Windows 7: webmail as default mail client

I am trying to set internet explorer to use my yahoo webmail as default mail client. The fast way used to be to install the yahoo toolbar, but that does not work in 7.

Going through default programs, I can find the protocols in the "Associate a File type or Protocol with a specific program" section, however, mailto: is not there.

Any known work-arounds?

thx

Hello samiam00

I don't see any other options for other programs indeed.
However, I've made a registry file that creates some keys in the registry.

After importing, you can see MAILTO protocol in explorer file assosiations under "protocols" and when you select it as default, I've made the registry keys to open yahoo webmail..

It's not an M$ or other known tweak , its mine, so I hope it might help you.

I have attached the .reg file.

Cool. I assume this could also work for GMail? Any chance you could do a tweaked tweak?

Thanks.

For Gmail there's an easier way via Gmail notifier:

Making Gmail your default mail application - Gmail Help

I like Affixa much better. This program has great options

http://www.affixa.com/

   Quote: Originally Posted by limneos

Hello samiam00

Hi
I'm new to this forum but advice looks sound.
Trying to do the same thing for windows mail( managed to get this working on windows 7 and its my mail program of choice so no WML suggestions thanks) managed to get IE8 to use it as default rather than outlook. I can't seem to register mailto: protocol or have a default program choice. limneos, I was wondering if your .reg file can be edited but its a little complicated for me( not sure on all that @=hex business).

Many thanks
micosmiling

Hello everyone,

Yeah I would greatly appreciate a simple gmail version of that yahoo registry mailto: protocol as well.

edit it before running it

Hi,
Would edit it but like I said not sure on all the stuff inside the .reg file.

I have Windows 7 64 bit, but these are the steps I used for Windows to open Firefox and go Directly to Gmail's website ANYTIME I click a "mailto:"; you can also use this for any email or any website or any program that you want to open:

1. Locate your firefox.exe file, open it's properties, and COPY the 'Target:' to NOTEPAD.

Mine was
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

2. Append USING PARENTHESES the URL to where you have your email to the file location you put in notepad, like this:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" "https://gmail.com"

3. Open the Registry Editor (Run: regedit) and go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\shell\open\command

Double-click the (Default)
Copy & Paste the program location and appending link you have just finished putting into notepad into the 'Value data:' box
Click OK.

4. That's it, you're done. I've attached my registry entry if you want to look at what I did.