I HATE Windows Live Mail

[roncerr]

...So it will be with the abysmal "Live."

I was quite happy with OE and WM but more and more users are owning and using multiple PCs and smartphones, so it's nice to be able to log in with your Windows Live ID and see & update your contacts, calendar, and email on any of your devices. However if you want to use it like OE you can. Just don't sign in. (There is a connection option called "stop signing in".) Of course, you will have to back up your contacts locally as you did with OE.

 

[PhreePhly]

Yeah,

How about that well researched change called "Vista?" I guess people just didn't understand all of the data that was collected calling for THOSE changes. (I LOVED the PC not shutting down but by default going into hibernation instead until I reconfigured this routine procedure. How many people called for THAT?)

The point is that many people, myself included, will never trust an online service with all of their data in a "cloud." One need only see what has happened with Facebook's "oopsie daisies" to understand why.

Why not have a choice? If people want to put their email and data in a "blind trust" with that "well researched" Microsoft "Live" (and who knows how long THAT will last until IT is shut down and we have to change everything .... AGAIN?), then by all means they should do it.

And if people do NOT want to throw caution to the wind, and prefer the software and copies of their email are kept on their PC, then they should be able to do that too.

Microsoft needs to stop abandoning software, and forcing people to switch over to "the new and improved way of the week."

Look at all of those sticking with Windows XP no matter HOW much better Windows 7 is. They rightfully saw Vista as a disaster, and took a "once burned twice shy" approach.

So it will be with the abysmal "Live."

You do realize that Windows Live Mail stores email locally, right? I mean, you would look pretty silly if you were arguing about a product that you obviously have no clue how it works.

Also, your Vista argument is pretty silly. Given that the interface in Win 7 is basically Vista, I would say that users are pretty enthused by th changes. Vista's problems had to do with hardware manufacturers being inept at getting drivers ready and OEMs installing Vista on underpowered machines. Vista on a properly configured PC with supported hardware was faster and more secure than XP. It was a worthy upgrade. By SP2, Vista was, is, rock solid.

Businesses haven't upgraded because we're sortof in the middle of an economic downturn. XP is on it's last legs (good riddance). By 2014 all support ends. Newer apps (like IE 9) won't run on it.



Also, usage data showed that users wanted systems that "turned on" faster. By hibernating by default, MS achieved that.

 

[jimbo45]

.........................................................................
Businesses haven't upgraded because we're sortof in the middle of an economic downturn. XP is on it's last legs (good riddance). By 2014 all support ends. Newer apps (like IE 9) won't run on it.



Also, usage data showed that users wanted systems that "turned on" faster. By hibernating by default, MS achieved that.

Hi there
Before slamming XP please remember that A LOT of CORPORATE type of ERP software such as SAP software still need an XP backend system to run on.

These WILL change eventually but until people like SAP update THEIR stuff a lot of corporations will have to keep their users on XP for a while yet.

Even after the ERP systems have changed testing large PRODUCTION systems is not an easy task and also users will have to be trained in how to use the new systems.

For a typically LARGE organisation this type of project usually will take around 2 - 3 years to complete (or a LOT longer if it's off shored -- the whole off shoring stuff actually fails BIG TIME to deliver the expected costs -- but that's another totally different topic).

Cheers
jimbo

 

[PhreePhly]

.........................................................................
Businesses haven't upgraded because we're sortof in the middle of an economic downturn. XP is on it's last legs (good riddance). By 2014 all support ends. Newer apps (like IE 9) won't run on it.



Also, usage data showed that users wanted systems that "turned on" faster. By hibernating by default, MS achieved that.

Hi there
Before slamming XP please remember that A LOT of CORPORATE type of ERP software such as SAP software still need an XP backend system to run on.

These WILL change eventually but until people like SAP update THEIR stuff a lot of corporations will have to keep their users on XP for a while yet.

Even after the ERP systems have changed testing large PRODUCTION systems is not an easy task and also users will have to be trained in how to use the new systems.

For a typically LARGE organisation this type of project usually will take around 2 - 3 years to complete (or a LOT longer if it's off shored -- the whole off shoring stuff actually fails BIG TIME to deliver the expected costs -- but that's another totally different topic).

Cheers
jimbo

I realize that, heck, I'm living that. And it really p***es me off. We are so ready to move forward, and want to setup test environments before release to production, but due to delays, we may still be running unsupported XP installations after 2014. I, however, do not blame MS in any of this. 14 years of support for an OS is above and beyond. I lay the blame squarely on the shoulders of the vertical integrators that refuse to update their software.

 

[ExpungedBob]

Just to see if my negative feelings about Windows "Live" were valid, I downloaded and installed it on a second PC I use that is running 32 bit Windows 7 Home Premium and Microsoft Security Essentials. I just did a clean install of Windows 7 about 2 weeks ago and it's fully updated. The PC Runs great.

But Windows "Live?"

WHAT A DOG!

First use, and I gave it time to finish installing and do whatever it does because it is new. No other programs are running. When it seemed like it was done I started to check it out.

I am now watching the pathetic thing trying to "sign in." First I see the Windows Live Mail 2011 window with "Signing in.." and the circle spinning, then a black window pops up titled "Windows Live Mail (not responding)", then IT goes away. Back and forth between the two of them about 10 times. Then a window just popped up wanting me to "Sign in to Windows Live Mail" but when I try to place the cursor on the area to enter the email address, the Window blinks on and off over and over.

Absolutely haywire. I am letting it run like this for a while for pure entertainment.

I just rebooted after putting Windows Live Mail out of it's misery via task manager.

And now I am trying again. Now it's half started, and stuck, little circle spinning and all. OK, now after 5 minutes it looks like it's almost up. C'mon, you can do it. (This is SO much better than the old way, just like you said it would be). Oops! Now it just completely shut down all by itself!


OK now I am repairing the brand new installation and it "might take a few minutes". (I have to recommend this to my friends! It's terrific!)

OK it's repaired! He we go!

Uh oh, seems stuck already and the screen is 1/2 loaded kind of like a peek a boo with my desktop background. The circle is spinning away. Not looking good at all. I managed to shut it down without Task Manager this time, so I guess we are getting there!

One more try before the uninstall. Here we go! And...........spinning circle and half baked screen again. And we wait while the circle spins.

OK. Fun time is over. I am just uninstalling this and hopefully there aren't any residuals to screw up what I had.

C'mon WL fans! Where am I going wrong with this thing?

Let's go! Give me the song and dance and links to the knowledge base.

 

[roncerr]

I'm using the version previous to 2011 on a system running Ultimate but only 1.5 GHz Atom processor and 2 GB of RAM. Never had any of the "wait circle" problems with WLM although I have had them with IE8 and Adobe Reader. Maybe we should wait for 2011 until 2011.

 

[PhreePhly]

Just to see if my negative feelings about Windows "Live" were valid, I downloaded and installed it on a second PC I use that is running 32 bit Windows 7 Home Premium and Microsoft Security Essentials. I just did a clean install of Windows 7 about 2 weeks ago and it's fully updated. The PC Runs great.

But Windows "Live?"

WHAT A DOG!

First use, and I gave it time to finish installing and do whatever it does because it is new. No other programs are running. When it seemed like it was done I started to check it out.

I am now watching the pathetic thing trying to "sign in." First I see the Windows Live Mail 2011 window with "Signing in.." and the circle spinning, then a black window pops up titled "Windows Live Mail (not responding)", then IT goes away. Back and forth between the two of them about 10 times. Then a window just popped up wanting me to "Sign in to Windows Live Mail" but when I try to place the cursor on the area to enter the email address, the Window blinks on and off over and over.

Absolutely haywire. I am letting it run like this for a while for pure entertainment.

I just rebooted after putting Windows Live Mail out of it's misery via task manager.

And now I am trying again. Now it's half started, and stuck, little circle spinning and all. OK, now after 5 minutes it looks like it's almost up. C'mon, you can do it. (This is SO much better than the old way, just like you said it would be). Oops! Now it just completely shut down all by itself!


OK now I am repairing the brand new installation and it "might take a few minutes". (I have to recommend this to my friends! It's terrific!)

OK it's repaired! He we go!

Uh oh, seems stuck already and the screen is 1/2 loaded kind of like a peek a boo with my desktop background. The circle is spinning away. Not looking good at all. I managed to shut it down without Task Manager this time, so I guess we are getting there!

One more try before the uninstall. Here we go! And...........spinning circle and half baked screen again. And we wait while the circle spins.

OK. Fun time is over. I am just uninstalling this and hopefully there aren't any residuals to screw up what I had.

C'mon WL fans! Where am I going wrong with this thing?

Let's go! Give me the song and dance and links to the knowledge base.

Given that I have it running on 12 different systems of very diverse performance, I'm going to diagnose PEBCAK. I have it running on both 64- and 32-bit OS's. My personal one access the mail on my GMail account using POP3, my ISP account using IMAP and my hotmail account using MS's protocol. No problems whatsoever. The moment I start it, it is retrieving mail and once all is downloaded/synced, done.

 

[ExpungedBob]

Well I think the PEBCAK exists in your analysis of the problem.

In my opinion, the installation seems to be intended for the general public regardless of their PC savvy, as long as their PC meets minimum standards for installation. It should require NO diagnostics or technical intervention of any kind. While I am not a qualified or certified PC technician, I do regard myself as a better than average enthusiast with long term experience, and I am not a "kid."

In essence, I simply agreed to let the software install automatically. Therefore, considering your "PEBCAK" remark, you are arrogant and condescending in your assessment.

Further, while my experience is certainly anecdotal, what is going to happen when the average PC owner goes through what I went through? Do you really think they will work on Windows "Live" diligently before it functions properly? I don't think so. I would bet they would forget about Windows "Live," permanently, and find an alternative.

Can Microsoft afford yet another "This time we got it right" campaign which also happened after Vista? In my opinion, Vista was the best thing that ever happened to Apple. Judging from my experience, Windows "Live" may be the best thing that ever happened to Google.

Hope you didn't have any "PEBCAK" reading this.

 

[jerrypc1]

Hi all

a while ago people complained about the fact that there was no built in email client in W7.

I suggested that you could make VISTA mail work without problems - this is true but so many people said this is a waste of time -- why not use Windows Live Mail.

( My main email client is Outlook 2007 which I'm actually quite happy with).

However in the interests of "Science" I thought I might just as well test Windows Live Mail.

Well

I HATE IT already

1) You have to sign in to Windows live when you want to use it -- that's ANOTHER application / user id / password combination to remember -- hasn't Microsoft ever herad of SSO (Single sign on) or at least automate the login script so when you open windows live mail it logs you straight in just like Outlook / Outlook express / Vista Windows Mail

2) I can't get rid of the reading preview pane.

I prefer my email to look like this (attach) where I can double click the message if I want to open it.

3) You have to log in to Windows Live to use it -- not sure I want to do that all the time. This means even to SEND via your own email server you still have to login to windows live -- 2 processes instead of one as the windows live will then xmit the email via your own ISP's emails server (or your own private server).

Not a fan of this -- so I'd either stick to Outlook or use the trick to make Vista mail work on W7 if you want to use a MS email client.

Cheers
jimbo

Please tell me how to make vista mail work in windows 7 I will do it Thanks

 

[StickMaker]

Jimbo, I agree. The good old "Outlook Express" did it all and did it well. They've really messed it up, imho.

 

[Brink]

Please tell me how to make vista mail work in windows 7 I will do it Thanks

Hello Jerry,

Here you go.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/5481-windows-mail.html

 

[Barman58]

Just as an experiment - I am a long term Full outlook 2010 user - I decided to download and setup an account with windows live mail.

Downloaded the stand alone installer and installed just the Mail part
Took about ten minutes, Due to the size of the stand alone installer, which I needed anyway

Started WLM and declined out of the automatically created link to my live account.

went to new account creation and created IMAP account link to a client's GMX.Com account, using the account creation wizard.

About two minutes later had full access to the account and all it's working folders

All this on a netbook with 1GB ram running win7 Ultimate

Seems to be working fine to me

 

[roncerr]

Jimbo, I agree. The good old "Outlook Express" did it all and did it well. They've really messed it up, imho.

The odd thing about Jimbo's complaints is that he's wrong about those 3 things. You don't have to log in at all. Just choose the option to "stop signing in". Also, I believe 2011 allows disabling of the preview pane just as in OE, WM, WLM2009. I do agree there are a few bugs and added complexity, which has made a few people switch back to the previous version of WLM.

 

[PhreePhly]

Well I think the PEBCAK exists in your analysis of the problem.

In my opinion, the installation seems to be intended for the general public regardless of their PC savvy, as long as their PC meets minimum standards for installation. It should require NO diagnostics or technical intervention of any kind. While I am not a qualified or certified PC technician, I do regard myself as a better than average enthusiast with long term experience, and I am not a "kid."

Not sure what you're trying to say here. I agree that the installation is intended for the general public and works very well. Given that my Dad was able to do this, and he is as far from qualified as you can get, I would say that installation is fairly simple. Granted, his ISP provided a great list of required inputs, mailbox address, SMTP address, how to setup the secure account options, but my Dad was able to input these on his own without having to call me for assistance. The installation passes the general masses test.

In essence, I simply agreed to let the software install automatically. Therefore, considering your "PEBCAK" remark, you are arrogant and condescending in your assessment.

Your original post started the shift in attitude. You even went as far as to complain about a program feature, that doesn't exist (cloud requirements).

Further, while my experience is certainly anecdotal, what is going to happen when the average PC owner goes through what I went through? Do you really think they will work on Windows "Live" diligently before it functions properly? I don't think so. I would bet they would forget about Windows "Live," permanently, and find an alternative.

As I pointed out above with my Dad's ability to install Windows Live Mail, my anectdote cancels out your anactdote, so where does that leave us? You are begging the question when you assume that the average PC owner is going to go through what you went through.

Can Microsoft afford yet another "This time we got it right" campaign which also happened after Vista? In my opinion, Vista was the best thing that ever happened to Apple. Judging from my experience, Windows "Live" may be the best thing that ever happened to Google.

Hope you didn't have any "PEBCAK" reading this.

Were you around during the transition from Windows 98/Windows ME to XP? The same doom and gloom, the same idiotic press complaints, the same petulant foot stomping occurred then. I know, I was one of them. I was dragged kicking and screaming from Windows 2000 to Windows XP. I swore up and down that Win 2K was faster, sleeker, better in everyway than XP. I held out for a year and finally realized that I was terribly wrong. The same thing happened with Vista. Vista changed things, especially driver models. Humans don't like change. The bottom line, however, is that Vista is a better OS, in almost everyway, than XP. But, it's different, and that scares the general user.

And the best thing to happen to Google Mail is Android not WLM. You are basically required to get an account with Google to use the phone to its fullest extent.

 

[StickMaker]

While we're at it (bashing WLM that is) I wonder why it is that with the very latest version, I have to double-click some of the buttons some of the time? If my cursor was on a different window, e.g. my browser, and the I want to move to the WLM window to do a new email, I have to click "Email message" TWICE. On the first click, the button DOES turn color, but does nothing. Same with (some of?) the other buttons.

Any way to get rid of a lot of the stuff in the menu bar? Much of it I will never use and I'd prefer to "un-clutter" it.

 

[wildmandan01]

Windows Live Mail is JUNK

Like most of us I upgraded from Windows Mail to Windows Live Mail thinking it would be better.........Microsoft got me again. It is getting to the point when I get updates I'm afraid to install them due to the failed programs Microsoft has put out lately.
Each time that I have had problems with my computer it has turned out to be a download from Microsoft that has caused the problem and after undoing the download it works fine again.
Don't even think about trying to get help from Microsoft, they are more lost than some two year olds I know, with their new online fix-it program no one there can help you with anything.
Ah, but I am ranting again......Back to the problem with Windows Live Mail......get rid of it and go back to Windows Mail and your problems are solved......instantly....
REALLY......Like Magic.

 

[MWRed]

I switched from WLM back to Tbird after this new version came out because I don't like it like I did the previous version.

And people.....QUIT saying anything about "Signing in" to "Windows Live" and "in the cloud". There is NO signing in needed.....I don't see why everyone thinks that because this say Windows live mail that you actually are supposed to use a Live account. Stop that, it's not really any different than OE in the way that email accounts work in WLM.......stop assuming that it has to do with the actual Live-mail. IT DOESN'T. :banghead::banghead::banghead:

And even being on Vista, Windows Mail doesn't work for everyone. I for one always want to see the accounts separated.