Resolved Can't connect to Outlook mail via command bar

Currently use WinXP with IE8 and had Hotmail (?) Windows live (?) mail. Ever since it was changed to use Outlook I haven't been able to connect to mail via the command bar.

When I click on it, it opens to a page that says: "Sorry, there seems to be a problem with Outlook right now" and the box that says: "try to return to Outlook ". If I click on that box it will take me to my mail. (I also have a shortcut in my quick launch bar, but that opens without any issue.)

Is there any simple fix to this annoying issue? I can live with it the way it is, but don't understand why it shouldn't work the way it used to when Hotmail/live mail was used!

Thanks for any insight you can offer!

Regards,
~Vicki

 

Try this:

1. In your Quick Launch, right-click the icon that's working okay and then select Properties.
   
   
2. Highlight and copy [Ctrl-C] the complete URL address, then close that Properties window.
   
   
3. In IE8's command bar, right-click the icon that is not working and select Edit.
   
   
4. Now paste in [Ctrl-V] the URL address you copied above, overwriting the one that's there.

 

Thanks for your suggestion, SpywareDr, but I think I ran into a glitch in trying it.

I was able to follow steps 1 & 2 okay, but when I right click on the icon (the one that shows the envelope/read mail) I do not have an option to edit?

The only choices shown there are having to do with ticking the menu bar, favorites bar, etc. etc.?

But I did notice that when I click on the mail button and it takes me to the message "I'm sorry there seems to be a problem with Outlook right now" the url/address is different from the one I have in the quick launch area, so I'm guessing that is where the problem lies? Just uncertain how to "fix" it!

Thanks again,
~Vicki

 

Ah ha, that little envelope/read mail icon is for an installed email client like Outlook Express, Windows Live Mail, Thunderbird, etc.

In order to add email providers such as Gmail, AOL, Yahoo! or Outlook.com to that icon, you would need to have an email client program installed on your computer. An email client is a program that helps you manage your email from within a program window instead of using a web browser window (such as Internet Explorer) to access your email on the web. When your email is web access only, that little Internet Explorer email envelope icon is useless because it cannot be set to read your email on the web. It can only be used to open an email program installed on your computer.

However, it is pretty easy to create a Favorite (Bookmark) for your email website and use it instead. How to Add Favorites to Internet Explorer 8

 

Thanks again SpywareDr for your suggestions and offers to help. Sounds like I'll just have to live with it the way it is.

Fortunately it works from my quick launch bar and it does work if I click on the "try to return to Outlook" button after using the read mail icon.

Just thought it was strange as I was always able to use it (the read email button/icon) when I had the Hotmail version, but when they changed it to Outlook.com it no longer worked.

~Vicki

P.S. I have marked this as "resolved" even though I'm not sure it really is??

 

You're welcome Vicki. If you do figure out a way to get it to work, please let us know.