Windows no longer allows us to choose default email clients that are not Microsoft based. However, if one of the things that will help you is to have direct, easy access to GMail, what you can do (as a kind of work-around) is to add GMail to your Home link, so that you have easy access directly to the screen you want to access. To do this, just follow these directions:
First, customize the Command Bar:
Open IE, click on View, Toolbars, and check the Command toolbar. Then, put your cursor on the Command toolbar, right-click, and then at the bottom of the list, select Customize. Click on: "Add or Remove Commands.' From the list of commands, add the 'Home' icon.
Then, go to the specific GMail page that you wish to add to your Home Page settings.
From that page, open IE, and in the Command Bar go to the Home icon and click the little down-arrow 6 to the right of the Home icon.
Select 'Add or Change Home Page.'
A menu will open that says: Would you like to use the following as your home page?
If you wish to add this webpage to a list of “Home pages” then click: Add this webpage to your Homepage tabs.
If you wish this webpage to be your only Home page, then click: Use this webpage as your only homepage.
Once done, any time you click on the Home icon, a drop down menu will open and you can click on the GMail link and go directly to that page. I have 6 links in my Home menu --- it's kind of like a mini QuickAccess toolbar. Very handy, and you can change it easily any time you wish.
