Difference between paid Outlook.com and free 'light' version?

Hi,

I am trying to tie up some loose ends after having to execute a Clean Install of my Windows 10 Home last night because of corrupted files I couldn't fix any other way.

To make a long story short prior to the Clean Install I had a paid version of Microsoft Office 2013 Professional Plus on my PC and was using Outlook as my main email address for the last few years. While trying to determine what was causing my corrupted files (I couldn't download or install any Windows Cumulative Updates since Aug. 31) some folks thought that maybe my copy of Office 2013 could be part of my problem.

While 'nosing' around Google this morning I found what I would call a free 'light' version of 'Outlook.com' and downloaded and installed it. After logging into my Outlook account I am able to send and receive emails using my Outlook email address. However, I can find none of my contacts anywhere on the email page.

That really doesn't bother me that much because I have backups of many of the addresses. What I really want to do is find a way, if possible, to save this version of Outlook to my taskbar as I did my paid version. With my previous version when I received a letter a small envelope would appear on the Outlook icon on my Taskbar alerting me to incoming mail. Is that possible with this free 'light' version?

Right now I am trying to decide between Libre Office and Open Office to supply my Word and Power Point needs. But if at all possible I would like to keep the same email address like I had before I made the clean install last night. I hope I am explaining this so it is clear to the readers.

Any information or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks and regards,
2harts4ever

This is what you get by paying. https://support.office.com/en-us/art...rs=en-US&ad=US

Hi Neemobeer ,

Is the paid version ($19.95 a year) like the Outlook 2016 mail or Office 2013 mail which I had been using before my Clean Install last night?

Thanks and regards,
2harts4ever

There is a difference between Outlook.com and Outlook with Outlook being the installed E-Mail Client that is part of Microsoft Office. Outlook.com is the 'new' Hotmail.com, online E-Mail service that only needs a Browser for access.

I like LibreOffice [a bit more complete than OpenOffice] but it does not include a comparable program for Outlook or for Access. It does have Impress Presentation as an alternative to PowerPoint and LibreOffice can work with most Office formats in addition to many other. I keep it around as it is the only thing that can open Microsoft Works files, a number of my clients are older ladies that created recipes in Works [.wps format] which was dropped with Version 9.x some years ago. OpenOffice used to in Version 3 but seems to have been dropped with Version 4 and later.

Hi Berton,

I appreciate your information on Libre Office and Open Office.

As for Outlook.com which I am currently using so I can keep my 'outlook' email address do you think it is possible to put it on my taskbar and keep it there for ready use instead of having it on my Favorites bar and having to open it every time I want to use it?

Thanks and regards,
2harts4ever

As Berton stated an email address and an email client are completely separate. You can use the free Thunderbird email client and add your outlook.com email account in there and pin ThunderBird to your task bar https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/

Sure. I go to the desired Web page, click the tiny icon [called a favico.ico] and carefully drag it to the Taskbar and drop it. Or drag it to the Desktop then drag to the Taskbar or right-click and Pin to Start.

Berton,

Pardon my ignorance but no where on my Outlook.com email page is there an icon that I can drag to my desktop or Taskbar??

Thanks and regards,
2harts4ever

Sorry, a line got deleted. I meant the small icon at the left end of the URL/Address box.

the item to the far left of the URL is that of a 'Lock'