Well, I know the option is available even in Outlook Express as it is in
several of our computers at office and we don't even have Outlook installed.
After going through several MS knowledgebase, although I did not find any
solution to the problem, I got some hint that it could be caused by some of
the new MS security patches and was done deliberately in light of all the
viruses going around these days.
Nonetheless, if this is true then it is crazy. A giant like MS, instead of
fixing the problem, decided to completely take it off.
While installing full-blown Outlook will certainly solve that problem, the
fact is I don't need that program and it will also, IMHO, nullify any
attempt by MS to prevent viruses from creeping in, that is, if that's what
their intention was.
Oh well! I hope some MS guru pops in here and gives us a solution.
Steve