Outlook-Outlook Express-Windows Live Mail are all email clients...but Gmail is not. Gmail is web-based. You use it by starting your web browser, go to gmail.com-log in and read your mail. If you choose not to read your mail in the web browser, then you will have to choose an email client (Outlook-OE-Live Mail or something else) and learn how to configure it to download and display your Gmail. The choices are yours...you just have to decide.

If you're going to use Live Mail, make sure you get the right one-there are different versions and you didn't say if you are using XP, Vista or Win7.

Or maybe this helps:

Here is a link that might be useful: http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=10966

Jane,

I have been using gmail as my default mailer for a while, probably by doing what not2bright linked above. When you click on a mailto link, a new browser window opens with a blank message. Works like a charm!

Susan

I'll try that, not2bright (although I think you are more than bright!). Azinoh, I have used Outlook for many years. I don't want it coming up when I reply to a link or such. I thought there might be a way to shut it off. I don't use it anymore.

I prefer to use gmail.

Jane

Just tried it and I keep getting a message: An error has occurred, cannot connect to your mailbox, service is not available.

Jane

Did you create a gmail account?
Are you able to access gmail via your web browser?
Have you enrolled in any other Google services (Google Groups, for example)?

Hi, Jane

Hmmm... Well, at least from the Outlook side of things, you can go to Tools > Options > Other and look for a box "Make Outlook the default program for email...." If you can find this setting in your version of Outlook, you can uncheck the box next to that entry. Maybe that will help let Gmail be accepted easier as the default program for you. ??

I have multiple gmail accounts. I can access them all through the browser (FF). When I first start the computer, a box pops up on my desktop asking me to sign in to gmail. I enter my user name and password and it says "An error has occurred..."

Maybe I have too many email accounts, although I am only using the sign in for the main account.

Not2bright, not sure where you are telling me to go. IE or Firefox? In FF, there is nothing about default email choices.

Well, I'll just keep doing what I have been doing. Probably some glitch somewhere. These computers make everything so darn complicated.

Thanks,
Jane

I expect that the biggest problem here is PEBKAC. Not knowing why you need multiple email accounts, perhaps it is unwise to have everything in one place and being dependent on 1 provider.

I allocate my email use as follows:

1 Primary account for important messages between family/friends and merchants I do business with which I access with my email client (Thunderbird) or my ISP's webmail. No matter what your email needs are, I highly recommend using your ISP for email. After all, you're paying for it and they are answerable to you vs a web email which offers it in the hope of advertising to you.

2 Accounts which collect all my junk mail which are both webmail but 1 can be downloaded if needed (the old AOL accouint). The other is Yahoo Mail.

YMMV but this is what works for me

Hi, Jane

Oh, I didn't know this error was happening when you start up the computer. I thought it was only when you tried to have Gmail's webmail open as the default email client that you got the message. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with any of Gmail's offline functions, so I can't help with that. And I'm not sure how the error message you're getting at computer start-up relates to your difficulty in having Gmail's webmail as the default email client. (I imagine that it would be possible for you to disable whatever offline Gmail feature you're using (is it the notifier or something else ?), or at least to set it so it doesn't start at computer start-up to see if that helps Gmail to open as your default client when you're online. AFAIK, the notifier is necessary for Gmail's webmail to be the default client. But perhaps the offline Gmail interferes with that ? I don't know. I'll keep looking into it.)

You could try clearing your browser's cache and specifically Gmail's cookies and restart your browser to see if that clears things up when your computer restarts.

Re: Outlook: since you were having issues with Outlook taking control as the default email client, my directions above were to Outlook itself. In Outlook's Tools > Options > Other there is a place to de-select Outlook as the default mail handler to help clear the way for Gmail to handle that.

perhaps look at my picture of Firefox tools below....

Here is a link that might be useful: http://prntscr.com/4ae28

Mikie, you did it again! I never saw that because I never looked in 'applications.' That will solve the problem...I'm sure...haven't tried it yet.

Azinoh, thanks for your suggestion. I have multiple accounts because I like different things coming in depending on importance. We are house shopping and I get over a 100+ listings each day. I keep one account for that. I shop online and like to keep all my purchases in one place; another account is personal and one for forums and Craigs List, etc.

We are in the process of moving and I don't want to get involved with ISP's as we spend time traveling and prefer to use web email. We are staying with a relative and using their wireless.

Not2bright (change that name), I never looked at Outlook for those directions. I'm thinking the problem might have to do with the multiple accounts...not sure. I also use a master password on my computer and that might be blocking. I appreciate your help.

Mikie, thanks again and I am enjoying the beautiful weather in your State. Still can't believe its in the 80's in November.

Jane

Jane,

I also have multiple gmail accounts. It's not a problem.

Susan

It works! Problem solved...thanks Mikie and everyone for the great ideas.

Jane