Helpdesk

Web Outlook is officially called Outlook Web Access, and is referred to as OWA in general and within this how-to.

This how-to is based on access via Microsoft Internet Explorer, screenshots and dialog boxes may be different with a different browser.

Pre-requisites

To connect, you will first need to have a compliant web browser, which has 128-bit encryption. Checking the Help section of your browser may reveal the encryption strength or cipher strength. If you see that you have 56-bit, your browser requires an upgrade. Please refer to the browser vendor for upgrade information.

PC users:
For those with Windows XP SP 1, you can download Internet Explorer 6
For those with Windows XP SP 2 or 3 (32 bit), you can download Internet Explorer 8
For those with Windows Vista, it may come prepackaged with Internet Explorer 7. You have the option to upgrade to Internet Explorer 8
If you have the 64-bit version of Vista, Internet Explorer 8 can be found here
If you have Windows 2000, you'll need the Windows 2000 High Encryption Pack.

Of course, you also have the option to go with a third-party, non-Microsoft web browser. Mozilla Firefox is a popular option.

Linux and Mac users:
The internet browsers that come prepackaged with those operating systems should be able to render the OWA. If not, you also have the option to go with Firefox or any web browser you wish.

Logging in

Address is https://mail.mednet.ucla.edu/exchange.
Or you may use our easier to remember shortcut - www.genetics.ucla.edu/email

On the front page of the OWA, type in your User Name: mewwex\your username or AD\your username whichever was given to you (mewwex and AD are the older and newer domain names, respectively)
Password: password that was given to you upon account creation

Click Log On

This is how the main screen looks like upon login. Navigation bar on the left, menu on top (new message, delete, reply, etc). You may click on each sender's name to go into the specific message.

NOTE: It is recommended that you change your default password upon the initial logon. Here is the how-to on Changing your MEDNET Email Password.

If you're interested, Mednet also has an Animated Demo on how to access your web outlook.