Pin Hotmail to task bar / start menu in windows 7

jjmitchell · #1 23-12-11, 11:51

Unlike XP, Windows 7 doesn't seem to have the facility to set Hotmail as the default e-mail client in the start menu or task bar - or so I thought.

I've just discovered that if you open your Hotmail in IE9 and drag the open tab to the task bar, a Hotmail icon appears. Once done, a number appears over the icon to tell you when you have new mail. If you right click on the icon, a menu gives you direct access to 'Inbox', 'Calendar', 'Contacts' and 'Send E-mail' options. When clicked, Hotmail also appears in an IE window with nice orange buttons to match the icon.

If you then drag this from the task bar onto the Windows (start) icon, the same appears in the Start menu as well, just like in XP but with an extra menu added for 'send e-mail' etc.

Hope this is helpful for those who didn't know - it's something which has annoyed me ever since Windows 7 came out.

difarn · #2 28-12-11, 11:28

There is a microsoft "get around" as in the post from OLDDAD895 in the attached article:-

Type in Start, Run:
regsvr32 "%Programfiles%\Internet Explorer\HMMAPI.DLL and hit OK.

Also have you tried to download windows live mail then click on Start-type in default programs - does it appear here? If so set it as default mail client.

jjmitchell · #3 30-12-11, 11:57

Interesting. Have just re-read my original post and may have confused. It doesn't become the default e-mail client in the sense that 'mailto' links are opened by hotmail, but it does at least allow it to be opened with its own icon which has some 'right click' functionality and the facility to know when you've got new mail.

Thanks for the link to the thread about making it the default client. I tried the command you suggested. The first time I executed it, the machine shut down! When I switched it back on it simply told me the dll didn't exist. It looks like others have experienced the same issue. Ihe thread also seems to indicated some registry changed which some might need to make. I haven't tried this yet - has anyone else?

difarn · #4 31-12-11, 15:33

Sorry it didn't work for you - did you leave the space between the 2 and the "?

Just a query - does Windows Live Mail appear as a choice in your default programs?