Removing ISP branding in Outlook Express is similar to removing it from Internet Explorer's title bar. Using System Registry Editor, you'll find the location for changing Outlook Express's title bar text by starting:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities\{Unique-User-ID}\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0

Where you see {Unique-User-ID} above, you should instead find a user ID number that looks something like this:

{8A067580-AFEF-11D3-BEFE-9A435B3F4031}

If you have multiple Outlook Express identities configured, you'll find multiple user ID entries. If you've never created a new Outlook Express Identity, then you'll find just one entry. You will have to edit the Outlook Express 5.0 title bar text separately for each Outlook Express 5.0 Identity. Each Outlook Express 5.0 Identity gets its own unique user ID number. No two Windows installations have the same user ID numbers (theoretically).

With the \5.0 key selected on the left pane of RegEdit, look for the "WindowTitle" entry on the right pane, and double-click it to change your title bar text. If you don't find the WindowTitle entry, right-click the left pane's background, and choose New > String Value. Name the new icon "WindowTitle" (without the character space between the two words used on the corresponding icon for Internet Explorer). Press Enter, then double-click it and type the new title bar text. The default is "Outlook Express." If you have multiple user IDs, repeat for each ID.

As with Internet Explorer, some readers report that their Outlook Express 5.0 title bar text was controlled by an .INS file, so if this solution doesn't' work, follow the same steps outlined at the end of the Internet Explorer article.

Fix Internet Explorer's and Outlook Express's Animated Logos

To remove the bitmaps that replace IE's revolving logo in the upper right corner of the browser window, shut down all browser instances and Outlook Express and follow these steps.

Open the System Registry Editor: Click the Start button > Run > type REGEDIT > and press Enter.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar

Delete the items: "BrandBitmap" and "SmBrandBitmap." If you find the items "BigBitmap" and "SmallBitmap," delete them as well.

Then navigate to this location in Registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main

Delete these items: "BigBitmap" and "SmallBitmap."

Close RegEdit and launch the browser. Everything should be back to normal.

Yvette Kuhns, Power Pages Web Design, October 10, 2002

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