Can't access E-Mail

  • Thread starter Thread starter Barry W
  • Start date Start date
B

Barry W

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!
 
Barry said:
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!
Click to expand...

Almost any time there's an Office update, Outlook is set as your default
email. It's asking for your username and password. Since you possibly
use OE or another program for email, you need to click Start, "Set
progrma access and defaults", the expand button to the right of the
checked configuration, and select your email program.
 
[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/reviews/xp_sp1_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/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
 
Thank you!
I realized, through you kind advice, that OE was not by default. Oooops!
Don't know why but I made it so and now, all seems to work
just fine.
Until another silly problem presents itself.....!
________________________________________________________________________
PA Bear said:
[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/reviews/xp_sp1_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/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002



Barry said:
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!
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
YW & thanks for your feedback.
Thank you!
I realized, through you kind advice, that OE was not by default. Oooops!
Don't know why but I made it so and now, all seems to work
just fine.
Until another silly problem presents itself.....!
________________________________________________________________________
PA Bear said:
[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/reviews/xp_sp1_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/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002



Barry said:
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!
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Back
Top