Mail in Internet Explorer inoperative

[AlfAlmeida]

My OS is Windows 98SE with Internet Expolorer 6 and all the relevant updates.
I do not know when or how it happened, but all the items listed under "Mail" on the toolbar and also "Page by Email" and "Link by Email" under "File/Send" in Internet Explorer are inoperative. Clicking on them has absolutely no effect.

I have checked in Internet Options/Tools/Programs Tab, and everything except "HTML editor:" is blank, including the pulldown menus. It is not possible to insert anything with the keyboard. Internet Explorer is ticked as the default browser. I have tried "Reset Web Settings" but to no avail.

I would gratefully welcome suggestions to correct this problem and re-enable the inoperative items.

[AlfAlmeida]

Since my submission, I have discovered that under "Options" in Outlook Express "General" Tab, the "Default Messaging Programs" states "This is NOT the default Mail Handler", and also "This is NOT the default News Handler". When I click on "Make default" in each case and then click "Apply", this is corrected BUT, when I return to the Tab, it has changed back to NOT the default. I have tried a number of times with the same result!

[GaryRouth]

Hi AlfAlmeidia

Here's a quick-fix try:
_____________________________
Go to Start | Run and type this command, with the double quotes and spaces:

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

and then make sure that OE is selected as the default mail program in both
IE and OE.
_____________________________

This comes from this thread http://groups.google.com/group/micro...d039730823b51e

It appears to be important to type it in exactly, so using copy-and-paste is a suitable opton.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[AlfAlmeida]

Thanks Gary. Tried your suggestion but nothing happens!

I searched for msimn.exe which is where it should be, but typing "C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe" /reg in Start | Run has absolutely no effect.

msimn.exe does not appear to be corrupt, as double clicking on it launches Outlook Express.

[glc]

Try doing a repair on IE6. Look for it in add/remove programs, when you click on remove, you get a menu, repair is one of the choices.

[AlfAlmeida]

I have managed to get Outlook Express back as the default mail and news handler. I think it must have been Gary's suggestion that made this possible! Have carried out a repair to Internet Explorer as suggested by glc, but the original problem with the "mailing" menu items persist. Clicking any of them does not bring up Outlook Express to allow the sending of links or internet pages.

[chuck4456]

Just get rid of Windows 98.

[glc]

Chuck, that is not an appropriate suggestion. This IS the Win9x forum and we help people with Win98 in here. You are not complying with the spirit of these forums and we are starting to get tired of trying to guide you. I would strongly suggest you read the forum rules.

- Forum Administrator -

[GaryRouth]

Hi again -

You mentioned that you were able to set Outlook Express as the default again - did you double-check your defaults after your repaired IE6? Just to make sure, see if Outlook Express is still listed in the "Programs" list in the "Internet Options" for IE [as you probably know, you can get there through either the "Tools" menu in IE6, or Internet Options in Control Panel]. Look to make sure it's set as the default from withing OE itself, too [in Outlook Express/Tools/Options/General/"make default"].

If these don't make the menu items work in IE6 to call up OE6, try making this Registry change:
___________________
1) Start Registry Editor; click Start, click Run, and then type regedit.
2) Locate the following key in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Outlook Express
3) In the left pane, click Outlook Express. Two values should be displayed in the right pane: one is Default, which has a value of Outlook Express, and the other is DLLPath, which contains the path to Msoe.dll on your computer.
4) If the DLLPath value is not present, click Edit, point to New, and then click String Value.
5) New Value #1 is displayed, with the text selected. Type DllPath, and then press the ENTER key.
6) Double-click the new DLLPath value to open it. In the Value Data box, type the path to the Msoe.dll file on your computer, for example:
drive:\PROGRAM FILES\OUTLOOK EXPRESS\MSOE.DLL
7) Click OK, and then quit Registry Editor.
8) Try to send mail from a link or another program.

This tip comes from a Microsoft Knowledge Base article - it is located near the end of that article --- http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q306098
__________________

. . . it looks like the secret to getting the options to send links and pages from the "Tools/Mail and News" toolbar menu items in IE6 is to get the DLLPath value back into that spot in the Registry. I'm guessing that you'll have to add it, just like the MSKB article suggests.

Hope that does it!
. . . Gary

[AlfAlmeida]

Gary, you're an angel!! Problem solved! The DllPath was not there, so I followed your instructions and alls well now.

Very many thanks

. . . Alf