Outlook as default mail program

I've seen this question pre-3.0 and haven't really found the answer for 3.0...

I want Microsoft Outlook to be my default mail program when using my Mac. I went to the general preferences tab of Parallels and under "Shared web applications" I set E-mail: to "Open in Windows". However, it still opens in my default Mac mail program, Entourage. I went to the Mac Mail application and have tried setting the default to Parallels or to Outlook, but when I get to the Outlook folder none of the .exe files are clickable...so what's going on? Thanks.

 

Hello Yahoo,

Microsoft Outlook sharing with Mac normally works. Could you please specify the Parallels Desktop build you are using? Do you have Parallels running when you open the Outlook folder and see that none of the .exe files are clickable?

Best regards,
Xenos

 

I'm using build 5582. Yes, Parallels is open when I look for the default program in the Mail preferences. I dive down through my VM to Program Files and the Outlook Express folder and all of the files there (some are .exe's) are grayed out.

 

Oops, I'm using Outlook, not Express. I couldn't find the Outlook folder though in Program Files. And now...my VM drive isn't popping up on my Mac Finder window! That's the first time that ever happened

 

Hello Yahoo,

What is your guest OS - XP or Vista? Is your guest user privileged or no?

 

Hi kon_serg,

I'm on XP. I'm not sure about the guest privileges; I have the Parallels security set to medium. I automatically get logged onto XP as an Administrator whenever I start it through Parallels, and my guest account is off according to the User Accounts window...I just turned it on but I don't think it's helping.

The good news is now I can at least see my Microsoft Windows XP drive in my Finder window. Should I try setting Outlook at the default mail program through the Mac Mail preferences? Do you know where to find it in the XP file structure (I can't find it under Program Files)?

 

It is no need to select Outlook executable file from guest HDD drive directly. Istead of this you should open Parallels Desktop Preferences and set E-mail option to 'Open in Windows' (on General tab). After this email-link will be opened with guest default email program (Outlook in your case). Note that Parallels Desktop must be runned.

 

Okay, well then that's not working for me. It always opens up Entourage (the default set in my Mac Mail preferences). Parallels is running and under Parallels preferences I have the open mail in Windows setting set.

 

Okay, here's an update: I set it to have web pages open in Windows as well to see if that would work, and now anytime I click a mailto: link or a website link, it switches to my Parallels application (I see the Parallels menu on the top menu bar) but nothing opens in Windows.

 

Hello Yahoo,

Could you please let us see a screenshot of the Windows Task Manager when you encounter the issue next time? We would like to see the Processes tab. Enable "Show processes from all users".

Do you have any other mail programs installed in your Guest OS?

What if you set another program as default mail program in the Guest OS and try clicking an e-mail link in your Host OS?

You can also try to uninstall Parallels Tools, then set Outlook as default mail program, then reinstall Parallels Tools.

These are not recommended workarounds. We are just trying to localize the problem.
Waiting for the feedback.

Best regards,
Xenos

 

This is without Outlook running. The Processes list didn't change at all when I clicked on a mailto: link on Mac. Even if I have Outlook open, nothing happens or changes in Processes.

Note: when I go back to having websites open in Mac instead of Windows, it goes back to the problem of opening up Entourage. I have to have websites opening up in Windows in order for Mac to switch to Parallels when I click a mailto (and then Parallels does nothing).

The only other mail program I have listed under "Set Program Access and Defaults" is Outlook Express, and when I tried that, same result. So I set it back to "Use my current e-mail program" and "Enable access to this program" is checked.

I'm using Outlook 2003 FYI.

 

So the 5584 build fixed this for me; Outlook now opens when I click a mailto: link...thanks for listening

 

Hello Yahoo,

Glad to know the issue is fixed for you!
Please sorry I missed you previous post...

Best regards,
Xenos