Another Vista Aggravation!

March 12, 2007

Why is it the little things that drive you absolutely nuts? This time, it’s the fact that every time I open Thunderbird, it asks if I want it to be my default e-mail program. I always say YES and check the box that says DO NOT ASK ME THIS AGAIN….and guess what? IT ALWAYS ASKS ME AGAIN! As Charlie Brown would say after Lucy has once again pulled the football out from under him…..AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!

OK, now you know I wouldn’t be posting this if I hadn’t figured out how to fix it, right? Well, after several attempts that DIDN’T work, I finally found the one that does. First of all, let me tell you what didn’t work:

• Changing the default settings from within the e-mail program – As a matter of fact, every time I tried to do it, once I closed the dialog box and reopened it, the boxes I’d checked to use Thunderbird as my default e-mail client were unchecked. It’s like they just wouldn’t stick!

• Changing the file association in Internet Explorer – I checked to make sure Thunderbird was the default e-mail client for sending mail when I’m on the ‘net or when I click an e-mail link and it was. I tested it by clicking on an e-mail link (Thunderbird opened) and also by clicking on Page>Send Page by e-mail and Send Link by e-mail (which I had trouble finding because I’m also still trying to get used to IE7). Everything worked when I tried to send e-mail from the Internet Explorer 7.

• Changing the file association with Default Programs – You have four options for setting your program defaults when you open up Default Programs: Set Your Default Programs (doesn’t work); Associate a filetype or protocol with a program (doesn’t work); Change Autoplay settings (which isn’t applicable to this situation); and Set Program Access and Computer Defaults (THIS ONE WORKS, FOLKS!)

So, this is my question: If none of the others work until you use Set Program Access and Computer Defaults, why is it last on the list???????? When you open the link to Set Program Access and Computer Defaults from within Default Programs, you can choose to use Microsoft programs as your defaults, non-Microsoft programs as your default, or in my case, Custom. If you choose Microsoft Programs, it sets Microsoft programs as your defaults for browsing, sending/receiving e-mail and listening to audio files and enables other non-Microsoft programs you may have on your computer. If you choose Non-Microsoft Programs, it enables your non-Microsoft programs as defaults but it removes access to the Microsoft programs. That didn’t work for me because I like to use the Windows Media Player to listen to my audio files. FINALLY, you can choose Custom and choose a mixture of the two and also enable access to the ones you have but don’t want to use by default.

I’m exhausted, but at least Thunderbird is my default e-mail client without my having to choose it each time……

Posted in Views From The Coop