Windows 7 - Just upgraded from Vista - what email application

Just upgraded Vista to Windows 7 32bit Ultimate.
Upgrade seems to have gone ok ... Did report net framework 4 needed repair, and it did carry out repair.
I used Winmail with Vista, had the message about no email client installed with Windows 7
What is best advice here, need to recover all my filed mails.

A quick Google shows that Winmail is but hidden, do I mess about and try & enable this? Or is there a better approach.?

This is the exact reason I tell people to never use the mail program that comes with the OS.
I always use the service providers mail program. Do you have the windows.old folder in your new OS ?

I assume this was an "upgrade install" rather than a "clean install"?

Did you make any overt attempt to backup your mail prior to installing Windows 7?

Microsoft does not support Windows Mail on Windows 7, so look at this tutorial if you want to see what's involved and the problems that may occurr if it's "reinstated" on Windows 7: Windows Mail .

If you want to stick with the Microsoft way, the equivalent free email for Windows 7 is "Windows Live Mail" which can be selected from among the Suite of free Microsoft Programs called "Windows Live Essentials": Download: Windows Live Essentials - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details
The default web installer will let you select the programs you want. I'd choose only "Mail" to start since you can always go back to the small installer file to add another program later. (WLM may have some quirks or bugs still, so it may help to go to the "Windows Live Essentials" entry under "Programs and Features" and do a pre-emptive "repair".)

The main mail window will have the option to "import" messages from the "Windows Mail" format you used in Vista. The Contacts window will provide the option to import contacts from "current Windows user" which refers to the <username>/Contacts folder in Windows Explorer. So even before you install a mail program you should put Vista's contacts there. However once they are imported into WLM contacts, you will no longer be using the Explorer "<username>/Contacts" folder.

Before actually importing anything, I'd play with WLM to become familiar with it. Start by adding your email accounts as you originally added them in Vista. Also, you must decide whether or not you want to use WLM when "signed-in" or "not signed-in", since the contacts list for each is separate and you can only view the list that corresponds to your status as "signed-in" or "not signed-in". The advantage to signing in is that your contacts will always be backed up to the "contacts.live.com" website under your LiveID. Another minor feature is the ability to optionally use "Photo Email" to send large numbers of pictures using SkyDrive to hold them instead of attaching them to the email itself.

I have used both Thunderbird and Windows Live Mail with Windows 7. I prefer WLM to Thunderbird because it is somewhat like OE that I was using in Windows XP.

To answer the Q's ...
I did do a full back up .. using 'export mail' options were Outlook or Winmail format (I chose latter) .. so I have a full back-up of all mail folders.

I have no specific desire for an MS solution ....

I started with OExpress, and only moved to WinMail when it changed to it as part of upgrade to Vista.

I just need a basic Pop3 mail client, which will accept all my filed mails (hopefully with some import tool) ... and folder structure.
I use - spellchecker, and usenet reader
Don't use Calendar or Contacts. (though would if they were there)

I do also read all of mail 'live' using an Android Smart phone, but that does not impact in nay way the PC mail client.

Hello sargan
WLM works well and will do what you want, follow what roncerr suggested and have a bit of a play around with it to see if it suits you. If it does'nt Mozilla Thunderbird is ok as well, it's all personal prefrences as to what one likes or does'nt like, I have used WLM for a couple of years now and have had no trouble with it at all.
Hope this helps you, but ultimately it is your choice.

Agreed that WLM works very well, I would say that it almost works like a charm.

But for e-Mail Servers having both pop and imap (like gmail and lavabit etc), one has to configure the accounts manually. If you don't then WML automatically configures them to imap.

I am not saying that imap is bad, in fact it is very good but yet I don't like it and prefer the good old pop3.

re : Vista mail client on Windows 7 -

I run x64 so I just deleted everything in the 2 Windows Mail folders and replaced with stuff from x64 Vista. Shortcut in Start Menu points to

"C:\Program Files\Windows Mail\WinMail.exe"

and its been OK from week 1, no patching, reg tweaks etc. Have 3 Google pop accounts and 1 from my webhost.