[X-post to OE General]
Assuming (a) Outlook Express (OE) was your default Mail Client before the
updates, (b) MS Outlook (OL)
is (or was) also installed, (c) Microsoft Update is your default update
source, and (d) Automatic Updates just installed one or more OL updates,
see...
Microsoft Outlook updates change the default mail handler to Microsoft
Outlook
http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#13
Fix:
1. See
http://www.oehelp.com/oedef.aspx; then see...
2a.
http://www.oehelp.com/oelnk.aspx and/or...
2b. Start | Settings | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Set Program
Access and Defaults | Click on the downward-pointing arrows to the right of
the configuration that's already checked | Email: Select "Outlook Express"
here (not "Use my current...").
Illustration:
http://www.winsupersite.com/images/r...p1_beta_03.gif
If still no joy, see:
SendTo and E-mail Links Do Not Work Using Outlook Express as Default
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306098
--
OE-specific newsgroup:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof...xpress.general
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
Barry W wrote:
> I am not a technical expert by any means.
>
> Last night I was working away when the PC notified me that an update was
> going to begin in 5 minutes.
>
> I let it run and went to sleep.
>
> Today I see my PC has rebooted but my E-Mail icon has changed in
> appearance
> and when I click on it I am prompted for a User Name, Initials,
> Organization
> and Product key.
>
> I see there is a Product key sticker on my PC Tower so I type this in (I
> have no idea what should go in the other fields). I receive a message
> that
> "You have not entered a valid Product key.
>
> I have done a little bit of research and I read somewhere I have to remove
> several programs and then re-install some. I feel out of my depth here
> and
> worry that I might do something that will prove difficult to undo.
>
> I have had this PC for about 3 years and I don't understand why this has
> happened now and never before.
>
> Also I would have thought that it wouldn't just be me that would struggle
> with this kind of situation but I cannot see anybody else that is
> struggling
> doing a Google search.
>
> Can anyone help me out - all I want is to access my e-mail!