email link

First question, Is there a way to get the email link in the start menu not to use explorer??

Second Question, Why are my only two options Windows Mail or Live Mail?? Out of a billion different mail servers used by their customers and they pull that kind of crap?? (we'll make Windows "easy to use" except if you want to use someone else's software. Thanks again Microsoft.

Sorry about the rant but I would llike it if I could hit the mail option in my various softwares and actually have it use my mail and not only open through Explorer or use Outlook. Versatility Microsoft, thats what makes a good OS not one that only likes to play with your other products.

Hi

First...Explorer? Don't you mean Outlook...
Second, yes you can, you just have to have another Email program installed and then it will be added to your options for the email program in the Start Menu Properties. This will NOT give you web based email options tho, it has to be a Client that is installed onto your machine.

I use Eudora 7.1.0.9 for Windows and have always Loved it.

Squa190 said:

First question, Is there a way to get the email link in the start menu not to use explorer??

Second Question, Why are my only two options Windows Mail or Live Mail?? Out of a billion different mail servers used by their customers and they pull that kind of crap?? (we'll make Windows "easy to use" except if you want to use someone else's software. Thanks again Microsoft.

Sorry about the rant but I would llike it if I could hit the mail option in my various softwares and actually have it use my mail and not only open through Explorer or use Outlook. Versatility Microsoft, thats what makes a good OS not one that only likes to play with your other products.

Click to expand...

"Windows Mail" and "Windows Live Mail" are nothing more than the names of the programs, and implies nothing about whether or not you can use different email servers.

To add you mail server, do the following:

1. Open Windows Mail (or Windows Live Mail)
2. Click the "Tools" menu, then select "Accounts..."
3. In the Internet Account window, click Add.
4. Select "E-mail Account", and click "Next"
5. Type your name, click "Next"
6. Type your email address, click "Next"
7. Type your POP3 server address
8. Type your SMTP server address, click "Next"
9. Type your email username
10. Type your email password, click "Next"
11. Click "Finish"

That's it. No third-party programs required.

Well first I checked out what you said Dzomlija
To add you mail server, do the following:

1. Open Windows Mail (or Windows Live Mail)
2. Click the "Tools" menu, then select "Accounts..."
3. In the Internet Account window, click Add.
4. Select "E-mail Account", and click "Next"
5. Type your name, click "Next"
6. Type your email address, click "Next"
7. Type your POP3 server address
8. Type your SMTP server address, click "Next"
9. Type your email username
10. Type your email password, click "Next"
11. Click "Finish"

That's it. No third-party programs required.

Windows Mail can't/won't work with http mail servers or at least that what the screen says when I try to create an account.

Thanks Chappy for stating the obvious, which I had totally blown over, LOL. I realize now that the Email link is strictly for client email software not just a link to anything you want. Shame It would be nice to have that Email link on the Start Menu too bad Microsoft didn't allow adjusting what it does.

As for the Explorer issue, I could use Windows Live Mail,(notice how they only allow the link to connect to their mail system using their software) after all it is Hotmail. EXCEPT that it only opens up the browseer using Internet Explorer (which is funny cuz its not set as my default) I guess They have hard wired the link to only use Explorer. Still not a Microsoft or Vista fan. I like choices and Microsoft doesn't they want me to be a Micorsoft OS using Microsoft software. I should have gone Linux or bought a Mac, just to be free of Bill.

Squa190 said:

As for the Explorer issue, I could use Windows Live Mail,(notice how they only allow the link to connect to their mail system using their software) after all it is Hotmail. EXCEPT that it only opens up the browseer using Internet Explorer (which is funny cuz its not set as my default) I guess They have hard wired the link to only use Explorer. Still not a Microsoft or Vista fan.

Click to expand...

If you want to change the "eMail Link" in the start menu to a different program, try this:

1. Right-click the Start Orb, then select properties
2. Click "Customize"
3. Either turn off the "E-Mail Link" check box, or turn it on and select your desired e-Mail client from the list.
4. Click "OK"
5. Click "OK"

Squa190 said:

I like choices and Microsoft doesn't they want me to be a Micorsoft OS using Microsoft software. I should have gone Linux or bought a Mac, just to be free of Bill.

Click to expand...

That still won't solve your problem, because not many email clients support HTTP mail. And if they do, not all web-based mail providers can be used with them, unless the mail client has been specifically designed to work with that particular HTTP mail service.

And just because an email client is on Linux or Mac doesn't mean that it will magically support HTTP mailboxes either!

Sorry about the needless comments all. I am experiencing daily frustration with Vista. I am slow to like new OS but never like this. Windows 3.1 up to XP all without any issues needing me to ask other people or search forums. I just don't have the time to mess with Vista (or search through tons of forums and posts) every time I try to do something. I got a nice new computer and Microsoft is killing all the joy.

Squa190 said:

Sorry about the needless comments all. I am experiencing daily frustration with Vista. I am slow to like new OS but never like this. Windows 3.1 up to XP all without any issues needing me to ask other people or search forums. I just don't have the time to mess with Vista (or search through tons of forums and posts) every time I try to do something. I got a nice new computer and Microsoft is killing all the joy.

Click to expand...

Don't sweat it. Adapting to new tech is always accompanied by a learning curve. How steep that learning curve is depends entirely on you and your willingness to adapt.

Squa190 said:

Sorry about the needless comments all. I am experiencing daily frustration with Vista. I am slow to like new OS but never like this. Windows 3.1 up to XP all without any issues needing me to ask other people or search forums. I just don't have the time to mess with Vista (or search through tons of forums and posts) every time I try to do something. I got a nice new computer and Microsoft is killing all the joy.

Click to expand...

Maybe the wrong question is being asked. What do you want to be able to do with your mail? What program do you want to use to access it?

As for Linux and Mac, it's all the same. There are all of the same problems and crashes. With technology there are always problems. Although since Linux is free, I can't complain too much about that (I use Ubuntu 8.04 frequently). My buddy's Mac is cool and he loves his Mac AirBook and raves about how innovative and cool Apple is (I don't see how a laptop that I can't change the battery, no integrated DVD drive, and has one USB port is innovative; but it looks good) but he has problems, too.

hexmaniac...basically i wanted to be able to click the mail link and have it go to my hotmail account. Windows live would work but it only opens using Explorer. I don't use Explorer at all and it's not set as a default. I was trying to find out how to change that but I dont think you can. I just have to make my own link which i guess is fine but stupid. So much stuff makes itself usless or is just uneeded and just takes up drive space and Ram. I knew Vista was a resource cow but I thought at least it would be usable. I would have gone XP 64 but I was told they are no longer going to update drivers and suck for it after January 1st.

Squa190 said:

hexmaniac...basically i wanted to be able to click the mail link and have it go to my hotmail account. Windows live would work but it only opens using Explorer. I don't use Explorer at all and it's not set as a default. I was trying to find out how to change that but I dont think you can. I just have to make my own link which i guess is fine but stupid. So much stuff makes itself usless or is just uneeded and just takes up drive space and Ram. I knew Vista was a resource cow but I thought at least it would be usable. I would have gone XP 64 but I was told they are no longer going to update drivers and suck for it after January 1st.

Click to expand...

Thunderbird 2 with the webmail extensions should be able to access and use Hotmail to send and receive emails. Then just set up Thunderbird to be the default email client in the start menu properties. Installed email clients will show up in the drop down menu for the email program.

Thunderbird FAQ:
Thunderbird Help: Thunderbird FAQ

thanks hex..and sorry for the typos...I reread that message and laughed at myself

Let me know if that's the route you take and it works fine. As for any typos, don't worry about 'em. We all do it and most people usually know what you're trying to say, anyway. MS has lifted the restriction that you have to have a paid Hotmail account to access it with a stand alone client, so it should work just fine with T-Bird 2.