New toy with W8.1

What ho one and all,

A neighbour has up-graded his computer and very kindly 'donated' his HP Pavilion 23 All In One to me. He has removed all his data and I need to set up W8.1 again by running through the various screens.

I have come to the screen that asks for an e-mail address but the wording implies that I need an MS or Skype account. i don't want an MS account or e-mail address as I already have a gmail one.

I have not tried my gmail address in the relevant box, but feel certain that it will not work. If it does not accept gmail, how do I proceed?

Thanks and toodle pip

Follow these instructions to set up a local account during setup. This will avoid having to set up any new email account or use any existing email account to complete the install.


https://www.hanselman.com/blog/how-t...ocal%20account.

First off, thanks for the link; it worked perfectly and I have not had to open any account (yet.)

Which leads me to the next questions about setting up W8.1. This computer will be for my wife, but she is not technically minded so I get the set-up task, which is fine. At the moment, we both are using XP and e-mail as both POP3 and web with gmail, and OE. But In 8.1, I searched and find that I hit Mail, open the sidebar and select Settings, from where I can go to Accounts and apparently set up a new account, without registering with MS.

But i do not have an Accounts option. And I don't want or need an MS account. So what can I do to set up her e-mail?

Many thanks in advance and toodle pip

Rex

This should explain it. You'll need all the pertinent info to set up the email account(s)

Quote:

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If your email address ends in a different domain, like gmail.com, yahoo.com, or comcast.net, here's how to add it.
On the Start screen, tap or click Mail.
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Settings.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Settings.)
Tap or click Accounts, tap or click Add an account, and then tap or click the type of account you'd like to add.
Enter your email address and password for the account, and then tap or click Connect.

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https://support.microsoft.com/en-ca/...in-windows-8-1

Thanks for your reply.

"Should" is the optimum word. Been there, done that. Under Settings, I do not have an Account link and that is the problem. I don't recall the tabs I do have, but there were only three and Accounts is of one of them.

From my research, I am thinking that Mail is probably not the way to go so may try A.N.Other ail program.

It looks like the Microsoft Mail app requires a Microsoft account to set it up. An alternative would seem to be the answer.

Possible useful links:

https://www.techradar.com/best/best-email-clients

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-of-t...t-cost-a-dime/

https://www.oeclassic.com/