Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
It's possible to set Outlook Express up with no Accounts menu item. I can only speculate on why that functionality exists.
I have no "Accounts..." menu item in Outlook Express. Why?
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This took a little bit more than the usual head-scratching. After all was said and done, I came to find this: How to Remove the Accounts Option from the Tools Menu in Outlook Express. The exact oposite of the situation at hand. It turns out that there's a registry value that can be set to remove the "Accounts..." menu in Outlook Express. We set the value of that key to zero and the menu item returned.
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The question we're left with is "Why?". Why didn't a clean install of Outlook Express reset the value?
My guess is that this particular setting is intended for situations such as corporations with strict internal email policies - the kind of company that insists you use company email for company business only. In an attempt to enforce that, disabling the accounts menu prevents employees from setting up additional non-work related accounts.
If that's the case, then it's fairly important that any install or re-install of the software not override the setting. Otherwise employees could easily circumvent the intended restriction.
Anyway, that's all speculation on my part. I could be wrong.
Article C1833 - August 18, 2003 « »
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
May 10, 2006 11:15 PM
How to configure outlook express in window 2003 server.when i configure gets error message.u have to take subscription from msn.pls help.How i can configure without subscription .
October 16, 2006 6:41 PM
Question? My problem is I have accounts in OE6 that I can't delete. This is my home computer and I have followed everything I can think of and I still cannot remove/delete these accounts. Any ideas.
May 3, 2009 10:12 PM
I really need outlook express but I keep getting the message that I need a subscription. I try but it doesn't work . What's up with that? Please help a 66 yr. old with a 2000 computer!!!
May 3, 2009 10:16 PM
I will use my sasktel.net account - I still can't use outlook express. I get that damned message.
It seems hotmail can't be used so I won't bother with that one!!!
July 26, 2011 8:59 AM
Hope the following is of interest, it certainly restored my Accounts Tab in Outlook Express.
Accounts Tab is Missing in Outlook Express in XP.
You will need to go into Regedit, and amend the registry entry.
It is not difficult, but just be careful.
To do so,
Click on START
Click on Run
Type Regedit
Select the following keys
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Outlook Express
In the right-hand pane, find No modify accts (Double click this to get to the Edit box).
You should see a 0 (Zero), (or maybe a 1).
Change the 0 or 1 to read DWORD = 0 (Note space either side of = sign)
(If you just enter a 0, it probably won’t work, it must be DWORD = 0).
Click OK, then the little X at top right of screen to exit Regedit.
Just be careful when doing this, but it is relatively easy, provided you stick to above.
Restart Outlook Express, and the Accounts Tab should be back.