OLEXP: "Send To" and E-mail Links Do Not Work Using Outlook Express as Default (306098)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows Millennium Edition SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows Millennium Edition SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows Millennium Edition SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 98 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows 98 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows 98 SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 for Windows 98 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 for Windows 98 SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 95 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows 95 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows 95 SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 for Windows 95 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 for Windows 95 SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 2000 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows 2000 SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows XP
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows 98
This article was previously published under Q306098
For information about the differences between Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Outlook Express e-mail clients, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

257824 OL2000: Differences Between Outlook and Outlook Express

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to use Outlook Express to send mail from a hyperlink, to send mail by using the "Send To" feature of another program, or to send mail by using the "New Message" feature in Microsoft Internet Explorer, Outlook Express may not be used to send the message.

CAUSE

This issue can occur if:
  • Outlook Express is not registered as your default e-mail program.
  • An entry for the default mail client is missing in the Microsoft Windows registry.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, register Outlook Express as the default e-mail program. If this does not resolve the issue, or if Outlook Express is already registered as the default e-mail program, edit the Windows registry to correct the default mail client string values.

MORE INFORMATION

Register Outlook Express as the Default E-mail Program

To register Outlook Express as the default mail program on your computer, use one of the following methods:
  • In Outlook Express:
    1. In Outlook Express, click Tools, and then click Options.
    2. On the General tab, the Default Messaging Programs section states Outlook Express is NOT the default mail handler; click Make Default, and then click OK.
    3. Try to send mail from a link or another program.
  • In Internet Options:
    1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
    2. Double-click the Internet Options icon, and then click the Programs tab.
    3. Under Internet Programs, click the E-mail list, and then click Outlook Express.
    4. Click Apply, and then click OK.
    5. Try to send mail from a link or another program.
  • From the Run line (if the Outlook Express and Internet Options methods do not register Outlook Express as the default e-mail program, use this method):
    1. Click Start.
    2. Click Run.
    3. Type the following line, including the quotation marks, where drive is the letter of the drive in which Outlook Express is installed, and then click OK:

      "drive:\program files\outlook express\msimn.exe" /reg

Edit the Windows Registry

If you can register Outlook Express as the default mail handler, but you still cannot send mail from mail links or other programs by using Outlook Express, you need to add a data string to the default mail client key in the registry.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To add the data string to the default mail client key:
  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.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/25/2004
Keywords:kbprb KB306098
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.