What email client are you using? Assuming you are using Outlook Express which comes with XP, when you first open it, the client requires you to go through the setup. During this process, it will ask you if you want Outlook Express to be the default email program. If this is the client you want to use, you should have said yes. To make Outlook Express the default email client, goto Options tab, then General Tab, at the bottom, click on the Make Default Tab for email handler.