How to Configure Outlook 2003 with a Hotmail Account as Primary

[Green]

In KB892448 "When you use Outlook to delete Hotmail messages or MSN
messages, the deleted messages do not appear in the Trash Can of the
Hotmail account or the MSN account" it states: "In an Outlook profile
where there is no Exchange e-mail account, the Hotmail e-mail account
or the MSN e-mail account is the primary account. Therefore, all
deleted messages are sent to the Deleted Items folder of the
appropriate account. This behavior occurs regardless of whether the
account is a primary account or a secondary account."

My question is: How do I set up an Outlook profile with no Exchange e-
mail account? I need my Hotmail (MSN Premium) account to be the
Primary account (the only account for now). I also do not need
connectivity to MSN Explorer, and would rarely if ever access my e-
mail via the web. I just want Outlook to be my only PIM.

Thank You,
Green

 

[Brian Tillman]

My question is: How do I set up an Outlook profile with no Exchange e-
mail account? I need my Hotmail (MSN Premium) account to be the
Primary account (the only account for now). I also do not need
connectivity to MSN Explorer, and would rarely if ever access my e-
mail via the web. I just want Outlook to be my only PIM.

The only way to do that, as far as I know, is to use Outlook Live and the
Outlook Connector.
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/Jan05/01-20OutlookLive2005PR.mspx
http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/mool.htm . This will make Outlook behave
as though it is connected to an Exchange mailbox, right down to creating an
OST.

 

[Green]

The only way to do that, as far as I know, is to use Outlook Live and the
Outlook Connector.http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/...2...http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/mool.htm.  This will makeOutlook behave
as though it is connected to an Exchange mailbox, right down to creating an
OST.

I'm afraid you've lost me. I don't know what an OST is. For that
matter, I need to get a better basic understanding of e-mail account
types, because Microsoft keeps expanding the jargon. What is the
difference between an Exchange account and a web-based? (I know the
basic differences between POP3 and web-based, or HTTP).

Second, your potential solutions seem slanted toward having
connectivity. I don't need it. I will only use Outlook. On the
extremely rare circumstance that I need to access my mail via
Hotmail.com, I won't care much about flagging, etc. not transferring
back to Outlook.

Are you saying that Outlook 2003 wasn't built to set up one HTTP type
account, and use it as primary? Why do they state: "In an Outlook
profile
where there is no Exchange e-mail account, the Hotmail e-mail account
or the MSN e-mail account is the primary account." ?

Thanks Again,
Green

 

[Beege]

In KB892448 "When you use Outlook to delete Hotmail messages or MSN
messages, the deleted messages do not appear in the Trash Can of the
Hotmail account or the MSN account" it states: "In an Outlook profile
where there is no Exchange e-mail account, the Hotmail e-mail account
or the MSN e-mail account is the primary account. Therefore, all
deleted messages are sent to the Deleted Items folder of the
appropriate account. This behavior occurs regardless of whether the
account is a primary account or a secondary account."

My question is: How do I set up an Outlook profile with no Exchange e-
mail account? I need my Hotmail (MSN Premium) account to be the
Primary account (the only account for now). I also do not need
connectivity to MSN Explorer, and would rarely if ever access my e-
mail via the web. I just want Outlook to be my only PIM.

Thank You,
Green

Green,

I'm using Outlook 2002, and am able to setup an account with my hotmail
account. I used "HTTP" with the HTTP service provider "Hotmail", using
my email address as my user name and my password, well, as my password.
Does Outlook 2003 lose this functionality?

Beege

 

[Beege]

Green,

I'm using Outlook 2002, and am able to setup an account with my hotmail
account. I used "HTTP" with the HTTP service provider "Hotmail", using
my email address as my user name and my password, well, as my password.
Does Outlook 2003 lose this functionality?

Beege

By the way, I'm much happier not using Outlook, but Thunderbird for my
PIM. Has good calendar and reminder plugin, and a newsreader for usenet.

beege

 

[Gordon]

I'm using Outlook 2002, and am able to setup an account with my hotmail
account. I used "HTTP" with the HTTP service provider "Hotmail", using my
email address as my user name and my password, well, as my password. Does
Outlook 2003 lose this functionality?

No, it's Hotmail that has lost the functionality. You are lucky in that you
(presumably) have a legacy account. Any new account will NOT work like that
unless a) it is a Hotmail Live account and b) the Outlook Connector is
installed which will only work on 2003 and 2007 AFAIK...

 

[Green]

No, it's Hotmail that has lost the functionality. You are lucky in that you
(presumably) have a legacy account. Any new account will NOT work like that
unless a) it is a Hotmail Live account and b) the Outlook Connector is
installed which will only work on 2003 and 2007 AFAIK...

The functionality I'm after is to create an Outlook Profile where the
MSN (or Hotmail) account is the Primary account. I have a profile
where I've added the MSN (HTTP) account, but Outlook 2003 forces it to
secondary account status - even when the so called primary account is
blank! In other words, if I create abrand new profile, and the ONLY
account I set up is HTTP, Outlook creates two Inboxes: the default
(empty) Inbox, and a secondary MSN/Hotmail/HTTP Inbox. This causes a
problem with my PDA software, which will only connect to the Primary
Inbox (primary account).

Beege, with your setup, do you have only one Inbox?

 

[Green]

No, it's Hotmail that has lost the functionality. You are lucky in that you
(presumably) have a legacy account. Any new account will NOT work like that
unless a) it is a Hotmail Live account and b) the Outlook Connector is
installed which will only work on 2003 and 2007 AFAIK...

The functionality I'm after is to create an Outlook Profile where the
MSN (or Hotmail) account is the Primary account. I have a profile
where I've added the MSN (HTTP) account, but Outlook 2003 forces it
to
secondary account status - even when the so called primary account is
blank! In other words, if I create abrand new profile, and the ONLY
account I set up is HTTP, Outlook creates two Inboxes: the default
(empty) Inbox, and a secondary MSN/Hotmail/HTTP Inbox. This causes a
problem with my PDA software, which will only connect to the Primary
Inbox (primary account).

Beege, with your setup, do you have only one Inbox?

Gordon, my account is MSN Premium, comes with my Qwest High Speed
Internet (DSL).

 

[Gordon]

The functionality I'm after is to create an Outlook Profile where the
MSN (or Hotmail) account is the Primary account. I have a profile
where I've added the MSN (HTTP) account, but Outlook 2003 forces it to
secondary account status - even when the so called primary account is
blank! In other words, if I create abrand new profile, and the ONLY
account I set up is HTTP, Outlook creates two Inboxes: the default
(empty) Inbox, and a secondary MSN/Hotmail/HTTP Inbox.

That's the way it works. Period. You CAN set up a rule to move emails
received in the MSN mailbox to the Local Folders Inbox AFAIK....

 

[Green]

That's the way it works. Period. You CAN set up a rule to move emails
received in the MSN mailbox to the Local Folders Inbox AFAIK....

I've heard about setting up a rule, but let me restate from my initial
post:

In KB892448...it states: "In an Outlook profile
where there is no Exchange e-mail account, the Hotmail e-mail account
or the MSN e-mail account is the primary account. ...This behavior occurs regardless of whether >the account is a primary account or a secondary account."

Why would Microsoft make that statement?

 

[Gordon]

I've heard about setting up a rule, but let me restate from my initial
post:


Why would Microsoft make that statement?

That is a perfectly true statement. You are missing the point entirely.
Hotmail and MSN mail are NOT POP mail services, they are HTTP. They do NOT,
and cannot be made to, use the Personal Folders file as the default delivery
location. this has always been the case. This happens with IMAP mail as
well. What set of folders a particular email account uses has NOTHING to do
with whether that account is the default account or not....

 

[Brian Tillman]

Are you saying that Outlook 2003 wasn't built to set up one HTTP type
account, and use it as primary? Why do they state: "In an Outlook
profile
where there is no Exchange e-mail account, the Hotmail e-mail account
or the MSN e-mail account is the primary account." ?

I misinterpreted some of what you wrote. You certainly can have only a
WIndows Live Hotmail account (HTTP) if you install the Outlook Connector.
However, the folders it creates will not be your default folders, as far as
I can tell. If you don't want an Exchange account in your mail profile,
simply do not try to define one. Just define the Live Hotmail account as
the only account.

 

[Brian Tillman]

The functionality I'm after is to create an Outlook Profile where the
MSN (or Hotmail) account is the Primary account. I have a profile
where I've added the MSN (HTTP) account, but Outlook 2003 forces it to
secondary account status - even when the so called primary account is
blank!

Correct, and that's what I'm trying to say. It will be your primary
_account_ (since it's the only account), but without Outlook Live, the
folders will not be your delivery location (i.e., default) folders.

 

[Beege]

Beege, with your setup, do you have only one Inbox?

No, there is a "Personal Folders" inbox and a Hotmail inbox. There are
also other folders in my Hotmail account that I created through the
browser interface that sync with the Hotmail/Outlook folder. Doens't
seem like that's what you're looking for. I'd go with the rules idea
that sends anything sent to the hotmail account to you personal inbox,
but that's just me.

 

[Green]

I misinterpreted some of what you wrote.  You certainly can have only a
WIndows Live Hotmail account (HTTP) if you install the Outlook Connector.
However, the folders it creates will not be your default folders, as far as
I can tell.  If you don't want an Exchange account in your mail profile,
simply do not try to define one.  Just define the Live Hotmail account as
the only account.

Would you say that if I don't even want MSN Explorer installed (I'm
thinking of a fresh OS install on a 2nd HD) that I would be better off
to:
Create a profile where the HTTP account is the only one, and
Create a forwarding rule to move all mail from the default Inbox
to the MSN Inbox, and
Quit there - no need to install the Outlook Connector, or sign up
for Live Hotmail.
I'm also replying to Gordon below.

Green

 

[Green]

That is a perfectly true statement. You are missing the point entirely.
Hotmail and MSN mail are NOT POP mail services, they are HTTP. They do NOT,
and cannot be made to, use the Personal Folders file as the default delivery
location. this has always been the case. This happens with IMAP mail as
well. What set of folders a particular email account uses has NOTHING to do
with whether that account is the default account or not....

It's starting to sink in. Forgive me for making the semantical
mistake of confusing "primary" with "default". I would have thought
Microsoft meant the same thing with both. Should have known better!
After all, they've created more names for the same thing than anyone
in the history of dictionaries.

So I think I get this much (PLEASE DO correct me where I'm wrong):

1) The Personal Folders Inbox is the default delivery location,
period. Type of account has nothing to do with this.
2) Any e-mail account other than an MS Exchange Server or POP3 type
will automatically be given second-class status, and a second Inbox
will be created for that account, even if there is no other e-mail
account in that Profile.
3) Since my PDA will sync only with the default Inbox, the ONLY way to
accomplish that is to create a rule which forwards my HTTP mail to the
default Personal Folders Inbox.

If I'm correct above, please guide me on the creation of that rule.
Even though I've used Outlook for years, I've never played with rules.

Green

 

[Brian Tillman]

Would you say that if I don't even want MSN Explorer installed (I'm
thinking of a fresh OS install on a 2nd HD)

I'm not sure why you think MSN Explorer has anything to do with this.

that I would be better off
to:
Create a profile where the HTTP account is the only one, and
Create a forwarding rule to move all mail from the default Inbox
to the MSN Inbox, and
Quit there - no need to install the Outlook Connector, or sign up
for Live Hotmail.

You WILL need Outlook Connector if you intend to access Windows Live Hotmail
from within Outlook.

 

[Brian Tillman]

It's starting to sink in. Forgive me for making the semantical
mistake of confusing "primary" with "default". I would have thought
Microsoft meant the same thing with both. Should have known better!
After all, they've created more names for the same thing than anyone
in the history of dictionaries.

So I think I get this much (PLEASE DO correct me where I'm wrong):

1) The Personal Folders Inbox is the default delivery location,
period. Type of account has nothing to do with this.

Not exactly. WIth an Excahnge account, the usual delivery location is the
Exchange mailbox and one doesn't need any PST in that case.

2) Any e-mail account other than an MS Exchange Server or POP3 type
will automatically be given second-class status, and a second Inbox
will be created for that account, even if there is no other e-mail
account in that Profile.

I'd disagree with "second-class".

3) Since my PDA will sync only with the default Inbox, the ONLY way to
accomplish that is to create a rule which forwards my HTTP mail to the
default Personal Folders Inbox.

If I'm correct above, please guide me on the creation of that rule.
Even though I've used Outlook for years, I've never played with rules.

You cannot run rules on HTTP accounts, as far as I can tell.

 

[Green]

Not exactly.  WIth an Excahnge account, the usual delivery location is the
Exchange mailbox and one doesn't need any PST in that case.

As I understand it, an Exchange account is strictly used in a
corporate setting, where the IT dept. sets it up on their own server.
If so, this will never apply to me.

You cannot run rules on HTTP accounts, as far as I can tell.

I'm starting to think my best option is to try to go back to a POP3
account. I'm ready to drop Microsoft (and Qwest too, if they won't
sell me DSL without MSN). Why has Microsoft created more flavors of e-
mail than Baskin-Robbins has ice cream?! I don't want a Live Hotmail
account, and at this point I'm not sure I care to know what it is, or
if it's different than what I have now, which is (I'm told) an MSN
Premium account.

I can't see value in installing yet more Microsoft software like
Outlook Connector, when I don't need any connectivity. I used to have
POP3 e-mail. When I upgraded to DSL, it came with MSN Explorer, which
I made the HUGE MISTAKE of innocently installing on my computer. That
simple act forced my e-mail to convert to HTTP, and couldn't be undone
(read KB268732). That in turn broke my use of Outlook, which was set
up to access a POP3 smtp server. Calls to Microsoft resulted in an
unresolved case number, which I never got solved, due to bad tech
support, and because this isn't my LIVELIHOOD, it's my time-sucking
black hole. Years later, when my discomfort with the P.O.S. MSN
Explorer reached a climax, I took the project up again, and figured
out by myself how to make Outlook work with HTTP mail.

All I want is to have my mail show up in a folder which my Palm PDA
software will link to, without having to move everything by hand.
What do you suggest?

Please excuse my anger. This has been years in the making. A simple
thing shouldn't be this complicated. I do appreciate your attempts to
help.

Green

 

[Brian Tillman]

All I want is to have my mail show up in a folder which my Palm PDA
software will link to, without having to move everything by hand.
What do you suggest?

With the Outlook Connector and an MSN Premium account (and possibly Outlook
Live, which is included with MSN Premium accounts, I believe), you should be
able to make your Hotmail folders the delivery location. That would allow
your Palm device to sync with those folders. There are some drawbacks,
however, in that Hotmail's limitations are extended to Outlook in that case,
like the 1,000 contact limit. See http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/mool.htm