Outlook

[jayemcee]

I have been arbitarily switched to Outlook and the "cog" no longer gives me the choice of returning to Hotmail. Assuming that I am stuck with it, please how do I get rid of, or hide, the right hand column, as I have no use for the links and it restricts the size of my window.

[VHG]

Yes, Microsoft are trying to move everyone from hotmail to outlook.com so there is no going back.

I dont think you can get rid of the right hand column.

[jayemcee]

Thank you for the bad news VHG, I really do not like the squidgy little space in the middle of the page for the email. I have minimised the left hand column as much as possible but it is back to the normal width when next opened. Oh well, I suppose there are other email providers but that means all the bother of a name change! Why is there so much needless hassle in life?

[fadeout73]

There is a cog next to your name in the top right hand corner, click on that, under Reading Pane, click off.

[VHG]

It is not the reading pane.

There is a narrow column on the right hand side that has "hints and tips" and will also I believe be used for adverts.

I seem to remember reading somwehere you can pay so much a year to remove the adverts.

[Nibble]

Looking about, have you tried the following..

http://www1.aston.ac.uk/ict/studentguide/email/premium/switching-on-or-off-the-reading-pane/

:0

[jayemcee]

I have already " turned off " the reading pane. My bugbear is the right column which remains. It contains varying messages, such as - Colours, layouts etc, - Take your apps with you - Add networks - connect to facebook. etc. None of this will I use and I have to view my emails in the space left between the left hand column of folders ( which I have minimised as much as poss) and this OTHER column on the right which I can not make narrower. I can't be the only one with this col, can I.

[Buenchico]

If you get fed up with using Microsoft's (pathetic) email services, simply create a new account with GMX (which is about a zillion times better):
http://www.gmx.co.uk/

You don't have to tell everyone your new email address. Simply click the 'Mail Collector' button, enter your Hotmail/Outlook details, and all mail sent to your old address will automatically be forwarded to your new one.

[jayemcee]

That sounds like a jolly good idea Buenchico, the worst part of Outlook is that this unwanted column takes up a good 2 inches of the screen and I can no longer read my message without scrolling back and forth, or making the print so damned small that I CAN'T read it!! Thank you for all your replies but surely Microsoft are not so prescriptive as to dictate what we have on the screen? OR CAN THEY!