Solved Can't Make Windows Mail Default

[Moonlight]

Hi ~ I'm brand new here, and I'm trying to understand everything I'm reading. But, most of it is way over my head, so please bear with me.

I'm about to upgrade my Vista 64-bit Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium via an upgrade disk I received from Dell. My concern is losing Windows Mail (which has all my old Outlook Express emails from my XP on another now-dead computer). I don't want to use Windows Live Mail, which is what I gather I will get with Windows 7. My email accounts are with RoadRunner, if that has any relevance. I have a Google email account, a hotmail account, and a yahoo email account, but I check them online (never figured out how to bring them into OE, much less Windows Mail). I also have email forwarding from my website, which I did figure out, and I don't want to lose that.

I've read through all these tutorials about "taking ownership" of folders, switching out Windows Mail folders, Program Files folders vs. Program Files (x86) folders, downloading zip files to change registry entries, problems making Windows Mail the default, etc. I am so thoroughly confused, I'm afraid to do anything. I've also read the Microsoft Newsgroups on Windows Mail (under Vista) and Windows Live Mail (under Windows Live), but they don't seem to answer what I want...simply to use Windows Mail as my default in Windows 7.

This is what I've done so far (still in Vista):
1. Added the "Take ownership" option to my dropdown menu.
2. Ran "Take ownership" of my Windows Mail folder from Program Files, and copied the folder to a USB flash drive.
3. Ran "Take ownership" of my Windows Mail folder from Program Files (x86), and copied the folder to the same USB Flash drive.
4. Copied my Contacts Folder from Users/Gail to the same USB Flash drive.

Are there any other files or folders I need to copy before I proceed with the Vista to Windows 7 upgrade, so that I can make Windows Mail my default in Windows 7?

After the upgrade is complete, please tell me step by step what to do next. I'm hoping, since this thread was started nearly a year ago when Win 7 was still in beta, that this has become a simplified process by now. I would sure appreciate simplified instructions, if that's possible. I'm sorry this is so long-winded. Thank you for your time and understanding.

Gail

 

[Ex_Brit]

I presume you have messages stored in Windows Mail currently? Just before the switch you will want to export those messages to a file (your USB stick perhaps) for future import into WM in Windows 7.
That is easily done under WM File/Export/Messages/Microsoft Windows Mail.
Once you are in Windows 7 then just come to the first post in this thread and follow the steps carefully.

 

[Moonlight]

Thank you, Peter! Yes, I will do the export messages right now. What an obvious step to have forgotten! I appreciate your quick response.

Gail

 

[Ex_Brit]

Note that any Newsgroups that you may have set up in WM will not be exported. Only mail.

You can also export your account settings via Tools/Accounts.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Sorry I referred to the first post in this thread...I meant the tutorial thread: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/5481-windows-mail.html?ltr=W

 

[Moonlight]

I don't have any Newsgroups, but the account settings sure would help, wouldn't they.... I am so glad I found this forum. Thank you, again.

Okay, I've got the Windows Mail thread bookmarked. This upgrade should only take about 4 to 6 hours (I'm learning as fast as I can). I'll be back tonight, I hope.

Gail

 

[Ex_Brit]

I wish you the best of luck.

 

[Moonlight]

Hi ~ I've succeeded in installing Windows 7, and my Windows Mail from Vista. Windows Mail works fine from the desktop shortcut I created. But, I now have to make it my default email program. I use Mailwasher to preview my mail on the server before I allow it on my machine, and it's asking for the default email application... can't find one.

Post 32 of this thread has a zip file, I think to change the registry, but I'm not sure what to do with a .reg file besides download it, which I did. I'm sorry if it's obvious and I'm just dense, but I'm so afraid to mess this whole thing up. That post was made in May, so I'm wondering if it's still the best way to make Windows Mail show up as the default to another program looking for one. Does any of this make sense? Once again, thank you for your time.

Gail

 

[Ex_Brit]

You just unzip it and then double-click it and accept the prompt asking if you want to alter the registry.

 

[Moonlight]

Thank you, again, Peter. I also found xsmile's second zip file in post #43, which I downloaded.

I sure hope upgrading to Ultimate is easier than this has been. Dell is still trying to update my IE 8, which has all the latest updates already. Very intrusive, they are.....

 

[Oldroser]

Gail, you are probably smarter than I because I ran into problems due to making a shortcut. I've always right clicked on the file clicked "Send to" and arrowed to and clicked "Desktop." Putting that icon on the Start Menu or leaving it as an icon and clicking did not work until very carefully read all the threads and made a shortcut which stayed in the folder WinMail.exe is in and then pinned it to the Start Menu. Why that made a difference I do not know.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Well IE8 gets security updates via Windows Update and of course any add-ons you have get updated from time to time too.

 

[Moonlight]

Success! Windows Mail is my default and Mailwasher recognizes it. This forum is amazing, and you all are brilliant (and patient).

Peter, this Dell update thing is from the Dell prep disk they sent me with the Win 7 upgrade. First, it removed everything "not compatible" with Win 7, including my WLAN card utility AND drivers. I had to wire in to continue the upgrade because, naturally, it was trying to connect to get the latest updates. Cart before the horse? The Dell program is right now still trying to reload my ATI Catalyst Center, which it also removed. I've already installed the latest drivers from AMD. I have to figure out how to remove the prep program. It automatically starts every time I reboot, and goes into its update mode, bogging down trying to update IE 8.

Well, it's late here, so that's tomorrow's project. I shall return! Thank you, again.

Gail

 

[Ex_Brit]

That's weird. Makes you wonder if Dell is an enemy or a friend doesn't it? I'm not too sure what to suggest regarding the IE8 thingy. It might be an idea to start a brand new thread on that issue alone here (for instance): Browsers & Mail - Windows 7 Forums but thyat's up to you of course.

 

[Moonlight]

Hi Oldroser ~ I print all the instructions in the thread(s) for what I'm trying to accomplish, then try to piece them together like a jigsaw puzzle. Maybe that's why I get confused. What I almost missed in this thread was xsmile's SECOND zip file Windows Mail2.zip in post #43. That was the final puzzle piece. Both zip files (post #32 and #43) are needed to make Windows Mail the default.

I wanted to mention that since I was just upgrading my Vista to Win 7, it wasn't necessary to import email accounts, contacts, or messages. When I opened Windows Mail, everything was miraculously intact. Still, I'm sure glad I had exported everything to a USB Flash drive before the upgrade, just in case.

I've rebooted several times now, and Windows Mail is holding as the default. Even the little mail icon in the IE taskbar works properly!

Peter ~ The Dell prep program seems to have finished its job, as it's disappeared, hopefully never to be heard from again. We'll see.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Peter ~ The Dell prep program seems to have finished its job, as it's disappeared, hopefully never to be heard from again. We'll see.

Glad to hear it. Good luck!

 

[DougS]

I see that this has been asked before but saw no solution posted.
I have Windows 7 Ultimate and I took my windows mail folder from my Windows Vista program files and put it in Program files in my Windows 7 Ultimate OS.
Everything works beautifully except I can't set it as the default mail program.
It is not in the list in Control Panel/Default Programs.
My question is, How can I get Windows Mail into the list of programs so I can set it as the default mail program. Thanks in advance for any help you can come up with.

 

[Moonlight]

Hi, DougS ~ I'm relatively new here, but I just went through the same situation when I upgraded my system from Vista to Windows 7. (See my post #75 above, first paragraph.) I found the solution a few pages back in this thread, although I suppose it may not work for everyone.

There are two zip files posted by xsmile in posts #32 and #43 on this thread, Windows Mail.zip and Windows Mail2.zip. I believe they make changes in the registry. I downloaded, unzipped, and ran them, and my Windows Mail from Vista became my default mail program in Windows 7 Home Premium. There was no need to choose it from a list, the change was automatic. Even the little mail icon on the IE task bar is now opening Windows Mail. I hope it works for you in Ultimate.

 

[Robert29]

Can't make Windows Mail the default - again

Hullo,

Could I have some help please ? Nice easy to follow steps as I am not an expert. I have a new computer which was built for me as a Windows 7 machine with Home Premium 32bit version installed and the firm installed Windows Mail for me. It's the only email programme installed. So I can't apply what is suggested for upgrades from Vista. My previous, now dead, machine was XP.

However, reading this thread gives me the thought that I could apply the fixes but I'm far from confident and really need some help and advice.

Windows Mail is set up and works well, but there's a problem with it which I think is associated with the default - or lack of it - setting.

When I look in the Default Programs, under "associate a file type with a
program", both .eml and .nws are associated with Windows Mail, but Windows
Mail does not appear listed under the other tabs.

In Windows Mail options menu, I can make both emails and news messages to use Windows Mail as the default, but next time I check it, it reverts to saying they are not the defaults.

The only real problem I have is that when I try to "Reply" from a newsgroup (a private newsgroup using real email addresses), I get the message saying "There is no email program associated to perform the required action. Please install an email program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the defaults programs contol panel". But there is an association there ! I can "Reply Group" - no error message and it works.

I'm also getting a message saying that windows Mail is not my default program, but I could just uncheck the box and it would stop appearing.

How can I fix this ?

Regards,
Robert.

 

[Ex_Brit]

See post #32 in this thread: http://www.sevenforums.com/software/2300-cant-make-windows-mail-default-4.html#post85815 but important: read on and on as the same poster has corrections in other posts in that thread but on later pages...it's important to read the whole thing.

I notice people keep asking why is Windows Mail not available as a standard email client in Windows 7 (without a whole load of fiddling around) when all the folders appear to be there in Program Files...it's because it also runs Windows Calendar, which DOES work.