Welcome to Andy Rathbone's Web site

Site menu:

I'm one of today's best-selling computer book writers, with more than 15 million books in print.

This Web site keeps you up-to-date on my books, and your computers. Each week, I answer a reader's question on-line.

Site search

Popular Posts

Recent Comments

Windows 7 For Dummies on sale!

Windows 7 For Dummies

Drop by Amazon.com for big discounts on Windows 7 For Dummies, as well as the Windows 7 For Dummies DVD bundle.

Categories

I can’t send a Web page through Windows Live Mail!

Q: I can’t send a web page through Windows Live Mail.

On Internet Explorer 8′s Page menu, the “Send Page by E-mail” and “Send Link by E-mail” options are both “grayed out,” and I can’t choose them. Help!

A: Windows 7 lacks an e-mail program, an inconvenience Microsoft tries to remedy by letting people download the free “Windows Live Mail” e-mail program.

But once installed, Windows Live Mail doesn’t always tell Internet Explorer that it’s now in charge of your e-mail, leading to the “grayed out” options shown in the image above.

The fix? You must whisper in Internet Explorer’s ear about your new e-mail program by following these steps:

  1. Click the Start button and choose Default Programs.
  2. Choose the bottom option, “Set Program Access and Computer Defaults.”
  3. Click the word Custom.
  4. In the section called “Choose a default web browser,” choose Internet Explorer.
  5. In the section called “Choose a default e-mail program,” choose Windows Live Mail.
  6. Click OK to save your changes.

Windows 7 tells Internet Explorer to start using Windows Live Mail, and the options on Internet Explorer’s Page menu begin working again.

Not using Windows Live Mail or any other e-mail program? If you log onto a Web site to read your e-mail, Internet Explorer’s disabled links have a different problem.

Comments

Comment from Janey Murray
Time February 11, 2010 at 11:41 am

As usual, your information is excellent and written in a manner that is easy to understand. What would we do without you?

Comment from drfair
Time February 24, 2010 at 7:19 am

This doesn’t seem to work in Vista to solve this problem. Any ideas?

Comment from Ray Barrington
Time March 23, 2010 at 8:42 am

Thanks Andy, sutch a simple answer to a very annoying problem, why couldn`t I find the answer in the Live Mail help facility??

Comment from Simon
Time March 24, 2010 at 2:58 pm

Thanks Andy!

Comment from Al Cavalieri
Time March 30, 2010 at 6:34 am

What would we do without clear and straightforward answers like yours?
Sincere thanks!
ALC

Comment from V
Time April 25, 2010 at 10:06 am

Thank you! Windows 7 should send us to you instead of their unhelpful Help option.

Comment from Jeff
Time September 5, 2010 at 9:52 pm

Very good explanation and instructions, very helpful. Thank you!

Comment from Stella
Time September 30, 2010 at 5:10 pm

Thanks!!! Fixed my problem :)

Comment from Barbara
Time October 14, 2010 at 8:13 am

You are wonderful! Easy instruction – easily done. Thank you.

Comment from Mike
Time November 11, 2010 at 8:32 pm

Thank you this solved my problem instantly, with very easy to follow instructions

Comment from Elizabeth
Time November 24, 2010 at 8:05 pm

I have been trying for two days to find a website/help link regarding my not being able to send a web page to my email.

I fortunately came across your website and your instructions on resolving my issue did the job.

Your instructions were explained simply and with step by step instructions – which as a beginner was a great help.

I thank you tremendously !!!

Comment from Chris Mutch
Time November 27, 2010 at 5:05 pm

Brilliant, have spent an hour trying to remedy the problem and you solved it in 3 clicks :) I’m impressed … Thank You :)

Comment from Flemming Dane
Time December 13, 2010 at 12:04 pm

GREAT! You deserve the Nobel Price!!! I have been working with that problem for weeks. Regards and thanks from Denmark!

Comment from jeff
Time December 13, 2010 at 6:24 pm

Great info and it was very easy to follow.

Comment from Barb
Time January 2, 2011 at 6:55 pm

Worked for Internet Explorer 8–thank you so much. I would of never figured it out on my own.

Comment from Diane MacKay
Time April 25, 2011 at 5:41 am

U R Awesome…I have literally been searching for this tid bit of info…just sent your link to my sister who has had this problem for almost a year. Thanks for your help

Comment from Dick Finn
Time April 30, 2011 at 9:25 am

Thanks for showing me how to send a page by email with live mail.You made it easy to fix..Can I send you something for you thoughtfullness?? A case of beer or something??
thanks Andy..
Dick Finn.
What city are you in?

Comment from Andy Rathbone
Time May 14, 2011 at 3:33 pm

Glad to help. Instead of sending a case of beer, just tell your friends about my books. Thanks!

Comment from Bob Orr
Time May 31, 2011 at 8:38 am

Easy solution to an annoying problem. Thanks for your clarity.

Comment from Leonie
Time June 11, 2011 at 12:46 am

Andy, How can I thank you enough for a simple soultion to what really was a simple problem…not according to the other sites I visited before I lobbed here. Tks again Keep up the good work.. Answers do not alwaya have to sooo ver involved ;-)

Comment from Dan
Time August 13, 2011 at 7:14 am

Thanks.

Comment from David Brefka
Time September 8, 2011 at 9:11 am

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

Comment from Joanne McDowell
Time October 14, 2011 at 2:32 pm

Andy, followed all instructions, when I got down to last one. choose “windows live mail”. it was not listed. ?? any ideas? thanks/

Comment from rob
Time October 28, 2011 at 5:22 pm

worked like a charm! many thanks…

Comment from neil b.
Time November 4, 2011 at 5:48 am

Thank you. Wish I had pinged you a long time ago – nb

Comment from Pat
Time November 14, 2011 at 7:58 pm

Thanks for your help. I was using set program defaults instead of set program access and computer defaults. There is a difference

Comment from Vito
Time November 25, 2011 at 5:57 pm

Thank you very much, you saved me from getting grey hairs on my head.

Comment from Artie
Time December 12, 2011 at 11:24 am

Thanks. I thought it was windows Live problem and was going to dump it. Guess I would have the same problem with other clients as well. I’ll check out your books as a thankyou.

Comment from steven
Time December 13, 2011 at 7:33 am

I did what you suggested and it still doesn’t send links or emails. It seems to have worked before and it seems to work intermittently. But I can’t get it to work now. Please help – what other suggestions are there? Thank you.

Comment from Vicky
Time December 26, 2011 at 2:26 pm

It worked. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!!!

Comment from Jennifer
Time January 8, 2012 at 8:26 pm

Thank you so, so, so much. I use this a lot.

Write a comment