Outlook 2003 News Reader Problem

[Dan Berg]

I just upgraded to Office 2003. When I reboot my computer and run Internet
Explorer, it always tells me that Internet Explorer is not my default
browser and I have to set it to the default. But then the "Read News"
button in not available in IE. I then go into tools, internet options,
programs and it shows NOTHING for newsgroups. Then the only option is
"outlook express". If this is blank, then the "NEWS" button on the "GO"
toolbar in Outlook is not visible. If I put "outlook express" in the IE
program location, then the "NEWS" button on the "GO" works.

But this is a big hassle. Why does the IE blank out the news reader? Why
can't I select, Outlook as my default news reader? How can I uninstall
Outlook Express??? Why doesn't IE stay as the default browser??

Thanks,

Dan Berg

 

[bliss66]

I'm experiencing the same problem--it's so obvious and immediate it makes
you wonder what those Softies get up to when they're testing this stuff
in-house.

Anyway, OE is the default news reader for Outlook. I don't know why the
sudden strangeness exists but if you want to access OE as a Newsreader (w/o
e-mail), drag a copy of the OE shortcut from the All Programmes menu to your
desktop. Then right-click and choose Properties. On the shortcut tab, in
the Target box add the following switch

"C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe" /outnews

OE will then function properly as the default newsreader without creating a
new configuration. That's the best you can do for now.

Hope that helps.

sb