Can't make Windows Mail default email program

[MarneWY]

This my first posting. I've learned so much from you guys in the short time I've used your site. I hope I'm providing enough info to enable someone to help me!

I reinstated Windows Mail on my 32-bit computer running Windows 7 Professional. As your tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/5481-windows-mail-.html warned, Windows Mail didn't reinstate correctly until I uninstalled Windows LIVE mail 2011 (it didn't break my heart to do THAT!). But now, everytime I log into Windows Mail I am asked whether I want it to be my default email program. I click "yes," but then next time I log on to Windows Mail, I'm asked the same thing. I've gone into Ctrl Panel>Internet Options>Programs>Set Programs>Set Default Programs, but Windows Mail is not an option there. I know someone in a previous thread said that this can be cured by installing Windows LIVE mail (or Incredimail, which I've not hear of), and then there would be two email programs to choose from--not none, as I have now. Then, in theory, from that "list" I could select Windows Mail as the default.

I am reluctant to do that at this point. I have a sneaking suspicion that this problem may be related to the fact that Windows Mail appears ONLY as a Shortcut in my Start Menu. I can't find it listed as a full program anywhere (i.e, in the Uninstall Program list or All Programs). When I followed the reinstate tutorial, I was unable to manually edit the registry key because at the HKEY_CURRENT_USER "Classes" level "eml_auto_file" didn't show. I can't totally remember what I did at that point, but somehow, I created a WinMail shortcut on my desktop. Probably not a good thing to do?

If this is the root of my problem, what's the remedy? If this Shortcut issue doesn't have anything to do with my problem in establishing a default mail program, do I need to start a new thread to fix the status of the WinMail program?

BTW, thanks so much for the tutorial to reinstate Windows Mail! After I get all the bugs out of this install, I'm going to get the nerve to try it on my 64-bit laptop.

MarneWY

 

[johnnya]

Hi MarneWY. Can't help you much on setting Windows Mail permanently as default but here's my story. Like you I used the Windows Mail reinstate hack since Windows 7 did not ship with an Email program. Works just fine for my needs. Then I tried to install the just released SP1 update and it will not install on my machine with the hack in place. Unfortunately there is no "hack reversal" proceedure so I ended up having to do a CLEAN windows install - lot of hours. I'l have to do the same for my daughters laptop as I modified hers too. Now, after I got mine reloaded, I installed Windows Live Mail and found it to be a quite acceptable Email Prog. I had avoided it at first because I thought you had to have a Live ID and that my email would be stored somewhere on MS servers. Not so. Everything is still on my machine and the learning curve for WLM has fairly easy. Wish I had not jumped so fast on the Windows Mail reinstatement.. Anyway, one man's story. I wish you luck with your quest.
Regards
JohnnyA

 

[MarneWY]

Thanks for sharing Johnnya. Your saga doesn't sound good. For better or worse, I already had SP1 on this computer, so that problem didn't crop up. But unless I get advice about how to get Windows Mail to actually appear as more than a Shortcut in my programs, I can see I'll have a heck of a time uninstalling it if I want to. I will certainly hold off putting it on my laptop. I'm still hoping that I can get it to work properly. I've used Windows Live Mail (still have it on my laptop) but was disappointed with it because it couldn't (or wouldn't) follow the Message Rules I set in regards to certain senders. It will label things as "spam" but not route those to my Junk folder. I use Kaspersky 2011 Pure for my online security and its "spam training" feature has not yet been adapted for Windows Live Mail. Guess I should've bought a different security program but it's too late for this year--I just bought it last week!

 

[roncerr]

I believe there is a bug in WLM 2011 which requires that you do a "repair" of Windows Live Essentials via Programs and Features in order to get the Junk Mail filter to work right. Can't hurt and easy to do.

In regard to making Windows Mail the default, see the tip box at the top of the Tutorial page: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/5481-windows-mail.html

 

[MarneWY]

Thanks. Been there, done that on the default tutorial. I'm not getting the box asking me if I want WM to be default, but WM still isn't in my Programs as anything but a Shortcut. Works ok but now I'm wondering if it will be a problem 1) when I update Windows, 2) when I want to uninstall it.

I'd like to try the WLM repair on my 64-bit laptop running Windows Home Premium, but apparently I need to be walked through it. (I plead ignorance!)

Control Panel>Programs and Features>Uninstall or Change a Program>select Windows Live Essentials 2011 and a little hover-box says Uninstall/change. Do I select that? If I do, does it then give me a specific "repair" option to select or does it automatically understand what I want to change or repair? I know I'd probably receive a bunch of warnings before an uninstall, but this makes me nervous!

Do I need to select a specific repair or will the program just know? If this is a known problem, why wouldn't this repair just take place during a typical Windows update? Just askin'...

 

[roncerr]

...Control Panel>Programs and Features>Uninstall or Change a Program>select Windows Live Essentials 2011 and a little hover-box says Uninstall/change. Do I select that? If I do, does it then give me a specific "repair" option to select or does it automatically understand what I want to change or repair?...

Yes, "uninstall/change" button at the top of the Program list with "Windows Live Essentials" highlighted. Choose "repair" in next window; it will repair all installed components of Essentials, including Mail.

 

[MarneWY]

Thanks, Roncerr! I found the fix you were talking about (on windowslivehelp.com). After uninstalling Windows Live Essentials and then reinstalling it, I was then able to do the repair. It totally worked! In a half hour 2 of my blocked senders went straight to my junk mail box, just like I wanted. Yahoo! Really, this junk mail problem was the only reason I didn't like Live Mail. Think I'm going to reinstall it on the Windows 7 computer that I reinstated Windows Mail on. Then--I hope--I can Uninstall Windows mail. I'm thinking that might be a problem since it doesn't appear on the start menu or in Programs and Features.

Thanks again.