Make Outlook Default

[Kent Moore]

Hi:

When I click on an e-mail address outlook express opens instead of Outlook
2007. Outlook is listed as the default within Outlook
(Options/Other/General). It is also listed as the default in the Internet
Properties/Program/E-mail. I have toggled these on and off and OE always
opens instead. How can I get my computer to recognize Outlook. This is all
on a new install of XP SP2 Home. Thanks, Kent

 

[BillR]

Try running Outlook with the /checkclient switch.
Refer here: http://www.outlook-tips.net/howto/commandlines.htm

 

[Kent Moore]

Thanks for your help, Bill. I have looked at the switches but I am not sure
which one to use or what it will do. Thanks again, Kent

 

[Kent Moore]

Oops. Sorry about that. You did mention the /checkclient switch. I put
under Run "Outlook /checkclient" and Outlook opened but there was no
difference. E-mail addresses are still opening up in OE even though I have
Outlook set as the default. Thanks so much, Kent

 

[BillR]

Are any other email clients installed?
You could try setting another email client as default and then set Outlook
as default.

 

[Kent Moore]

No I don't have any other e-mail clients. Just outlook express and Outlook
2007. Windows Live Mail is listed under Internet Properties/Program/E-mail
and I have tried toggling this off and on as well as OE and Outlook. I am
using Firefox but not Thunderbird. Everything is working on my older
computer but not on my new install. The programs are basically the same but
I did upgrade from Office 2003 on the old computer so maybe that had
something to do with it. Thanks, Kent

 

[BillR]

Firefox is your default web browser?

--
Bill R

No I don't have any other e-mail clients. Just outlook express and
Outlook 2007. Windows Live Mail is listed under Internet
Properties/Program/E-mail and I have tried toggling this off and on as
well as OE and Outlook. I am using Firefox but not Thunderbird.
Everything is working on my older computer but not on my new install. The
programs are basically the same but I did upgrade from Office 2003 on the
old computer so maybe that had something to do with it. Thanks, Kent

 

[Kent Moore]

Yes FF is my default browser. Kent

Firefox is your default web browser?

 

[Guest]

Kent, you didn't by any chance upgrade from the 2003 Student and Teacher
edition to the 2007 edition? The 2007 edition no longer includes Outlook.
Judy

 

[Kent Moore]

Thanks Judy. No I installed Outlook 2007 fresh. I have Office Enterprise
which I guess does include Outlook. Thanks for your help, Kent

 

[BillR]

I'd say that's the problem. I can find references to setting FF as default
for Url's ( http://www.slipstick.com/problems/firefox.htm ) but not the
email links in FF as default for Outlook.
Firefox forums might know of the problem.

 

[Kent Moore]

Thanks for all your help Bill. I tried to set IE as default but this did
not help. Kent

 

[BillR]

I"m stuck Kent. See if anyone else can come up with some ideas.

 

[Kent Moore]

I know. It is very strange. I am pretty good with computers and usually
can at least find a solution on line but I am stuck on this too. And it
works perfectly on my old machine. Thanks for trying though. I appreciate
it very much. Kent

 

[Kent Moore]

Bill:

I may have found something and thought you would be interested. I found
this online (see below). I am using Outlook 2007 though. So I will have to
put something different in the registry. Do you know what I should put. I
checked my registry and it does say outlook express under this key so this
may work if I can change the registry properly. I will back it up. Thanks,
Kent

Check to see if the MailTo protocol in the registry is pointing to windows
mail. You can manually change it there. I still cannot get outlook to be in
the default programs list but i finally got mine working:

if you click start and type "regedit" without the quotations in start search
press enter and then press continue if you have user account control on.

browse to the following registry key by doubleclicking each folder:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTmailto

Right click the Mailto folder and choose export. Save it as mailto in your
documents folder or on your desktop. just in case you need to restore this
key.

Backing it up is optional but once you delete or change anything in your
registry there is no undo button. So i strongly recommend backing it up.

Now click:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTmailtoshellopencommand

Doubleclick where it says Default.

What is this set to?

If it is set to windows mail, delete what is in there and copy and paste
this command in there WITH the quotation marks:

"Crogram FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice11OUTLOOK.EXE" -c IPM.Note /m "%1"

After that you should be able to click a link and have the mail to come up
in outlook instead of windows mail. This is also assuming your outlook 2003
is installed in the default directory and you are able to send and receive
with outlook.

Respond if you have any problems with it.

 

[Kent Moore]

This is what is there now. "%ProgramFiles%\Outlook Express\msimn.exe"
/mailurl:%1 Kent

 

[Kent Moore]

Sorry for the multiple e-mails. My Outlook is in the default location
(C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12) so perhaps changing the 11 to
12 will work. I am not sure what all of that other stuff is after the
location, however. -c IPM.Note /m "%1 Thanks, Kent

 

[Kent Moore]

Bill:
I solved it! I went into Folder Options/File Types and found this path
"C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\OUTLOOK.EXE" -c IPM.Note /m "%1" I put that
in the registry and now Outlook opens. What a lot of work it was to solve
this one. Once again, thanks so much for all of your time and assistance.
Take care, Kent

 

[BillR]

Way cool Kent - glad you got it fixed. Now why Outlook didn't set that with
all that was done is the mystery.