how do you set Outlook 2003 as Win7 default mail client


  1. ralphmurmegen
    Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Home Premium
       New #1

    how do you set Outlook 2003 as Win7 default mail client


    I have Office 2003 Basic Edition installed on Windows 7 Home Premium. From within Outlook I have set Outlook to be my default email program, yet clicking on any email link through Internet Explorer or any other program brings up Windows Live Mail (which I do not wish to use). From within Word, if I opt to send a document by using 'File-Send To-Mail Recipient', then it does use Outlook (this is the only instance I have discovered of it obeying my command). But if I use 'File-Send To-Mail Recipient (as Attachment)', which I use far more often, then, again, it defaults to Windows Live Mail.

    If I access the Default Programs menu in Win7, it does not offer Outlook 2003 as a choice to make my default email program, even though the program is fully installed and is running in all other respects without any glitches.

    If, from within Default Programs, I highlight Windows Live Mail and try to 'Choose defaults for this program', it does not allow me to deselect associations for the program, so I cannot deactivate Windows Live Mail either.

    Has anyone found a way around this problem, or has Microsoft decided to force its customers into using Windows Live Mail as a default email client, thereby making it impossible to work with another email program that functions with full default email functionality? I have found a few threads about the problem but no answers to date.

    There must be someone out there who has worked out a solution. Has anyone tried uninstalling Windows Live Mail to see if that makes a difference?
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  3. V3xar
    Posts : 304
    Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Build 7600
       New #2

    Hi ralphmurmegen! Welcome to SevenForums.

    Just to double check that you have followed the following procedure:


    • Click Start.
    • Type "default programs" in the Start Search box.
    • Click Default Programs under Programs in the search results.
    • Now click Set your default programs.
    • Highlight Microsoft Office Outlook or Microsoft Outlook on the left.
    • Click Set this program as default.
    • Click OK.

    Are you saying that "Outlook" does not appear under the "Program" list on the left?


    .
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  4. ralphmurmegen
    Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    That's right, Outlook does not appear under the Program list in Default Programs.

    Could this be an issue with Win 7 Home Premium - Microsoft only giving Home Premium users the option of using Windows Live Mail?
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  6. V3xar
    Posts : 304
    Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Build 7600
       New #4

    ralphmurmegen said:
    That's right, Outlook does not appear under the Program list in Default Programs.

    Could this be an issue with Win 7 Home Premium - Microsoft only giving Home Premium users the option of using Windows Live Mail?
    Nope.:) I have both Premium and Ultimate and it works perfectly for me.

    A few Windows 7 / Vista users however have been faced with the problem of recently installed software not being displayed in the list of installed / default programs. Microsoft attributes this problem to the fact the program has not registered itself on installation. A program typically registers itself on installation by means of a new entry in the system registry.

    One solution is to download a free program : Default Programs Editor.

    Default Programs Editor - A Useful File Association Editor for Windows 7 and Vista - The Winhelponline Blog

    http://defaultprogramseditor.com/


    This program will allow you to add or remove default associations.

    Hope this helps.:)


    .
    Last edited by V3xar; 23 Jan 2010 at 12:07. Reason: Added download link.
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  7. Capt.Jack Sparrow
    Posts : 4,772
    Windows 7 Ultimate - 64-bit | Windows 8 Pro - 64-bit
       New #5

    I don't think its limited to Windows 7 Home. You could try to Remove Windows Live Mail then ran a Repair install for your Microsoft Office. I guess there might be some registry value missing within Outlook that is causing the problem. Maybe a Repair can fix it.

    Hope this helps,
    Captain
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  8. 1Bowtie
    Posts : 1,114
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       New #6

    If you have Outlook 2003 set up as your mail client, when you open Outlook mail go to tools / options and i think there you can set as default. I don't have it installed right now so i'm doing this from memory. Under tools their are some other options, check each one, but i'm sure it's right in there to set it .
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  10. ChrisBedford
    Posts : 10
    7 Pro 32 & 7 Home Prem 64
       New #7

    Here's the fix to this problem!

    reBOOT | Software - Set Outlook 2003 as default e-mail client under Windows 7 is not working

    In case that website disappears, or you don't feel like surfing, this is what you need to do:

    Two steps: 1. Fix the issue of Outlook not appearing on the list of programs that can have their defaults set byt running OL2003fix, which you get from here: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/wp.../ol2003fix.zip

    Now go to Start - Default Programs - Set your default Programs
    Now that you can see Microsoft Office Outlook in the list on the left, select it and "Set this program as default" on the right.

    2. Then fix the registry entry associated with the http: and https: links: copy-paste the text between the lines of equal-signs (not including the equal signs) into your text editor
    ==========
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto]
    "URL Protocol"=""
    ==========
    "Save As" mailto.reg (on the desktop is fine - once you have used it once you are don't need it any more and you should delete it)
    Double-click the .reg file
    Accept all the warnings about making changes to your registry.

    BAM you're done. You're welcome.
    Last edited by ChrisBedford; 05 Jan 2015 at 14:09. Reason: Cleaned up
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