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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15 Comments

  1. Rudy
    said this on Wednesday, January 11th 2012 6:24 am

    Thanks for the fix. Just be sure to click the apply and ok buttons.
    Rudy

  2. shortymat
    said this on Wednesday, November 2nd 2011 2:41 am

    I tried this, but it did not correct my problem. OE is my default.

  3. faychin
    said this on Saturday, June 18th 2011 3:23 am

    Thanks fixed my XP system. Had to do both steps but it worked. I also had to switch to the new view vs my selected classic view to see the screen to fix as shown in the example.

  4. arguegar
    said this on Wednesday, April 27th 2011 6:08 am

    Thanks for the suggestion. Outlook express was already there- all I did was click it again and press apply, then ok.

  5. Dan Cooper
    said this on Saturday, March 12th 2011 1:34 am

    Thanks worked like a charm from Step 1!

    Dan

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