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Tech Guides for Everyone

Change default email client on Windows 10

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v3On77NDT8]

Today I will show you how to set your default email client on Windows 10. There are a number of good alternatives to Outlook including Mozilla Thunderbird and Eudora so there’s no need to feel trapped into Microsoft products, the alternatives can offer better email management and features.

Note* This guide will only work if you have already installed the email client you want to make the default (ie. Thunderbird, Eudora). If you have not already done this you will likely only have one choice which is the default Windows 10 mail client.

Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

Change the Default Email Client on Windows 10

  1. Click on the Start Menu Windows 10 Start Icon button bottom-left
  2. Now click on the Settings Windows 10 Settings menu item
  3. Then click the System Windows 10 Settings - System icon
  4. Now click on the Default apps menu item
  5. Look for the Email heading
  6. Click on the current default email client just below heading
  7. The Choose an app menu should now be in view
  8. Click on the email client you wish to make the default app
  9. Close the Settings window
  10. All done!

Microsoft ends support for Windows XP

Microsoft to end support for Windows XP
April 8th is D-Day for Windows XP and Office 2003

Well folks the time has finally arrived (after 12 long years) for Windows XP to be relegated to the software dustbin of history 🙂 Microsoft will officially end support for XP on April 8th 2014, which means no more updates or technical support.

If you, your company, business or organization still use Windows XP, it’s well-and-truly time to upgrade (actually you should have done that already). And just to make your life more difficult, Microsoft will also end support for Office 2003 on the same date! (April 8th). Oh the pain!

If you are still using Windows XP on your home system (desktop, laptop etc) then upgrading is pretty easy. Just purchase a new copy of Windows, pop the disc in and follow the prompts for an upgrade install. The same applies to Office 2003.

If you are a business, company or organization still using Windows XP, your upgrade task will most likely be large and complicated (more computers = more complex task). This is a job for a technician, or possibly a team of technicians, to which you will pay a handsome fee, sorry. On the bright side, after upgrading you’ll be clear for another 10 years depending on the version you choose, and you’ll also have a much more stable, reliable, feature-rich computer system that is capable of utilizing all the latest security and management protocols. This means your business systems will be much more secure.

My advice is to take the plunge and upgrade your Windows XP system, it will be worth it.

Setup Outlook 2013 to access Hotmail via ActiveSync

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4g5gAVKRM4]

Today I will show you how to set up Microsoft Outlook 2013 to access your Hotmail or Outlook.com account via Exchange ActiveSync. It’s a very easy process and all you’ll need is your Hotmail email address, password, a pen and paper.

Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

Setup Outlook to access Hotmail via Exchange ActiveSync

  1. Open Outlook 2013 and…
    1. For a new, never before setup Outlook 2013:
      1. The Welcome to Outlook 2013 screen should now be open click Next >
      2. Select Yes to the Do you want to set up Outlook to connect to an email account? option, then click Next >
    2. For a previously setup Outlook 2013 (ie. you are adding an email account as well as an existing one):
      1. Click the File tab, then click the Info menu item (left pane) then click the + Add Account button
  2. The Auto Account Setup screen should now be in-view
  3. Select the Manual setup or extra server types option and click Next >
  4. Select the Outlook.com or Exchange ActiveSync compatible service option on the Choose service screen, then click Next >
  5. Enter your details into the Server Settings screen as follows:
    1. Your Name: [enter your name]
    2. Your E-mail: [enter your email address]
    3. For Mail server: field, enter s.outlook.com
    4. User Name: [enter your full email address ie. yourname@hotmail.com]
    5. Password: [enter your email password] & leave the Remember password box checked
    6. For Mail to keep offline slider, leave at default of 1 month (recommended)
  6. Click the Next > button
  7. Outlook will now attempt to logon to the Exchange ActiveSync server
  8. If Outlook is successful, you will a green tick, click the Close button on the Test Account Settings popup
  9. You should now see the You’re all set! screen, click Finish and you’re all done
  10. If Outlook was unsuccessful (red cross) double-check your settings and if needed, go through this guide again

Setup Outlook to access Hotmail via POP3

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJKAtF0hkjI]

Today I will show you how to set up Microsoft Outlook 2007-2010-2013 to access your Hotmail or Outlook.com account via POP3 so you can keep local copies of all your emails. It’s a pretty straight-forward process too and all you’ll need is your Hotmail email address, password, a pen and paper.

You may also need to visit my guide about "550 5.3.4 Requested action not taken; We noticed some unusual activity in your Hotmail account. To help protect you, we’ve temporarily blocked your account" error message if you are having trouble setting up an email app like Outlook to access your Hotmail account.

Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

Setup Outlook to access Hotmail via POP3

Enable POP in Hotmail/Outlook.com

  1. Open your browser and login to your Hotmail/Outlook.com account: http://www.hotmail.com/ or Outlook.com
  2. Click the Hotmail Options icon Hotmail Options at the top-right of the page
  3. Click the Options menu item
  4. Click the Connect devices and apps with POP link on the left-pane
  5. In the POP heading select the Enable option
  6. In the Deleting downloaded messages heading, select the Don’t let devices or apps delete messages from Outlook.com option
  7. Click the Save button

Configure Outlook to access Hotmail via POP3

  1. Open Outlook and…
    1. For a new, never before setup Outlook 2007/2010/2013:
      1. The Microsoft Outlook 20xx Startup screen should now be open
      2. Click Next > then select Yes to the Would you like to configure an E-mail account? option, then click Next > again
    2. For a previously setup Outlook 2007 (ie. you are adding an email account as well as an existing one):
      1. Click the Tools menu, then click Account Settings
      2. Now select the E-mail tab and click the New… button
      3. You should now see the Choose E-mail Service screen
      4. Select the Microsoft Exchange, POP3, IMAP, or HTTP option and click Next >
    3. For a previously setup Outlook 2010 or 2013 (ie. you are adding an email account as well as an existing one):
      1. Click the File tab, then click the Info menu item (left pane) then click the + Add Account button
  2. The Auto Account Setup screen should now be in-view
  3. Select the Manually configure server settings or extra server types option and click Next >
    1. For Outlook 2013, select the POP or IMAP option on the Choose service screen, then click Next >
    2. For Outlook 2007 and 2010, leave the Internet E-mail option selected and click Next >
  4. Enter your details into the Internet E-mail Settings screen as follows:
    1. Your Name: [enter your name]
    2. Your E-mail: [enter your email address]
    3. For Account Type: option, choose POP3
    4. For Incoming mail server: field, type pop-mail.outlook.com
    5. For Outgoing mail server: field, type smtp-mail.outlook.com
    6. User Name: [enter your full email address ie. yourname@hotmail.com]
    7. Password: [enter your email password] & leave the Remember password box checked
    8. Leave Require logon using Secure Password Authentication (SPA) box un-checked (important!)
    9. Leave Test account settings by clicking the Next button box checked (recommended)
    10. For Deliver new messages to: option, leave New Outlook Data File selected (recommended)
  5. Click the More Settings… button, then select the Outgoing Server tab
  6. Check the My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication box
  7. Select the Use same settings as my incoming mail server option
  8. Select the Advanced tab, then enter port details as follows:
    1. Incoming server (POP3): 995
    2. This server requires an encrypted connection (SSL): checked
    3. Outgoing server (SMTP): 587
    4. Use the following type of encrypted connection: TLS
    5. Server timeout: 5 minutes
    6. Leave other settings at defaults unless you require otherwise
    7. Click OK to close the More Settings… window, then click Next > on the Internet E-mail Settings screen
  9. Outlook will now attempt to logon to the incoming server, then send a test message to the outgoing server
  10. If Outlook is successful at both, you will see 2 green ticks, click the Close button on the Test Account Settings popup
  11. You should now see the Congratulations! screen, click Finish and you’re all done
  12. If Outlook was unsuccessful (1 or 2 red cross) double-check your settings and if needed, go through this guide again

Setup Outlook to access Hotmail account via IMAP

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O6dJAPH3Fs]

Today I will show you how to set up Microsoft Outlook 2007-2010-2013 to access your Hotmail or Outlook.com account via IMAP so you can keep local copies of all your emails and access your email from any connected device. It’s a pretty straight-forward process too and all you’ll need is your Hotmail email address, password, a pen and paper.

You may also need to visit my guide about "550 5.3.4 Requested action not taken; We noticed some unusual activity in your Hotmail account. To help protect you, we’ve temporarily blocked your account" error message if you are having trouble setting up an email app like Outlook to access your Hotmail account.

Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

Setup Outlook to access Hotmail via IMAP

  1. Open Outlook and…
    1. For a new, never before setup Outlook 2007/2010/2013:
      1. The Microsoft Outlook 20xx Startup screen should now be open
      2. Click Next > then select Yes to the Would you like to configure an E-mail account? option, then click Next > again
    2. For a previously setup Outlook 2007 (ie. you are adding an email account as well as an existing one):
      1. Click the Tools menu, then click Account Settings
      2. Now select the E-mail tab and click the New… button
      3. You should now see the Choose E-mail Service screen
      4. Select the Microsoft Exchange, POP3, IMAP, or HTTP option and click Next >
    3. For a previously setup Outlook 2010 or 2013 (ie. you are adding an email account as well as an existing one):
      1. Click the File tab, then click the Info menu item (left pane) then click the + Add Account button
  2. The Auto Account Setup screen should now be in-view
  3. Select the Manually configure server settings or extra server types option and click Next >
    1. For Outlook 2013, select the POP or IMAP option on the Choose service screen, then click Next >
    2. For Outlook 2007 and 2010, leave the Internet E-mail option selected and click Next >
  4. Enter your details into the Internet E-mail Settings screen as follows:
    1. Your Name: [enter your name]
    2. Your E-mail: [enter your email address]
    3. For Account Type: option, choose IMAP
    4. For Incoming mail server: field, type imap-mail.outlook.com
    5. For Outgoing mail server: field, type smtp-mail.outlook.com
    6. User Name: [enter your full email address ie. yourname@hotmail.com]
    7. Password: [enter your email password] & leave the Remember password box checked
    8. Leave Require logon using Secure Password Authentication (SPA) box un-checked (important!)
    9. Leave Test account settings by clicking the Next button box checked (recommended)
  5. Click the More Settings… button, then select the Outgoing Server tab
  6. Check the My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication box
  7. Select the Use same settings as my incoming mail server option
  8. Select the Advanced tab, then enter port details as follows:
    1. Incoming server (IMAP): 993
    2. Use the following type of encrypted connection: SSL
    3. Outgoing server (SMTP): 587
    4. Use the following type of encrypted connection: TLS
    5. Server timeout: 5 minutes
    6. Leave other settings at defaults unless you require otherwise
    7. Click OK to close the More Settings… window, then click Next > on the Internet E-mail Settings screen
  9. Outlook will now attempt to logon to the incoming server, then send a test message to the outgoing server
  10. If Outlook is successful at both, you will see 2 green ticks, click the Close button on the Test Account Settings popup
  11. You should now see the Congratulations! screen, click Finish and you’re all done
  12. If Outlook was unsuccessful (1 or 2 red cross) double-check your settings and if needed, go through this guide again