>>Does anyone know how to force:
>>1. Microsoft Mail Server into the Control Panel?
>>2. Inbox into the control Panel?
>
>If the Inbox never been in the CP you need to install some
>kind of messaging agent (Outlook, Exchange client or MsMail).
>If you do so an Inbox Icon should appear.

You're right on the money here - the Mail applet is actually pointed at some of the options dialogs for whatever your default mail handler is - in my case, with Outlook 98 installed, it points to my Outlook Tools-Accounts Dialog Mail tab, where my accounts are defined.