone else. Personally I use them all, and all for different purposes - no one method seems to work for every purpose. I do use web based email for the most part though. Hope that helped. -Kent This post was edited by kbarb on Mon, Oct 20, 14 at 0:42