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My HP scanner cannot access my email program on my PC.

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  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

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I have a new HP OfficeJet Pro 9025 all-in-one. It is set up and all settings are complete and correct. It tells me I can scan to email, but when I try to scan to email I get a message that the scanner cannot find my email program and that internet based email programs are not supported. I have worked live with HP on this issue (my previous scanner, an earlier HP, scanned to email with no problem). Windows 10 is my operating system and Comcast is my server. Comcast tells me the issue is not with them and HP assures me that all is good on that end as well. I can scan to my computer and the new OfficeJet does everything except scan to email. This is a feature I frequently use so I am frustrated. Thunderbird is listed as my default email program and is selected as the default program for all of files related to Thunderbird. My security setting in Comcast is SSL/TLS.

I have a new HP OfficeJet Pro 9025 all-in-one. It is set up and all settings are complete and correct. It tells me I can scan to email, but when I try to scan to email I get a message that the scanner cannot find my email program and that internet based email programs are not supported. I have worked live with HP on this issue (my previous scanner, an earlier HP, scanned to email with no problem). Windows 10 is my operating system and Comcast is my server. Comcast tells me the issue is not with them and HP assures me that all is good on that end as well. I can scan to my computer and the new OfficeJet does everything except scan to email. This is a feature I frequently use so I am frustrated. Thunderbird is listed as my default email program and is selected as the default program for all of files related to Thunderbird. My security setting in Comcast is SSL/TLS.

Modified by Ann

Chosen solution

You don't have to download Outlook, but you need to create the entry for OUTLOOK.EXE in the registry, because that's where the HP software looks.

If you saved the 4 red lines as a .reg file with file type All Files (*.*), not as a text file, right-clicking the .reg file should show a Merge command in the context menu. Merge will perform the same operation as double-clicking, if it's a .reg file.

I noticed the instructions from 2017 indicate the path to the TB exe in 64-bit Windows as Program Files (x86), because at that time only 32-bit TB was available. If your TB is 64-bit, the exe is, or should be, in Program Files, so you would actually copy the 4 lines shown for 32-bit Windows - in your 64-bit Windows.

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In search type: Registry and select 'Registry Editor' to open.

Locate

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
  • Right click on 'App Paths' and select 'New' > 'Key'
  • Name it: outlook.exe

This will create:

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\outlook.exe


Locate:

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\thunderbird.exe
  • On the right it will have two ab listed names (Default) and 'Path' both of type 'REG_SZ'
  • Double click on 'Default' name to open 'Edit String' window.
  • Do not edit anything.
  • Copy all the 'Value Data' - highlight all text, right click and select 'Copy'
  • click on 'Cancel' to close as you do not want to save anything.

Locate

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\outlook.exe
  • In 'Name' column it will say Default.
  • Double click on 'Default' to open the Edit String window.
  • In the 'Value Data' text box, Paste in the copied text - right click and select paste.
  • click on 'OK' to save
  • Right click on the App Paths\outlook.exe and select 'New' > 'String Value'
  • Name it : Path


Locate:

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\thunderbird.exe
  • Double click on 'Path' name to allow you to 'Edit String'.
  • Do not edit anything.
  • Copy all the 'Value Data' - highlight text, right click and select 'Copy'
  • click on 'Cancel' to close.

Locate

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\outlook.exe
  • In 'Name' column it will say Path.
  • Double click on 'Path' to open the Edit String.
  • Paste in the copied text - right click and select paste.
  • click on 'OK' to save


This should result in you having both a 'thunderbird.exe' (already installed) and a 'outlook.exe' (you newly created) in 'App Paths

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\outlook.exe
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\thunderbird.exe

When you select 'outlook.exe' it should look identical to when you select 'thunderbird.exe', so both are the same with the exception of the 'App Paths' name.

Your HP printer will look for App Paths\outlook.exe and find it, but it is tricked into using thunderbird program.

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You have been so incredibly helpful but I am still getting the error message and think I have done something wrong. I created an outlook.exe. Right now in my regedit all four entries for default and path are the same. They read: C\ProgramFiles\MozillaThunderbird\thunderbird.exe.

I notice above you say that both are the same except for the App Path's name. What should the path say for Outlook?

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Sorry...there is a colon after the C

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I tried the paths with the (x86) and without and neither worked.

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I am about to give up, here. Right now both my outlook and thunderbird defaults and paths in the registry read the same registry:

C:\ProgramFiles\MozillaThunderbird\thunderbird.exe

I have tried to scan and email with this string...no luck.

Then I added the (x86) because my windows is 64 bit (remember I don't actually have an Outlook program on my computer...just the entry in the registry.

C:\ProgramFiles(x86)\MozillaThunderbird\thunderbird.exe

I tried to scan with this string and get the same error message.

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re :Then I added the (x86) because my windows is 64 bit

As your computer is 64bit it will put all other windows64bit programs in the 'Program Files' folder. If you download windows32bit programs then they will get put in the 'Program Files (x86)' folder.

But you have already said: Both my Windows and my HP OfficeJet software are 64 bit so I uninstalled my 32 bit Thunderbird and installed the 64 bit.

If the App Path/thunderbird.exe said: C:\ProgramFiles\MozillaThunderbird\thunderbird.exe Then that means you are using a windows64bit version of Thunderbird. So the registry in 'App Paths' will point to 'Program Files' and not 'Program Files (x86).

Did you then close down computer and restart computer, so it restarts scanner etc ?

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Hate to point out the obvious, but on my system thunderbird.exe is located in

C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird

but you state the path is (for 64-bit TB)

C:\ProgramFiles\MozillaThunderbird\thunderbird.exe

with no space between Mozilla and Thunderbird. Is that a typo, and do you have the correct path in the registry?

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Thanks again! All four strings now read: C:\ProgramFiles\MozillaThunderbird\thunderbird.exe. All programs are 64 bit. However, noticed that the string for my HP Scanner has a (x86) in it. Would that make a difference? I rebooted everything and get the same error message.

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I do not have a space between Mozilla and Thunderbird in the string. Do I need one?

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Ann said

I do not have a space between Mozilla and Thunderbird in the string. Do I need one?

The string has to be the same as what it is on your computer. Open Program Files in File Explorer. Is it Mozilla Thunderbird or MozillaThunderbird?

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I don't believe it! My problem was that I did not have spaces between Program & Files or between Mozilla and Thunderbird. It works without the (x86) in the string.'

Thank you, thank you, thank you for sticking with me through all of this. If you were in Miami I would buy you a drink!!!!

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Good to hear it is now all working.

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