Outlook Express not default mail handler

[Chewbubba]

Just recently, I reinstalled MS Office 97, and tried to give Outlook a go for handling email. I didn't like it, 97's version of Outlook is too dated and doesn't work as well as Outlook Express. Anyway, ever since, when I click on an email address in my browswer, it tries to bring up Outlook instead of Outlook Express. Of course, it doesn't bring Outlook up all the way, it asks for a profile, etc. etc.

Anyway, I thought this would be easy. I checked in Express's options and clicked the button to make it the default mail handler. It nows says it's the default mail handler. I clicked Apply and OK, closed the program, reopened it, and low and behold, back in the options, it says "Outlook Express is NOT the default mail handler."

How can I get it to quit trying to bring up Outlook and bring up Outlook Express?

 

[jbcalg]

can you make outlook Not the default using it's settings?

sounds like a registry key isn't being reset

if you're ok editing your registry, try this
(always back up your registry before editing to be safe)

start
run
regedit
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Clients\Mail

look in the right hand window
yours probably says Outlook

change it by right clicking on
'default'
modify
change Outlook to Outlook Express
[note the caps, not sure if you need them, but that's what mine says]

reboot for change to take effect

if that doesn't do it, there may be another outlook registry key that needs changing (i don't use outlook so don't have any of the keys)
go back to the registry and do an edit, find on outlook, see if it's keyed as a default anywhere else

 

[Chewbubba]

The registry key you mentioned says "Outlook Express" not "Outlook".

And a Registry search for Outlook turned up hundreds of entries...

I can't seem to open Outlook to check if it is the default. Is there anyway to disable Microsoft Exchange? I'm guessing it's the offending proggy that's interfering with Outlook Express.

 

[TonyKlein]

Hi,

Here's a simple way too make Outlook Express your default e-mail client:
Close OE, click Start/Run and enter this command line, complete with quotes, spaces and the /reg switch:

"C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe" /reg

Of course change the path if you installed OE elsewhere.
Works every time!

Good luck,

 

[Chewbubba]

Fellas,

Things seem to be going downhill. I ran the command line as said, and although there seemed to be no obvious indication that it did anything, now, when I click on an email address, it opens 53 (that's right, I counted) browser windows.

I just updated an ran my virus software - it came up with nothing.

I'm fixing to run Scandisk as soon as I'm done here, however, where in the world is that IE Repair feature? I know I've seen it before somewhere. I wanted to try that too.

Andy

 

[SavvyLady]

its in the Control Panel... go to add-remove & as you are removing it will ask do you want to repair or remove


Good Luck

 

[Chewbubba]

I think I've lucked out.

In Internet Options, on the Programs tab, is a Reset Web Settings button. I clicked this. I was able to tell Outlook Express that it was the default mail handler and voila! It finally worked!

In the meantime, I had been running ScanDisk, but I cancelled it to try this. The scandisk log reports fixing data in one lost file fragment. I don't know if that was related or not.

Thanks all for the suggestions! I'm going to do the repair thingy anyway...

 

[Anne Troy]

Hi chewbubba. Finally looked in here. Sorry I didn't look sooner. I'da told ya that, when the wrong email proggie takes over, all you need to do is change it in IE under the programs tab (tools-options).

Anyway, there used to be "free" upgrade download at www.downloads.com to upgrade OL97 to 98, which is far better. You used the corp workgroup install (default for 97), and there are ways to get into the internet mail only, which is what 99.99% use at home. Let me know if you're interested in doing that. We'll get you there.

As for scandisk....just want you to know not to count on scandisk for "repairing" program problems, but just general crashing, slowness, etc. Ditto defragging. But here's the best instructions I've ever seen for cleaning up your hard drive, an especially nice thing to do after you've been having problems:

http://www.piersontech.com/07-CleanHardDrive.htm

Very well written, too. LOL. (It's my site)