Windows 7: Windows Mail

PB, if you or any other members, have points to add or subtract, maybe someone could compile a bit more cogent post, and have someone with Microsoft contacts get it to a decision maker, and stop some zealot from killing all the work that went into this Windows Mail tutorial.
Best regards, 2CR LZW

It seems that the decision to not use Windows Calendar in Windows 7 was made early on, while the decision to not have Windows Mail as an option, was more of a "last minute" one, if the Local Group Policy Editor (GPedit.ms) is any indication in: Computer Configuration\
Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Calendar => Supported on: Windows Vista only
Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Mail => Supported on: At least Windows Vista
Likewise in: User Configuration\
Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Calendar=> Supported on: Windows Vista only
Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Mail => Supported on: At least Windows Vista
　
There may be hope that the Windows 7 mail.h1s file was fully linked within all of Windows 7 help; and all that is required is Registry key changes and/or the granting of help file permissions. Maybe you can compare the Windows Mail help Registry files on Vista vs. Windows 7. Registry files I found (may be others) related to C:\Windows\Help\Windows\en-US\mail.h1s [H1S File (.h1s); Attributes: A] on Windows 7 Ult.x64:
　
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.h1s\OpenWithList
(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
a REG_SZ (WinMail.exe)
MRUList REG_SZ (a)
　
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.h1s\OpenWithProgids
(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
h1sfile REG_NON (zero length binary value)
　
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.h1s\UserChoice
(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
Progid REG_SZ (Applications\WinMail.exe)
　
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.H1S
(Default) REG_SZ h1sfile
　
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.H1S
(Default) REG_SZ h1sfile
　
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\h1sfile
(Default) REG_SZ Compiled Windows Help file
FriendlyTypeName REG_EXPAND_SZ %SystemRoot%\System32\apds.dll,-152
NoOpen REG_SZ
　
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\h1sfile\DefaultIcon
(Default) REG_EXPAND_SZ %SystemRoot%\System32\apds.dll,-210
　
I'm not asking you to do anything, only if you still wanted to get the Windows Mail help file (mail.h1s) to work, then perhaps the above may be of some help.
Best regards, 2CR LZW

Hi PB,
As applications on portable devices (esp. mobile phones) are increasingly being used to access data, that not long ago was the sole domain of the computer, and as technology changes (e.g. if Sprint's 4G network delivers a 10x increase in speed over 3G) at a fast pace, a shift in consumer preferences may occur sooner than anticipated.

Avoidance of the EU assumed bundling = antitrust violations notwithstanding, the wisdom of having the mail client independent of an OS's product cycle, allows Microsoft the ability to adapt to the marketplace in a timely manner instead of once every three years or so.

While the decision not to have Windows Mail as an official option for Windows 7, was a disappointment to the vast majority of users represented by the over 151,000 views of this tutorial, I understand the reasoning. If not, a good number of people may have downloaded Windows Mail w/o realizing all of the advantages of Windows Live Mail, and the other Live applications. In a competitive marketplace, Microsoft wants the consumer to use the best they have to offer, lest the Windows Mail user, switches to the competitors best w/o giving Windows Live Mail its due.

However, what is deemed best for the majority, may not be for a considerable number of users, pace the number of people and business's that tried Vista and opted for XP. One can read the previous 468 posts in this tutorial for the numerous reasons why, that after trying Windows Live Mail, so many opted to go to extra ordinary means to continue using Windows Mail. For me, it was a business decision.

It seems Windows Live Mail is geared towards families, as when it encounters multiple email accounts, it assumes they represent different family members and each one gets their own set of folders. I use three email accounts for various aspects of the business and 28 subfolders to keep track of all business expenses. No matter what email account the mail is received in, they can easily be sorted into the appropriate expense folder in Windows Mail. In contrast, Windows Live Mail produces 84 folders to keep track of business expenses, which is an additional expense of time (= 3x money), for which the benefits of WLM fail to overcome both the increase in cost; and the decrease in performance due to the additional services required to run WLM. In addition, the benefits of WLM do not justify the increased exposure to security vectors (sync, sharing, remote desktop, etc.) in a business setting. In short, great for families does not = good for business.

Does Microsoft have a vested interest in allowing Windows Mail on Windows 7?
While their steadfast customers wonder if the next month's patch Tuesday for Windows Updates will disable Windows Mail in Windows 7, I hope Microsoft considers the following from a legal point of view:

One could hardly claim you were tying the consumers' hands.

Microsoft would be showing great respect for the decisions of individuals.

Far from inhibiting fair competition, rather than downloading Windows Live Mail, or any of your competitors software, consumer choice went to extraordinary measures to use Windows Mail by Microsoft.

In the global marketplace, Microsoft ensured fair competition, and in contrast to claims our decision was "because it was jammed down our throats" we demonstrate, beyond a shadow of doubt (considering all of the easily obtainable offerings from your competitor's), that we choose Windows Mail based solely on its merits.

From a business perspective your not losing any revenue, both Windows Live Mail & Windows Mail are free.

And more importantly, you won't be losing us to your competitors', but you will be gaining customer loyalty.

Beyond us sevenforums members, who already have Windows 7, killing Windows Mail with an "update," will lose Microsoft revenue, as those who don't upgrade to Windows 7, because they prefer Windows XP/Outlook Express or Vista/Windows Mail to the Windows 7/Windows Live Mail option.

On the 1 year anniversary of Windows 7, graft us back in as an option within WLM (you can hide it deep within the interface options (if its there, we will find it).

However, if that is not possible without making us use all the services (for sync, sharing, remote desktop, etc.) that decrease our performance and needlessly increases our exposure to security vectors, then provide a standalone Windows Mail to download. If an analogy would help, as:

Windows Live Mail is to Windows 7 : Windows Mail is to XP Mode in Windows 7.

PB, if you or any other members, have points to add or subtract, maybe someone could compile a bit more cogent post, and have someone with Microsoft contacts get it to a decision maker, and stop some zealot from killing all the work that went into this Windows Mail tutorial.
Best regards, 2CR LZW

I was about to give up. This worked like a charm! I have my WinMail back and could not be happier. Thanks to Mark for publishing the fix and thanks to Poppa Bear for the updated fix! Great work guys!

There are a lot of posts to this thread. I am ready to migrate to Windows 7 from Vista (I have a Windows 7 CD) and want to be sure I do everything necessary to have Win Mail work when I am finished. Which post (or posts) of this thread do I need to follow to get the job done properly?
Thanks,
Dick