Can I use hotmail as my default in XP?

fifitrix123

Hi
I have just had XP installed so it's all new to me.
Could someone please tell me how to put hotmail as my default mail as when I click onto an email link it goes to windows email and I don't use that at all.
Also it has just said that Mcafee has just stopped working and I don't have the disc, is there anyway I can find out what has happened to it?

Thanks in advance for any help :beer:

missile

I have hotmail set to my home page for internet explorer - it works for me!

I would suggest you uninstall MacAfee and use one of several free anti-virus packages. See advice on the stickies.

fifitrix123

Thank you for your reply, not trying to sound thick but what is a stickie hehe!!
Also how do I change it in internet explorer as I have tried to cannot find it?

My computer chappie took off all my freebie anti virus stuff and installed mcafree as he said free ones were not good? I will ask him what has happened but he lives so far away its a pain really!

Thanks agian

missile

There are several stickies at the top of this forum section which cover regularly recurring topics, see here > http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=36497

You can re-install MacAfee here . http://www.mcafee-online.com/uk/store/?tracker2=siteadvisor&gclid=CPOU9e6g3JkCFdhL5QoduVzXXg

"Expert" opinions differ on which anti-virus is "best". On one hand ...... on the other ...... or it could be ........ You could try AVG > http://free-antivirus-now.com/avg/index.asp?aff=104&camp=gg_avg_uk&se=google or Avira > http://www.free-av.com/en/download/1/avira_antivir_personal__free_antivirus.html

Kane99uk

Changing your home page:

Go to the Hotmail homepage. Then, at the top of your Internet Explorer window, click Tools>Internet Options. You should see the General tab, with Home Page at the top of it. Click "Use Current", then click "Apply" at the bottom, followed by OK.

The stickies that missile referred to are the pinned threads at the top of the Tech forum, each title beginning "Sticky" - you might find the "What Security do you use", "PC Problems? - links to free online virus scanners" and the "Malware/Spyware removal guide" threads the most beneficial.

missile

Kane's post is correct. There is more than one way to change homepage and choose whichever you find easier

To change your explorer homepage>
Navigate to your hotmail account in internet explorer
Click on the icon shaped like a house
Click on option Add or change homepage
select option, e.g. use this webpage as your only homepage

fifitrix123

Thanks again.
I do have msn as my homepage but there is somewhere that gives you the option of changing your email default to hotmail instead of outlook etc etc but I cannot seem to find it so when I click on a email link it directs me to windows mail which I haven't a clue about and have never used!

This is the first time I have used XP and there is probably an easy way to do it. My hotmail account is find its only when I click onto a link that it goes to windows mail, not hotmail to send it.

I thought it was in IE but not there unless it will change now I have applied my homepage but that was the page in use anyway.

Maybe you cant use hotmail as your default to send emails from otherpage links?

danmanchester

Maybe this will work : http://email.about.com/cs/hotmailtips/qt/et032401.htm

It shows how to set Windows Live hotmail as default email by registering it as a default program.

georgept

Yes, you can use Hotmail/MSN as your default homepage. I have it as my default home page on IE. But on my Firefox browser I often use Google as the default. It depends on your preference actually.

elkay115

The OP isn't asking how to set their home page to Hotmail, they are asking how to set their email to hotmail as the default email when clicking on email links.

Something I would like to know how to do too as it happens.

corkyspider

Hi fifitrix and elkay115 - To riterate, it sounds like you would both like to know how to change your default email client.

Historically, compared to other browser based mail providers (yahoo mail, gmail etc) microsoft have not provided pop3/smtp access to the hotmail servers for free. Using these, you are able to configure an email client, such as MS Outlook / Outlook Express to send and recieve your 'browser' based emails.

Unfortunately this is not (or wasn't) possible with hotmail for the above reason. If you googled "make hotmail my default" you would get lots or results, including some with multiple work arounds and some that cost you money.

A quick an easy alternative if you don't mind changing your address, would be to register for a gmail (google) account (gmail.google.com) and set that up in outlook (assuming you have MS office installed).

If you wanted to keep your hotmail addy, you could still 'technically' achieve the same result by registering for a new gmail account and setting it up in Outlook (as above). However, the difference would be that you add a rule to your hotmail (which I think you can do) so that any new email that comes in gets forwarded to the new gmail address.

It would then appear in outlook. Additionally, you would change your outlook/gmail settings so that the from address/reply to address from any email you send is your hotmail address.

Therefore you are technically 'sending' from your hotmail addy (but via gmail) and any replies will be sent to your hotmail addy (but will be forwarded to gmail). Which when you reply... see above.

With all that in place, it is very straight forward to change your default mail to outlook;

Internet Explorer > Tools > Internet Options > Programs > Email (choose Outlook)

Then, when you click on any 'mailto:' link, it will open a new mail in Outlook.

Having waffled all of the above, if that doesn't suite then a prime example that has already been provided via the link in danmanchester's post, as to how microsoft are slowly moving things

Hope that helps your understanding at least, if not solves your problem.

Corx