What email program are you using? Is it one that you installed? Are there multiple users on this computer? Are you signed on as ADMINISTRATOR? Are you certain there is no other email program on the computer that might already be set as the default? What happens if you open the email program first, compose your message and then attach a picture...can you send it then?

the email program is what ever is here when I bought it. 2 users on computer, yes, I'm logged on as administrator, in Control panel it give no other options for email, so presumably this is the only one. I haven't tried opening email program first. I've never attached a photo to an existing email in Xp or Vista. I always used the photo drop down to make the choice to attach to email. I'll give it a shot. Thanks.

Hmm, what do you launch when you check your email? Do you check mail with a web application or do you have Outlook?

Your comment "the email program is what ever is here when I bought it" really doesn't help us help you.

Are you clicking on the Mail tile which in turn connects to a web based account, or are you clicking on an icon for an application you installed?

If you are unsure, where is the tile or icon you are clicking on?

W8.1 doesn't come with a traditional e-mail client such as Outlook or Outlook Express.

DA

My new Dell w/Win 8.1 has a MAIL tile which I have looked at occasionally because Microsoft has used it to send me advertising. I supposedly have a <myname@outlook.com> email address which was created when I set up the new computer. Using this tile appears to function entirely within the Metro UI only and does not take me to a web page. It appears to offer a bare-minimum way to compose and send a message, but when I tried to use it I received an error message telling me to "contact my provider"...whatever than means.

After a few minutes, I rec'd a mail asking that I sign in to my outlook.com account, which I did thru the web page. Afterwards (using the tile interface), I did receive a test message a sent to the outlook address from my personal email. But so far I've been unable to use the outlook address to send anything from the tile interface. I'll give it another try before I declare it a total fail.

I use the mail tile on the "start" page. I have it set up with my email account thru the service provider, ie. @cox.net. I can go to my email account thru the browser, just like the 2 gmail accounts I have. I guess that would mean the settings in Control Panel need to be set to use my provider account. Ok, that gives me a place to set my feet to find out what I need to do. I recall that I set both my hubby's email accounts up thru the tile on start menu, as I did my own. I guess that is the default I need to set. The provider. I'll have to go look it over again, thanks so much for your help. I'm still learning the Win8 and it's way different from Xp and Vista. Will post back when I find what I need to do. Let you nice folks trying to help me know what I did or found out. Thanks so much for your time and thoughtfulness.

You would do well to download FREE classic Shell, then your W8.1 will look and work just like your XP or even W7 and be so much easier to navigate for you. I have it on both of my W8.1's and it's great!! and FREE and no added on junk.http://www.classicstart8.com/download

Jeeze, aputernut, I could kiss you! If I don't have to flail around in the corner with the cursor to get the "X" to close the screen I'd be a happy girl. Thanks for the link. You're a gem. I did check the defaults page again, can't seem to understand what it is i'm supposed to do. I did see on my "mail" page, using the tile, that it has COX on the top of the left border, in that left panel is the listing of folders.

Yes, you can go to the shell, and if you do I hope it works well for you.

Just a thought though. If you are anticipating to upgrade to W10 you could be expanding your learning curve. The W10 presentation will revert somewhat to the pre-W8 presentation and functionality, but it will still maintain Metro presentation and functionality too.

Two worlds, one operating system.

DA

The W10 upgrade is going to be similar to a Beta in that you will pay later for the full OS , don't think I will bother.

DA_ how do I get a look at what the W10 upgrade will be? And I'm curious as to cost. I'm still learning Win8 and some of the changes are so odd. Took me 20 minutes trying to find in email where I store my email addresses. Not there, it's in "people" and when I initially looked at it, it appeared to be for links to facebook or twitter, which I don't use, so I didn't take a longer look. That's the place for email addresses, how odd. Anyway, thanks for all the help. Can't say how much I appreciate it.

Here's a preview clip of W10, we do get the START button feature back and it talks to you in search you can ask questions and get answers much like Siri (on phones) name now is Cortana. Instead of IE the browser will be called Spartan Here's a link to a preview the final OS will be pretty kewl Enjoy :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiZXZG-_oLs&t=66

P.S. it will be a free upgrade for one year after it comes out on any W7 or W8, as long as your PC is compatible.

aputernut, thanks for the link. Real interesting. Lots more to learn. But this one has been quite a eye opener for new things. I've been using my beloved laptop with Vista. an oldie but a goodie. and much the same as Xp was, for all the years I had it. It's been quite a journey in Win8. At least I know how to close a page and open what I want. Things popping out from bottom, side and top was a nutso thing to get used to. I'm getting into it now. thanks so much. It's been fun.

I agree with aputernut, install classic shell. Eventually we may have to learn the other, but I am waiting until I am forced to.