Windows 7 - Windows Mail

Poppa Bear

I got it. Thanks for your patience.One thing I messed was attrib -s -h "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Mail\WinMail.exe" For some reason I missed the attrib -s-h but as everything else worked I just made the exe visible by tools/folder options/view etc and then made it invisible again. Is that OK? I ask because I want to make the 7 the computer i get my mail on and want to copy all the previous mail from vista. Do you think my system is stable as I did not do exactly as you said.

Also, though it is not really relevant here, can you tell me where the sfc /scannow restores all the folders from. Is it from the back up Recover section of the hard drive. I was trying to extract the winmail folders from the recover section and from the DVD but could not find them. someone told me they are compressed?

Thanks again PB you are a star. So good to see window mail on my new PC

Hey that's really great RJ12. Gives me satisfaction to know it worked for you. Yeah you're probably right about WinLiveMail. I'll check it out.

Update: Yes, you're right. It should have read WinLiveMail and has now been amended. Thanks for pointing out that correction.

Cheers PB

Hey Han Solo that's great you got it working.

It wasn't really your mistake, the command syntax was wrong in Step 2 of the tutorial. Using the elevated command should not give you any problems in the future. Removing the attributes simply makes the file visible, but doesn't affect it's functionality.

Cheers PB

Hey that's really great Primal. I admire your patience and persistence. Now enjoy the fruits of your labor! What's more it was not really your fault. There was a mistake in the original syntax of the attrib command in Step 2. This has now been corrected in both the Tutorial at the beginning of this post and in my post 317.

Re where the files are stored in Windows 7 that are restrored by running sfc /scannow, I can't answer that. If you ran that command in XP, it was necessary to put the original WinXP CD in the CD drive for the scan to work, and it obviously got the files from the CD. This changed with Vista where the files are stored on the hard drive, and ditto in Windows 7. I'll have a scout around and if I find out I'll send you a PM on it.

Update: Sorry Primal, I didn't answer your question re your PC being stable due to using the option tools/folder options/view etc, to make WinMail.exe invisible again. That's fine. All it means is if you ever need to create a new desk top shortcut to WinMail.exe, you'll have to make it visible again.

By running Step 2 of the tutorial, in it's corrected form, it will make WinMail.exe permanently visible without affecting any other folders or files. And it's perfectly safe to run it. The easiest way is just copy and paste the code into the Run command box, and click "OK". That way you don't ever again have to go into the option tools/folder options/view etc.

Cheers PB

Cheers PB much appreciated
2 things

1 When I booted my PC today the windows mail was still there but the account I had created was gone and I had to recreate. Later I rebooted and the account was there but it had been off overnight in the first instance.

2 I was able to copy all my message from win mail on vista by importing. But, a folder I had created especially for read receipts will not copy. I can copy it and I can create a READ folder in win 7 but copy to folder is greyed out. It is a small thing but would like to get it right if possible. Have noted your further comments

There are different methods of importing Windows Mail folders, accounts, emails and contacts. Some of these methods create problems. I don't know exactly which method you have used. I have done a post found here on the method which I found the easiest and safest.

If I understand you correctly, the account is now stable and holding.

This means the only problem remaining is with the custom folder you created and not being able to drag/drop to it. Unfortunately, I don't know why this is so. You could try deleting it, rebooting and re-creating it.

However, if I were in your situation, and wanted a squeaky clean installation, as long as you have all the original emails and folders, (including custom made ones), intact in Vista Windows Mail, then I would import the whole thing from scratch as per the post I've mentioned above.

Part of that process is to totally delete all files in Local Folders in Windows 7, found under AppData (not program files),via the pathway shown below. This is the only way the import will work properly. But the beauty of it is that you're importing to a clean slate, with no inherent problems from past history. This is the pathway, however, to see AppData, you will need to change View settings to allow hidden folders to be visible:

Start orb --> User Name --> AppData --> Local --> Microsoft --> Windows Mail --> Local Folders

It imports all Accounts fully set up; All Local Folders & Custom created sub-folders in their correct place, (*Note: A custom folder must have an email in it, or it won't import). All you'll have to do to make the accounts operable is put in your user name and password when prompted by your ISP when you first open WinMail.exe.

Since you simply copy/paste the entire contents of Local Folders from AppData in Vista, your emails in Vista will remain intact. However, you will lose everything in WinMail in Windows 7. So if you've got any emails there that are not in Vista, first save these to a back-up storage folder or USB stick.

Hope this helps. Cheers PB

PB Thanks again for your feedback
Yes the account is stable and holding

I did it by going to Window mail tools/options/advanced/maintenance/store which is C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\Local Folders

Then I went to that path in explorer and copied everything into a backup which I placed on the vista desktop. Copied to a USB and put USB in 7 machine. Then imported everything. I found that there was a two of everything. The original inbox/outbox on the winmail 7 and the imported ones. So I copied all the mails and deleted the imports. This worked for everything except my custom folder for read receipts. I could, as stated, recreate this but the mails would not copy. I cannot recall if my custom folder imported but if it did the same thing applies i.e. could not copy read receipts. I just tried your manual method as at:-
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2. Manual Method:
Open WinMail.exe application on the Vista desktop.
In Local Folders: Drag and drop contents of each sub-folder onto a USB data stick. That is: Inbox, Outbox, Sent Items & Drafts; plus any custom made sub-folders you have created, such as Accounts, Invoices, etc.
Open WinMail on desktop of Windows 7.
Drag and drop contents of Inbox, Outbox, etc, from the USB stick into the corresponding folders of Local Folders in WinMail. In Local Folders, it will be necessary to create matching sub-folders for your imported custom made folders, before you can drag/drop to them.
Set up email accounts manually.
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I ws able to copy the contents of the vista custom folder to its comrade on 7
I found I only needed to copy the contents of the READ custom folder as the rest were there. That OK? If not I can delete all the files in app data in 7 and start over

Cheers to you too PB, much appreciated

That sounds good to me. I don't think you need to start over again. As long as all your custom folders are set up and working, and all your accounts working, and your emails correctly installed it should be fine.

For the purposes of clarity, the reason you got two sets of everything was because Local Folders in Windows 7 needed to be totally cleaned out before importing. Warning:This should only be done if you use the Simple Method in my post here.

I'm not referring to Local Folders in the WinMail.exe interface on your desktop, but the one shown in your pathway:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\Local Folders.

• In Windows 7, delete the entire contents of Local Folders, as shown in the right pane of the picture.
• In Vista, copy the entire contents of the Local Folders, which appear in the right pane of the picture; including custom folders and accounts.
• Paste the contents from Vista Local Folders into the empty Windows 7 Local Folders.

In my own case it's easy because I've got Vista and Windows 7 on the same hard drive.

Cheers PB

Thanks for that explanation PB. I understand all the other points you make about the path etc but that did not occur to me. I am now setting up all accounts in the win 7. Thanks for all your help

Hi Primal,

I hope I am not confusing you with too much information, but there is one final point I feel I should make.

The Local Folders found in the Pathway shown below should never be used for creating new folders in. You can do it, but they won't show up when you open WinMail.exe on desktop, because they are not linked to WinMail.exe interface on the desktop.

C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\Local Folders

New custom folders should always be created in the WinMail.exe interface on your desktop. By doing it this way, the new folders will then be linked to WinMail.exe on desktop and will also appear in the Local Folders shown at the address above; but it doesn't work in reverse.

The Local Folders shown at the above address is only used to import pre-linked folders to, from an existing equivalent Local Folders in Vista. Such folders will have been linked to the WinMail.exe interface on desktop of Vista when they were created there. And hence auto linked to WinMail.exe interface on the desktop of Windows 7 when imported to Local Folders in the above address in Windows 7.

Hope this makes sense and helps you to understand what's going on.

Cheers PB