The web browser and instant messenger that I use “full time” is Firefox and Windows Live Messenger. I still do use Internet Explorer for certain websites such as Hotmail, online banking and etc. All is good except that after installing Firefox and making it as my default web browser, whenever I click on the “Open your e-mail inbox” button in Windows Live Messenger 2009, it opens up Hotmail using Firefox. This is normal because once Firefox is set as your default browser, it should open Hotmail with Firefox.
windows live messenger open your e-mail inbox
However, one small annoying problem is it will not automatically log me in to Hotmail and I had to manually type in my password. If you’re using IE as your default browser, clicking the email button from Windows Live Messenger will automatically launch IE and auto logs you in to your Hotmail. This is for security reasons as Messenger has no direct secure route to sign you into Windows Live ID in other browsers as it does with Internet Explorer.

If you would like to automatically login to your Hotmail by clicking on the email icon at Windows Live Messenger, here is a simple tool that does the job.

Hotmail in IE, a small and simple tool created by Jonathan Kay which allows you to continue to use your default browser in Windows and other applications (including links in Messenger conversations), but use Internet Explorer for Messenger’s Hotmail features.
Hotmail in Internet Explorer
All you need to do is run Hotmail in IE, click the Internet Explorer button and Done. You can now open Hotmail inbox with IE by clicking the email icon without manually keying in your password while maintaining your default web browser.

Don’t like the changes? Simply run this tool again and click the Default Web Browser button to restore back. Hotmail in IE works on Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 (both 32 and 64 bit).

If you’re not a fan of IE and want to auto login to your Hotmail using Firefox, here is a UserScript for GreaseMonkey that allows you to login automatically into your Hotmail account when you first load the Windows Live page. Do take note that the script doesn’t work right out of the box and you’ll need to enter your Hotmail login ID and password into the script.

[ Download Hotmail in IE ]

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