Vista - Windows Mobile Device Center & Outlook

I have an older version of Outlook (2000). When I attempt to load Windows
Mobile Device Center 6.1, I receive an error that I cannot load the program
unless Outlook is set as my default Mail, New, Calendar and Contacts program.
I have changed the file associations for these in the control panel. When I
open Outlook it says that it is not the default program and asks if I want it
to be set as the default program. I repeatedly select yes, however, it does
not work, as I receive the same message the next time I open Outlook.

I am running Vista Basic (came with the new computer).

Why would Microsoft create Windows Mobile Device Center 6.1 (which only runs
on Vista) and not make the program compatitable with Windows Mail (which
comes standard on Vista)?

How do I load Windows Mobile Device Center if I cannot get Outlook to be the
default program? How do I actually get Outlook to be the default program?

Bob Druzisky