Windows Live Mail doesn’t work
Posted on September 16, 2009 under Email, Windows Live Mail | Leave a comment
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I use a Windows Vista laptop and though I wanted Outlook Express, I came to know that it cannot be installed on this operating system. So I downloaded Windows Live Mail from the Microsoft web site (based on your recommendation) and installed it on my computer. However, Windows Live mail doesn’t work. Do I need to reinstall it? What am I doing wrong? I think I was better off with Outlook Express.
For those who don’t know, Windows Live Mail is a new email client from Microsoft that is meant to replace Outlook Express. The company urges users to shift to the new program because they it longer supports and develops Outlook Express. However, the transition from Outlook Express to Windows Live Mail can be frustrating for many users because of the differences in the interface and organization of email messages and email accounts. But the basic functionality is the same.
If the installed Windows Live Mail on your computer doesn’t work properly, here are the steps you should follows:
- Make sure you make Windows Live Mail the default email client on your computer.
- Simply installing Windows Live Mail will not solve anything. You need to set up an email account. Only then would the program be able to download and send email messages. Please refer to the links at the end of this post for details on how to configure some popular email accounts.
- Make sure you use the correct login (username and password) and the email incoming and outgoing server information. Call up the customer support of your ISP for details.
- Remember, Windows Live Mail makes 5 default folders for each email account that you setup. I know this is a major eyesore but that’s the way the program works.
- If you cannot send messages with Windows Live Mail and get an SMTP error, the problem might lie with the ISP blocking the outgoing port.
- If everything fails, I suggest you install the program once again.
Outlook Express doesn’t work because you haven’t set up an email account in the program
To repeat, Windows Live Mail will not work till you setup an email account which is not a difficult process. In fact, many Outlook Express users would have done this but have now forgotten because they were guided step by step by someone (such as the support staff of an ISP). Any way, below are links to pages that provide detailed instructions with screenshots on how to add some popular email accounts on Windows Live Mail.
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