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The answer to a question nobody here asked.

Pilgrim

Pilgrim

Supporting Member
Jul 8, 2004
20,097
20,445
Fort Collins, Colorado
www.colocougs.org
#1
I have been fighting a small, irritating war with Microsoft since they brought out their "new" version of Outlook. I don't like the little colored bubbles next to each incoming message, I don't like the navigation, the placement of most functions including the delete function, and in general I find it to be software designed for users who can't make it work without a nanny. MS keeps dumbing down the interfaces on their software, and it's frequently very annoying.

For that reason, I downloaded and installed "Classic Outlook" (easy to find with Google), then used the Help menu to switch to Classic Outlook. That works OK, although I have been unable to make the default settings open Classic Outlook rather than forcing me to switch every time I open it.

But yesterday I found something REALLY sneaky about it that solves a problem for me!!

I have a lifetime MS 365 Outlook account at the university where I retired. I want to be able to access it from Outlook, but New Outlook refuses to add a MS 365 email account. New Outlook will add my most-used IMAP account, and my Gmail account, but not my university MS 365 account. This is a major pain in the butt, as I do NOT want to have to open a browser window and login to MS 365 every time I want to check that email account.

But wait, there's more.............

Yesterday, for the first time I switched from New Outlook into Classic Outlook, and THEN tried adding my MS 365 account while I was in Classic. IT WORKED. Evidently Classic has different rules on adding email accounts, and adding the MS 365 account works nicely. It still doesn't appear in New Outlook, but when I switch to Classic, it's present.

I wrote this on the small chance that someone has a similar problem. If so, try adding your MS 365 account in Classic Outlook.

Now I can keep trying to make Classic Outlook open as the default, instead of switching every time.
 
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#4
Pilgrim said:
I find it to be software designed for users who can't make it work without a nanny. MS keeps dumbing down the interfaces on their software, and it's frequently very annoying.
Click to expand...
This.

I use MS products when I have to (they're unavoidable sometimes) but this is my number one complaint. When using MS software, I get the impression that Bill Gates wants to personally control everything my computer does.
Trying to force my own preferences on some of their software is frequently an exercise in frustration.
 
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#5
I can't believe how bad Microsoft is these days. AI forced on you. You can't set up your computer without a Microsoft account. Obsoleting your perfectly fine older computers. Pop-ups trying to sell you stuff or get you to upgrade your MS account. Updates break things. Every interface "improvement" is non-intuitive. OS and app settings are hidden all over the place. Lack of control over scheduling updates.

I daily drive linux. Been doing it for probably about 5 years.

I do have a couple of machines running Windows, only because our church uses Powerpoint with some more esoteric embedded video features. I haven't found any open-source or paid alternatives that have these features. If I could find one, I'd dump Microsoft in a heartbeat.

I generally set up Windows with my Microsoft account. Then I immediately create a local account and always log into it.
 
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#6
@MJ5150 Appreciate the offer, but I'll manage. The Microsoft stuff is needed for work, sadly the IT folks there don't like change.
Happily though, once I'm off shift I refuse to engage.
That does lead to the occasional management hissy-fit when they try to reach me but I've made it clear that I'm aware of Ireland's work legislation on the subject.😁
 
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#10
Here's how you can go straight to a local account when setting up a new computer

1) don't connect your ethernet cable
2) when it prompts you to connect to the internet, hit F10 (may need to use shift+F10 or even shift+fn+F10 on some models)
3) DOS prompt opens
4) type "oobe/bypassnro"

It will reboot and when you get to the prompt to connect to the internet, now there will be an option "I don't have internet." Choose this, and you can create a local account.
 
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#12
I admin about 140 Microsoft 365 accounts/Windows computers at my job.
As much as Microsoft sucks, I don't find mass admin'ing Google accounts or Apple accounts/devices any better, they are all owned/operated by super duper rich people, and have dark patterns leading to vendor lockin.
Of the 3 ways to access email in Microsoft environment (old/new Outlook app, and logging into 365 in browser), my descending order of preference is:
Old outlook, Web, New Outlook. It's also pretty easy to have other accounts show on the Web version when you're logged in.
 
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#13
1765936968285.png
 
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#16
Pilgrim said:
I have been fighting a small, irritating war with Microsoft since they brought out their "new" version of Outlook. I don't like the little colored bubbles next to each incoming message, I don't like the navigation, the placement of most functions including the delete function, and in general I find it to be software designed for users who can't make it work without a nanny. MS keeps dumbing down the interfaces on their software, and it's frequently very annoying.

For that reason, I downloaded and installed "Classic Outlook" (easy to find with Google), then used the Help menu to switch to Classic Outlook. That works OK, although I have been unable to make the default settings open Classic Outlook rather than forcing me to switch every time I open it.

But yesterday I found something REALLY sneaky about it that solves a problem for me!!

I have a lifetime MS 365 Outlook account at the university where I retired. I want to be able to access it from Outlook, but New Outlook refuses to add a MS 365 email account. New Outlook will add my most-used IMAP account, and my Gmail account, but not my university MS 365 account. This is a major pain in the butt, as I do NOT want to have to open a browser window and login to MS 365 every time I want to check that email account.

But wait, there's more.............

Yesterday, for the first time I switched from New Outlook into Classic Outlook, and THEN tried adding my MS 365 account while I was in Classic. IT WORKED. Evidently Classic has different rules on adding email accounts, and adding the MS 365 account works nicely. It still doesn't appear in New Outlook, but when I switch to Classic, it's present.

I wrote this on the small chance that someone has a similar problem. If so, try adding your MS 365 account in Classic Outlook.

Now I can keep trying to make Classic Outlook open as the default, instead of switching every time.
Click to expand...
I hear you. We were forced to convert our Hotmail accounts over to outlook and it sucks! Frankly, I’m about done with Microsoft. I don’t own any PCs, just an IPad and IPhone. I also have a Gmail email account an iCloud account,I think I have Verizon email account and yahoo account as a back up just in case Microsoft decides that they want me to have a new password and just cut me off from logging in.

And if you think I’m po’d, you should have been around when my wife went off about this very subject this morning.
 

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