Windows 7 - new windows live mail(2011) update

just had the live mail update to 2011, in the old live mail you could change the background of your outgoing emails both color or with an image. personaly I had a feint rose as my default background for all my emails, now its plain? does anyone know if this function is available with the new live mail as I do not seem to be able to find it anywhere?

unfortunately, microsoft made the decision to remove stationery from windows live mail.

you can't do it, i'm afraid.

and to make it worse, i don't know how to go back to the old program.

if you want rose backgrounds etc, you'll need to try a different email program.

here's a list/review of 12 freebies.


thunderbird is highly regarded, but to do stationery you'll need to download an add-on for it.

my mother swears by incredimail, a fun-type email program where you can add backgrounds etc to your heart's content, but personally i hate it!

I've managed to get back to the older 2010, by a system restore to just before the update

sometimes changes aren't for the better...

too true.... I've hidden the update as well, not falling for that again

I don't care for the interface and want to restore to the previous Windows Live mail. Using system restore and selecting the most recent restore point gives me a message that the system cannot be restored to that point. I've tried all restore points for the last week and none work. How can I get back to the previous version of Windows Live Mail?

The new interface etc. I can get used to - it's just a matter of time before you forget how it used to look. I like the calendar side pane - quite handy. What I'm not happy about however, is that the new version seems to take an eternity to download messages. Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed this?
Also, what's this Live SkyDrive for photos all about? Does the recipient have to have these latest updates installed too, to be able to receive the photos in this format? What happens if they don't? I find it annoying if attaching more than one photo, that it selects this format by default - if you don't want to send photos as a fancy presentation, you have to manually deselect the photo album on the format tab.
Why can't MS stop messing around with stuff that works fine and does what it says on the tin? Why the constant need to add bells & whistles? If I wanted to show off, I'd have bought a Mac.

(added for effect, because posting a plain message without a silly smiley is no longer considered adequate by some)

the live sky drive stuff, basically you only email a small low-res thumbnail to your friend, and also upload highres images to your free webspace (skydrive) associated with your hotmail/live account.

if your friend wants, they can click on the thumbnail in your email and will be taken to a webpage displaying your high-res photo - no extra software needed - only a browser. you don't have to use it, you can still use old fashioned attachments.

oh, it's not a smiley, but here goes:

can you get the older versions here? Free old version windows live mail Download - old version windows live mail Files

Thanks for the explanation.
Personally, I'd prefer the "old fashioned" method to be the default, rather than having to manually select it instead of the fancy flashy gimmicky method - but I guess I'll get used to it soon enough.