This question has been asked many times before, but I have yet to find
the answer. Maybe there is not a satisfactory one, but hopefully someone
here has found it.

*Outlook Express* and *Outlook 2003* are installed on the same computer.
(They are different programs. This question relates to Outlook Express
and its interaction with Outlook.) Outlook Express has one identity, and
it is password protected. When Outlook starts, an "Identity Login" box
appears, even though Outlook Express is not being opened. The box
requires either canceling or inputting a password.

This problem is *not* the same as the intermittently appearing Identity
Login box as reported by some gamers using Norton Antivirus. The only
time the box appears is when Outlook is started with Outlook Express
closed or when Outlook Express is started after the Login Identity boxed
is canceled.

To add to the confusion, when the Identity Login box appears, it says,
"There is no current identity. Select your identity name below. To add
or modify an identity, click Manage Identities." Yet, "Main Identity",
the only identity in Outlook Express, is listed, and it's highlighted in
gray. Clicking on "Manage Identities" shows "Main Identity" listed under
"Identities", and "Main Identity" is listed under "Use this identity
when starting a program", which is checked. "Main Identity" is also
listed under "Use this identity when a program cannot ask you to choose
an identity."

Outlook Express and Outlook are somehow conjoined. How can they be
separated such that starting *Outlook* does not cause the Identity Login
box from *Outlook Express* from appearing (until Outlook Express is
started, when it is appropriate for the box to appear)? Since the
"Manage Identities" box is an Outlook *Express* function, this newsgroup
should be the more appropriate forum for a solution.

If you're using OL as your default Mail Client and OE only to access newsgroups, you need to correct your configuration.

Using Outlook 2003 for Mail and Outlook Express for News

A. Set the defaults to use Outlook Express to access Newsgroups:

1. Control Panel Internet Options Programs Newsgroups Select Outlook Express and OK your way out;

2. Do not let Outlook or Outlook Express let themselves set to the default newsreader:

a. Start Outlook Express to access news. When OE prompts you to make it your default newsreader the next time you launch it, click the "Don't ask me again" box and then click the "No" button;

b. Close Outlook Express and start Outlook 2003. When it asks whether you want to set Outlook as your default mail and news handler choose "No". Leave Outlook open and continue to the next section.

3. Set the Outlook Toolbar:

a. Choose View Toolbars Customize*;

b. Select the Commands tab;

c. From the Categories list select "Go";

d. From the Commands list select "News" and drag & drop it to any place you want on the Toolbar. The default location is in the "Go" menu.

e. Press Close to return to Outlook.

*Not seeing the News option in Customize? Choose View Toolbars Customize Toolbars (tab) Select Menu Bar and press Reset Start again from #3 above.

B. Start Outlook Express as Newsreader from a shortcut:

1. Copy the following line to your clipboard (CTRL+C):

"C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe" /newsonly

2. Right click on an empty area of your Desktop and choose New Shortcut;

3. Paste the contents of your clipboard (CTRL+V) into the "Type the location of the item" box;

4. Press Next;

5. Type a name for the shortcut (e.g., Newsreader);

6. Press Finish and your shortcut will be created. You can drag & drop this shortcut to anywhere you want (e.g., Quick Launch toolbar, Shortcuts section of the Navigation Pane in Outlook 2003).

Freely adapted from http://www.sparnaaij.net/Faq/news.htm and http://www.slipstick.com/emo/2004/up040122.htm#news
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


mcp6453 wrote:
This question has been asked many times before, but I have yet to find
the answer. Maybe there is not a satisfactory one, but hopefully someone
here has found it.

*Outlook Express* and *Outlook 2003* are installed on the same computer.
(They are different programs. This question relates to Outlook Express
and its interaction with Outlook.) Outlook Express has one identity, and
it is password protected. When Outlook starts, an "Identity Login" box
appears, even though Outlook Express is not being opened. The box
requires either canceling or inputting a password.

This problem is *not* the same as the intermittently appearing Identity
Login box as reported by some gamers using Norton Antivirus. The only
time the box appears is when Outlook is started with Outlook Express
closed or when Outlook Express is started after the Login Identity boxed
is canceled.

To add to the confusion, when the Identity Login box appears, it says,
"There is no current identity. Select your identity name below. To add
or modify an identity, click Manage Identities." Yet, "Main Identity",
the only identity in Outlook Express, is listed, and it's highlighted in
gray. Clicking on "Manage Identities" shows "Main Identity" listed under
"Identities", and "Main Identity" is listed under "Use this identity
when starting a program", which is checked. "Main Identity" is also
listed under "Use this identity when a program cannot ask you to choose
an identity."

Outlook Express and Outlook are somehow conjoined. How can they be
separated such that starting *Outlook* does not cause the Identity Login
box from *Outlook Express* from appearing (until Outlook Express is
started, when it is appropriate for the box to appear)? Since the
"Manage Identities" box is an Outlook *Express* function, this newsgroup
should be the more appropriate forum for a solution.

No, I am not using OE for news. Since Outlook is used for business email
on Exchange Server, OE is used for person and mailing list email.
Thunderbird is my news reader.

Do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks.

PA Bear wrote:
If you're using OL as your default Mail Client and OE only to access
newsgroups, you need to correct your configuration.

*_Using Outlook 2003 for Mail and Outlook Express for News_*

*A. Set the defaults to use Outlook Express to access Newsgroups:*

1. Control Panel Internet Options Programs Newsgroups Select
Outlook Express and OK your way out;

2. Do not let Outlook or Outlook Express let themselves set to the
default newsreader:

a. Start Outlook Express to access news. When OE prompts you to make
it your default newsreader the next time you launch it, click the "Don't
ask me again" box and then click the "No" button;

b. Close Outlook Express and start Outlook 2003. When it asks
whether you want to set Outlook as your default mail and news handler
choose "No". Leave Outlook open and continue to the next section.

3. Set the Outlook Toolbar:

a. Choose View Toolbars Customize*;

b. Select the Commands tab;

c. From the Categories list select "Go";

d. From the Commands list select "News" and drag & drop it to any
place you want on the Toolbar. The default location is in the "Go" menu.

e. Press Close to return to Outlook.

*Not seeing the News option in Customize? Choose View Toolbars
Customize Toolbars (tab) Select Menu Bar and press Reset Start
again from #3 above.

*B. Start Outlook Express as Newsreader from a shortcut:*

1. Copy the following line to your clipboard (CTRL+C):

"C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe" /newsonly

2. Right click on an empty area of your Desktop and choose New Shortcut;

3. Paste the contents of your clipboard (CTRL+V) into the "Type the
location of the item" box;

4. Press Next;

5. Type a name for the shortcut (e.g., Newsreader);

6. Press Finish and your shortcut will be created. You can drag & drop
this shortcut to anywhere you want (e.g., Quick Launch toolbar,
Shortcuts section of the Navigation Pane in Outlook 2003).

Freely adapted from http://www.sparnaaij.net/Faq/news.htm and
http://www.slipstick.com/emo/2004/up040122.htm#news
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


mcp6453 wrote:
This question has been asked many times before, but I have yet to find
the answer. Maybe there is not a satisfactory one, but hopefully someone
here has found it.

*Outlook Express* and *Outlook 2003* are installed on the same computer.
(They are different programs. This question relates to Outlook Express
and its interaction with Outlook.) Outlook Express has one identity, and
it is password protected. When Outlook starts, an "Identity Login" box
appears, even though Outlook Express is not being opened. The box
requires either canceling or inputting a password.

This problem is *not* the same as the intermittently appearing Identity
Login box as reported by some gamers using Norton Antivirus. The only
time the box appears is when Outlook is started with Outlook Express
closed or when Outlook Express is started after the Login Identity boxed
is canceled.

To add to the confusion, when the Identity Login box appears, it says,
"There is no current identity. Select your identity name below. To add
or modify an identity, click Manage Identities." Yet, "Main Identity",
the only identity in Outlook Express, is listed, and it's highlighted in
gray. Clicking on "Manage Identities" shows "Main Identity" listed under
"Identities", and "Main Identity" is listed under "Use this identity
when starting a program", which is checked. "Main Identity" is also
listed under "Use this identity when a program cannot ask you to choose
an identity."

Outlook Express and Outlook are somehow conjoined. How can they be
separated such that starting *Outlook* does not cause the Identity Login
box from *Outlook Express* from appearing (until Outlook Express is
started, when it is appropriate for the box to appear)? Since the
"Manage Identities" box is an Outlook *Express* function, this newsgroup
should be the more appropriate forum for a solution.

Since this involves Outlook's dependence on Outlook Express, you'd probably
be better off posting to an OL-specific newsgroup instead of here.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

mcp6453 wrote:
No, I am not using OE for news. Since Outlook is used for business email
on Exchange Server, OE is used for person and mailing list email.
Thunderbird is my news reader.

Do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks.

PA Bear wrote:
If you're using OL as your default Mail Client and OE only to access
newsgroups, you need to correct your configuration.
snip
mcp6453 wrote:
This question has been asked many times before, but I have yet to find
the answer. Maybe there is not a satisfactory one, but hopefully
someone
here has found it.

*Outlook Express* and *Outlook 2003* are installed on the same
computer.
(They are different programs. This question relates to Outlook Express
and its interaction with Outlook.) Outlook Express has one identity,
and
it is password protected. When Outlook starts, an "Identity Login" box
appears, even though Outlook Express is not being opened. The box
requires either canceling or inputting a password.

This problem is *not* the same as the intermittently appearing Identity
Login box as reported by some gamers using Norton Antivirus. The only
time the box appears is when Outlook is started with Outlook Express
closed or when Outlook Express is started after the Login Identity
boxed
is canceled.

To add to the confusion, when the Identity Login box appears, it says,
"There is no current identity. Select your identity name below. To add
or modify an identity, click Manage Identities." Yet, "Main Identity",
the only identity in Outlook Express, is listed, and it's highlighted
in
gray. Clicking on "Manage Identities" shows "Main Identity" listed
under
"Identities", and "Main Identity" is listed under "Use this identity
when starting a program", which is checked. "Main Identity" is also
listed under "Use this identity when a program cannot ask you to choose
an identity."

Outlook Express and Outlook are somehow conjoined. How can they be
separated such that starting *Outlook* does not cause the Identity
Login
box from *Outlook Express* from appearing (until Outlook Express is
started, when it is appropriate for the box to appear)? Since the
"Manage Identities" box is an Outlook *Express* function, this
newsgroup
should be the more appropriate forum for a solution.