Mailto: with Windows Mail and Mozilla Firefox

[Wyvernfist]

Previously I had no issues with Windows Mail as my default client and a new
message window would open when I clicked mailto links. Earlier today I
clicked a mailto for the first time in a week or so, and it tried to open
Microsoft Outlook 2003, which is also installed on my machine, but not the
default mail handler. Going into the Mozilla Firefox options, I found that
for some reason it was defaulting to Outlook. I changed the setting to
Windows Mail, but now instead of opening the new message window, it just
opens Windows Mail.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Sounds like Windows Mail doesn't have all its defaults.
Open the Default Programs applet, which you can access either from
the Start menu or via the Control Panel, then click the first item:
"Set your default programs."
After a few seconds, a list of programs comes up. Click on "Windows
Mail". If it doesn't respond with "This program has all its defaults"
then fix it by clicking on the option indicated by the first green arrow.

Note: When Outlook gets an update, it frequently steals the default
assignment.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Microsoft Outlook updates change the default mail handler to Microsoft
Outlook
http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#13

Reassert Windows Mail as your default for Mail.

Assuming you don't use OL or its Calendaring feature, select the Notify Only
setting in Automatic Updates (cf.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/windowsupdate/learn/windowsvista.mspx).
Then when an OL update is offered, decline to download it and "hide" it.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, PA Bear.

Microsoft Outlook updates change the default mail handler to Microsoft
Outlook

Just FYI: Outlook 2010, in the new Office 2010 now in Technical Preview,
does NOT hijack the default mail handler setting. So relief from this
behavior is finally on the horizon! ;<)

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Nor does OL 2007. OP is running OL 2003, though, in which case AU/MU will
offer OL updates even if it's not installed.