"News" toolbar button opens wrong program

[Steve T]

"News" toolbar button opens wrong program in Outlook 2007 standalone running
under Vista Home Premium SP1. It opens Windows Mail as the newsreader. I
have Windows Live Mail selected as my default News reader. I cannot find
anything to change the path for this button. How do I config so it works
correctly?

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Control Panel->Add/Remove Programs->Set Programs Access and Defaults.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
ALWAYS post your Outlook version.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, Steve T asked:

| "News" toolbar button opens wrong program in Outlook 2007 standalone
| running under Vista Home Premium SP1. It opens Windows Mail as the
| newsreader. I have Windows Live Mail selected as my default News
| reader. I cannot find anything to change the path for this button.
| How do I config so it works correctly?

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the tip. However, I am running Vista Home Premium SP1. I went
to Control Panel->Default Programs and changed my News reader default to
Windows Mail Live prior to posting here. I just went and verified it is
still selected and it is. I have since rebooted, deleted all temp internet
files, cookies and history and of course that made no difference. What else
you got for me?

Thanks in advance,

Steve

Outlook 2007 Standalone
Student Office 2007

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Thanks for the tip. However, I am running Vista Home Premium SP1. I
went to Control Panel->Default Programs and changed my News reader default
to Windows Mail Live prior to posting here. I just went and verified it
is still selected and it is. I have since rebooted, deleted all temp
internet files, cookies and history and of course that made no difference.
What else you got for me?

I've seen some reports that no matter what you set as your newsreader, Vista
will choose Windows Mail. Try this: click here and tell us what starts:
nntp://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlook.installation
Also, in IE, click Tools>Internet Options>Programs and state what's in the
"News" dropdown.

 

[steviegt]

Windows Live Mail could not open the following url is the message I get when
I click on the link you provided.

IE, click Tools>Internet Options>Programs.....there is no News dropdown.
There is Internet Programs->Set Programs which open Control Panel->Default
Programs->Set your default programs. I select Windows Live Mail (News) and
it is set as the default.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Windows Live Mail could not open the following url is the message I get
when I click on the link you provided.

Try this: news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlook.installation

 

[steviegt]

It does nothing other than making my current active window appear to be
inactive. Isn't this the same site we are on? What is/was supposed to
happen?

 

[Peter Foldes]

IE\Properties\Programs\newsgroups and use the small dropdown arrow to select WLM

 

[steviegt]

I apologize if I seem stupid but, what is the starting point?
IE/Properties? Where am I clicking/right clicking at the start? Thanks.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

steviegt wrote on Mon, 29 December 2008 07:05

I apologize if I seem stupid but, what is the starting point?
IE/Properties? Where am I clicking/right clicking at the start? Thanks.

That path does not exist in Vista. In either Control panel or from IE, go to internet options, programs tab, set programs button. Verify WLM is set as the news reader. If so, and if Go, news doesn't work (it doesn't load WLM for me), you'll need to use a shortcut to open WLM. I prefer a shortcut on the Quick Launch toolbar or pinned to the start menu, but you can add one to Outlook's toolbar as a hyperlinked button if you prefer (it takes extra mouse clicks to use a shortcut in outlook - pinned to the start menu is easier).

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

 

[steviegt]

Thanks Diane. I have it pinned to my start menu. Anytime I want to go to
the newsgroups I seem to be in Outlook that's why I wanted to find out how
to fix the News button. Sounds like it's a flaw in Outlook. I'll stick
with the pinned item in the start menu.

steviegt wrote on Mon, 29 December 2008 07:05

I apologize if I seem stupid but, what is the starting point?
IE/Properties? Where am I clicking/right clicking at the start? Thanks.

That path does not exist in Vista. In either Control panel or from IE, go
to internet options, programs tab, set programs button. Verify WLM is set
as the news reader. If so, and if Go, news doesn't work (it doesn't load
WLM for me), you'll need to use a shortcut to open WLM. I prefer a
shortcut on the Quick Launch toolbar or pinned to the start menu, but you
can add one to Outlook's toolbar as a hyperlinked button if you prefer (it
takes extra mouse clicks to use a shortcut in outlook - pinned to the
start menu is easier).

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Outlook was written before they changed the simple mail client to Mail and
it's hard coded for MSIMN.exe, not the wlm exe. They are depreciating the
ability to open the newsreader from outlook so it may not be updated in
future versions. (It caused a lot of confusion for users who thought it was
part of outlook, not OE in news-only mode.)

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
(e-mail address removed)

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
(e-mail address removed)

You can access this newsgroup by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx or point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

Thanks Diane. I have it pinned to my start menu. Anytime I want to go to
the newsgroups I seem to be in Outlook that's why I wanted to find out how
to fix the News button. Sounds like it's a flaw in Outlook. I'll stick
with the pinned item in the start menu.

steviegt wrote on Mon, 29 December 2008 07:05

I apologize if I seem stupid but, what is the starting point?
IE/Properties? Where am I clicking/right clicking at the start?
Thanks.

IE\Properties\Programs\newsgroups and use the small dropdown arrow to
select WLM

That path does not exist in Vista. In either Control panel or from IE,
go to internet options, programs tab, set programs button. Verify WLM is
set as the news reader. If so, and if Go, news doesn't work (it doesn't
load WLM for me), you'll need to use a shortcut to open WLM. I prefer a
shortcut on the Quick Launch toolbar or pinned to the start menu, but you
can add one to Outlook's toolbar as a hyperlinked button if you prefer
(it takes extra mouse clicks to use a shortcut in outlook - pinned to the
start menu is easier).

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

It does nothing other than making my current active window appear to be
inactive. Isn't this the same site we are on? What is/was supposed to
happen?

Just checking to see if the NNTP protocol starts Windows Live Mail, and
apparently it does.