Windows Mail Default Associations

How to Add Back and Set Windows Mail Default Associations​

   Information

This will show you how set Windows Mail default associations back to it to make Windows Mail the default email program.

   Note

Windows Mail can lose it's default associations when you install another email program. If you installed MS Office Outlook, it may set itself as the default email program everytime it updates. You will need to uninstall it or leave it as your default email program to stop this.

   Tip

Since Internet Explorer works closely with Windows Mails on a lot of features, it would be best to make sure Internet Explorer has it's default association set for it below to.

Here's How:

1. If open, close Windows Mail first before doing the steps below.​

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2. Open the Control Panel (Classic View), and click on the Default Programs icon.​

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3. Click on the Set your default programs link. (See screenshot below)​

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4. Click on Windows Mail in left pane list. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: If Windows Mail is not listed in the Set Default Programs list, then see: How to Restore or Remove Windows Mail from Default Programs to restore and add it back. Afterwards, repeat step 1 above.​

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5. To Set Windows Mail with All of it's Defaults​

A) Click on Set this program as default to set all associations for Windows Mail. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: It will say, This program has all its defaults, afterwards.​

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B) Click on OK to apply and close window.​

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6. To Manually Set Windows Mail Defaults​

A) Click on Choose defaults for this program to manually choose the associations for Windows Mail.​

NOTE: If any of the 3 associations are missing from the screenshot in step 6D, then do the NOTE under step 4.​

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B) Check the associations you want Windows Mail to open. (See screenshot below)​

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C) Click on Save to apply.​

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D) Click on OK to close window.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Set Default Associations For a Program in Vista
• How to Associate a Individual File Extension Type With a Program
• How to Fix Most Problems with Vista's "Windows Mail"
• How to Restore or Remove Windows Mail from Default Programs

 

[Brink]

LOL, no problem Clover.

See if running a sfc /scannow command can find and fix any bad system files that may be the cause of this.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html

If it still does not help, then you may have some conflict with remnants of XP in Vista. You would then need to do a clean install of Vista instead. This tutorial will show you how to do a clean install with a upgrade version of Vista instead of upgrading through XP.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/68767-clean-install-upgrade-vista.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Cloverleaf]

Hi again,
I ran the sfc/scannow, found no problems. Read a few other forums and decided to try Windows live mail. This seems to have done the trick. Thanks for all your help, it was much appreciated


Clover...........

 

[Brink]

Your welcome Clover. Thank you for posting back with your solution. I found Windows Live Mail to be better and more stable IMO also.

 

[aquis]

Can I add somehow a different program for mailto in the registry ?
I manage after some fightings to have outlook 2000 to open nicely without any other prompts ! but when click mailto I have now windopws mail opening !

Any ideea where to edit or add a new program from program files ?

 

[Brink]

Hello Aquis, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Yes, you can do that. Make Outlook your default email program, then do step 6 instead and leave the MailTo option under step 6D unchecked for Windows Mail.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[aquis]

Problem is that when opening the defaults there and I try to manually do that I don't see the menu as yopresented with file edit and so on in image on step 6.

If I go to associate a file type or protocol with mailto I see there only Opera and Windows mail and the Outlook 2000 is not listed there... I've thought you know a key inside regedit to be added in order to have Outlook 200 also added !

Kind regards

Petronel

 

[Brink]

Well, the main problem is that only Outlook 2003 and newer is fully compatible with Vista. You might be able to set Outlook 2000 as the default from within that program's settings though, then come back and check the other options except MAILTO for Windows Mail in Default Programs.

 

[aquis]

well the key would help more I think as long in the OL2000 not see any checks to make it default

 

[Brink]

After you made the adjustments from above, you should be able to uncheck the "Always check if default" option from within the Outlook 2000 settings for it not to anymore.

 

[aquis]

Sorry I am not get it ! I click on Default Programs and than Set Association... than I select MAILTO: protocol and try to CHANGE PROGRAM but here I see only Opera and Windows Mail !

I've thought I should see here Microsoft Outlook 2000 and that would be all !
So maybe a regkey to be added somewhere to see here Outlook ?

Thank you for your patience !

 

[Brink]

Normally that is what you would do Auis, but since only Outlook 2003 and newer is compatible with Vista, Outlook 2000 will not work properly in Vista. Instead, you will need to open Outlook 2000 and and set it's settings for the "Make default" options. Next, Open Default Programs, and only check the "MAIL TO:" option in the manual settings (step 6) for Windows Mail.

Since Outlook 2000 is not campatible with Vista, I cannot gaurantee that it will run properly in Vista or that the associations for Outlook 2000 will stick. The only way to be sure is to get Outlook 2003 or newer.

 

[bassfisher6522]

I have the same problem Brink. Mine has been awhile. My email client is the new Windows live Mail 2009. Before that I was using the regular windows live mail. I have tried all fixes that I found on the net and several forums but nothing is seems to work. What do you suggest for me.

 

[Brink]

Hello Bassfisher,

Which one is your same problem?

 

[bassfisher6522]

send page by email and send page by link are grayed out. I've tried all mentioned fixes and even reset IE to default settings and still grayed out.

 

[Brink]

Bassfisher,

Usually making sure that Windows Mail is set as the default program with all of it's associations set to it resolves this. You may need to close and reopen IE7 to apply though.