How to disable "Mail" so I can use my existing email?

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Level 1

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How to disable "Mail" so I can use my existing email?

I already have an email account, and don't need or want another one. But everytime I click on an email link at a website, this stupid "Welcome to Mail" window pops up prompting me to "set up" an account.

If the email address I'm trying to reach is displayed on their website, I can just copy and paste it. But if they only have a link (i.e., "Click here to email us"), and not the actual address, I can't get the address because I can't get past this **** Mail account sign-up.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Oct 19, 2009 9:16 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 19, 2009 9:22 PM in response to Ray Dunakin

You're not understanding what that is. If you already have an email account, Mail let's you set it up so you can send and receive that email through the program, instead of having to login to a webmail interface. All you have to do is enter the required information for your account and you'll be set.

It is not asking you to sign up for anything.

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Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

239,213 points

Oct 19, 2009 9:32 PM in response to Ray Dunakin

One downright obnoxious thing about OSX is that you have to setup Mail first before you can use it's prefs to set the APP you want to use for eMail as the default when you click on an eMail link! 😟

Actually you can download & install RCDefaultApp...

http://www.rubicode.com/Software/RCDefaultApp/

To get around that. 🙂

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Answer 3

Oct 19, 2009 9:39 PM in response to BDAqua

HI,

Same topic... FYI ... just realized it.

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=10421384

🙂

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

239,213 points

Oct 19, 2009 9:48 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

Thanks sweetie! 🙂

I think this one is more relevent since it's actually Mail they're talking about & not really Safari, but with he info given there you did proper! 🙂

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Answer 5

Ray Dunakin Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 19, 2009 11:23 PM in response to Golden Shoes

. "You're not understanding what that is. If you already have an email account, Mail let's you set it up so you can send and receive that email through the program, instead of having to login to a webmail interface. All you have to do is enter the required information for your account and you'll be set." .
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Why would I ever want to have my email go through "Mail" instead of getting/sending it directly from my existing account??

. "It is not asking you to sign up for anything."

Then they need to change the wording of the prompt. "Set up an account" sure sounds to me like I'm being asked to sign up for something.

Message was edited by: RayDunakin

Message was edited by: RayDunakin

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Answer 6

Ray Dunakin Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 19, 2009 11:25 PM in response to BDAqua

"One downright obnoxious thing about OSX is that you have to setup Mail first before you can use it's prefs to set the APP you want to use for eMail as the default when you click on an eMail link!"

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Maybe I'm misunderstanding something, but to my knowledge I'm not using any app for email. I use Safari to get my email from AOL.

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Answer 7

Oct 20, 2009 6:44 AM in response to Ray Dunakin

Why would I ever want to have my email go through "Mail" instead of getting/sending it directly from my existing account??

You are sending mail through your existing account, you're just able to do it and manage your mail without being required to login via the webmail interface to do it. That's what mail clients are for, and it's been that way for well over 20 years.

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Answer 8

BDAqua

Level 10

239,213 points

Oct 20, 2009 10:34 AM in response to Ray Dunakin

One of the difficulties of using WebMail especially, but any other eMail client on OSX is that it defaults to opening Mail when you click on an eMail link, and the only built in way to change the default is by setting up Apple's Mail so you can get to the pref that sets the default app for that.

In other words, if I want to use Thunderbird or Eudora for my eMail, I must setup a Mail Account first, even a bogus one, just to get to Mail's preference to change the eMail client.

WebMail is a bit tougher still because once you do setup Mail then change the pref to Safari for email links, it'll open Safari, but not directly to your AOL Mail unless you have Safari set to open new pages to that link.

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Answer 9

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Oct 23, 2009 12:09 PM in response to Ray Dunakin

Hi Ray!

I seldom use Apple Mail, but just for the situation you reference I have created and enabled a mail account for my AOL Mail.

I was stubborn and held out for years, but finally broke down! 😉

These are the settings, for configuring Apple Mail with AOL mail.

-Account Type: IMAP
-Incoming Mail Server: imap.aol.com
-Outgoing Mail Server: smtp.aol.com:Your AOL Screenname Here
-Server Port: 587 (If that port # doesn't work try 993)

You can also use the utility AOL® Service Assistant, which can be downloaded from this website AOL Macintosh Downloads.

"The AOL Service Assistant enables you to set up the following Apple applications to work with the AOL service:
• Mail - The AOL Service Assistant makes it easy to configure Mac OS X Mail to send and receive AOL mail. If you've used the existing AOL for Mac OS X product, you can also import your incoming and outgoing messages from your Personal Filing Cabinet into Mail.
• iChat - You can now easily set up iChat to work with your Screen Name.
• Address Book - Using the AOL Service Assistant, you can now easily import your AOL Address Book contacts into your Mac OS X Address Book without bringing in duplicate entries.
• Safari - AOL Service Assistant enables you to import your Favorite Places into a folder in the Safari Bookmarks Bar."

ali b

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