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When you click the Read Mail button in the Command Bar in Internet Explorer, nothing may happen. The Read Mail button is supposed to launch the default mail client, and this problem occurs if the default mail client is not correctly set. Follow these steps to resolve the problem.
Instructions for Windows XP
Step I
1. Right-click on the Taskbar and click Properties
2. Select the Start Menu tab
3. Select the Start menu option, and click Customize…
4. Click the E-mail drop down box and select your mail client.
Important: If your mail client is already showing up as the default option, you still need to click the drop down menu and select the item. Otherwise the setting will not be saved correctly!
5. Click OK.
Step II
Note: You need to login as Administrator or equivalent to perform the following steps.
1. Open Internet Explorer
2. Click the Tools menu and choose Internet Options
3. Click Programs tab
4. Select your mail client from the drop down box.
5. Click OK to close the dialog.
Instructions for Windows Vista
1. Click Start, select Default Programs
2. Click Set your default programs
3. Select your mail client from the list
4. Click Set this program as default, and click OK.
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I tried it and it worked for me. I had checked the box but not actually clicked to select it since it was already showing as default. When I clicked to select it again all started working as it should.
Great solution. I had the same problem and fixed it using the instructions above.
Thanks,
To Chuck FLink,
sorry to hear that the tool would not work in Windows 7, unfortunately I am not able to comment on what registry changes are made or to make changes to the tool.
I suggest you contact the maker “Ramesh Srinivasan” via the link below and put forward your question/suggestion.
Good Luck
To Livebird:
The tool you pointed to above does not run on Windows 7… what it would do might work, but the program checks and reports that it was designed only for Vista. Please describe the registry changes it performs or fix it so it will work in 7.
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/224/1/Register-Windows-Live-Hotmail-with-the-Default-Programs-tool-in-Windows-Vista.html
um am running win7 and under “Set default programs” you say click on the mail client. might seem strange but i dont have any mail client in there at all. i dont even have anything that says mail :(
TO CHUCK FLINK,
try the solution I posted … it works for Vista and should work for Windows 7 as it uses the same IE8 browser.
It does not matter what you see or don’t see in the startup of windows 7 .. this fix is to make Hotmail your default email program and therefore it will make a browser page open at mail.live.com when you use the mail icon of IE8.
Post back and lets know how you get on.
Gracias por tu ayuda. Ahora funciona el botón “leer correo” en IE8 y me abre el outlook express.
Envié la consulta a Microsoft y no han sabido resolver el problema.
Te deseo lo mejor.
Desde Madrid, un abrazo.
Thanks, great, it works. You’re the best. Can I ask you a question about RealPlayer?
Thanks a 1000 times,
Cornelis
Great tip, thanks a boat load.