Windows Mail

How to Reinstate Windows Mail in Windows 7​

   Warning

Microsoft no longer supports Windows Mail, aka WinMail. It's recommended you use another well known supported email client. This Tutorial is for Advanced users who importantly have the Technical Ability to make the changes, have backups of everything including your OS, and to be your own tech support for WinMail going forward. If you decide to complete this tutorial you accept the fact that you are using WinMail as-is. It might be necessary to uninstall other email clients to resolve any WinMail conflicts in some environments. Understand it's likely that new OS updates from Microsoft will break WinMail's operation, and to fix make it necessary to rerun the tutorial again to reinstate it. With those things in mind, this tutorial was written so that you can rerun it without affecting WinMail user data.
Please see this Errata (Bug List) post before you install, to be aware of the current information about known issues using WinMail within Windows 7, these issues are programmatic and in most cases cannot be resolved by this tutorial, and will never be fixed.

Having said all of that disclaimer, if you have the technical ability, and can put up with the annoying minor byproduct bugs, then like so many of us still enjoy using WinMail on Windows 7 ...ymmv!

   Tip

As of January, 2025, the instructions given here supersede all other instructions given in forthcoming older posts. Realize some of the posts that follow are over 16 years old, and many of the link pointers within have become mislinked over time, many of the files or information within them is outdated, incomplete, or superseded with more accurate information - and so be careful. However you can always be sure that the latest info from all research is incorporated into this tutorial post, and its downloads are the latest available. This post is continuously kept up-to-date, and so..
...Always refer to this Tutorial post for the very latest updated information

This is the 4th iteration of the Windows 7, WinMail tutorial.

The process of this tutorial Will Not work to reinstate WinMail on Windows 8/10 !
Windows 8/10 users please go Here

Start here

1. Download tutorial package TutReWinMail.zip
   
   Download
   
   
2. Extract the TutReWinMail.zip into your user Downloads folder
   • Note: Be sure once extracted this is the address of the ''TutReWinMail'' folder:
   • C:\Users\username\Downloads\TutReWinMail... ... (if it's not there please put it there)
3. Navigate to your user Downloads\TutReWinMail folder to be sure the above is correct.
   • (..if you need more verbose install instructions to follow, download this WinMail Local Tutorial.zip)
   • Advanced Users can proceed below:

     ---

     (..log in for Full Access, being able to get support, remove ads, like, and even to post, etc..)

Advanced Users: ..use this easy excellent overview of the steps in the local tutorial:

• Open an Administrator Command Prompt. (screenshot showing in Administrator mode)
• copy/paste this line into the command prompt: cd %USERPROFILE%\Downloads\TutReWinMail\
• Your command prompt must now be showing you are at That Same Folder Address ..which contains the tutorial files that the batch file in the next step executes programs and copies files specifically from that folder address - if it's not there the batch file will fail since it cannot find what it needs!
• Next type in either winmail32 or win64mail <matching OS bit, to interactively process These Next Steps
• If you've finished to the bottom as shown in last screenshot, restart your machine (sets registry)
• Create a shortcut from WinMail.exe to your Desktop
• Open WinMail - it may prompt you one (or both) of These Two Notices ..click yes, and okay.
• They now should be already set, but you can manually check/set at any time These Default Settings
• That's pretty much all there is to it, and from here you setup the rest of the Windows Mail client (aka: WinMail) as normal within its various tab menus for Accounts, Options, Layout, etc, etc, to suit your individual needs.
• Lastly, but should be the First thing you do, is to Create A WinMail Backup (new version) ..Go to this next link and when you get there scroll down to the heading: Backup/Restore Procedures for further instructions.

   Information

See How to open an elevated Administrator Command Prompt
Important: The exact text provided by the tutorial must be entered into the Administrator Command Prompt.
Hint: to avoid typos, copy/paste the entire line containing the command into the Command Prompt window.
Also see: How to Enable Copy to Clipboard from the Windows 7 Command Prompt

---

Every effort has been made to make this a step-by-step process, however, it is beyond the scope of a single tutorial to provide information on every command or concept. Search the Main Tutorial Section if you need greater detail on a concept or command presented in this tutorial.

Good luck, and long live WinMail

   Note

Made possible by members:
Mark (aka Mr GRiM) - provided the original tutorial
Poppa Bear - continued Mark's work within the 2nd version
endeavor - provided continuous feedback, changes, invaluable testing instrumental to tutorial operations
EKManitis - propose the batch code that made operations easier
Slartybart - updated, tested, and consolidated all of the above into the 3rd version
endeavor - reviewed, updated, tested, and incorporated all of the above into this 4th version
...and also a special thanks to All the other members who presented discovery for this project

Related Tutorials

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• How to Backup/Restore Messages in Windows Mail (Vista version)
  
• Windows Calendar - Import into Windows 7
• Vista Windows Sidebar - Reinstate on Windows 7
• Windows Live Mail - Import Windows Mail Messages
• Windows Live Mail - Import Windows 7 and Vista Contacts

 

[kewl1]

Hi PB,

I am using the 64 bit version of Win 7 on both computers. I am traveling this week with my laptop but I just checked to make sure that it is the 64 bit Mail program folder I modified and am using and it is

 

[muldoni]

Having trouble getting it all working, When I try and create a message or a reply it crashes Windows mail- - -every time, all the actions mentioned are done, apart from the registry eml_auto_file update which is not there.
regards, Muldoni

 

[roncerr]

Having trouble getting it all working, When I try and create a message or a reply it crashes Windows mail- - -every time, all the actions mentioned are done, apart from the registry eml_auto_file update which is not there.
regards, Muldoni

http://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/50466d1264615927-windows-mail-winmailedit.zip << still there. See warning:
It is critical to do this before carrying out steps (3) & (4). This auto exe file edits the registry to allow .eml files to be opened on the desktop; removes the WinMail splash screen at start-up; and resolves various conflicts.

 

[muldoni]

Roncerr, thanks for that, I have retraced everything, I even de-installed Live mail, everything works on W Mail until I a. try and forward, b. create message, c, reply.
I also renamed w mail folder and copied in a vista w. mail folder and reastarted the whole process, results are identical.
There remains no eml_auto_file in the path Hkey/current user/software/classes,
I wonder if regcure has zapped the registry.
regards, Muldoni

 

[Ex_Brit]

Regcure? In my experience registry cleaners and/or optimizers should be avoided like the plague as they invariably delete good stuff along with the garbage.

Doesn't 'regcure' have a restore function?

 

[muldoni]

I have done a lot of searching and ---at last! found that the update KB978542 is the culprit, I've clean installed W7 onto a spare drive, carried out all all the changes in the tutorial, blocked that update (by opting for the manual mode) and it all works like a charm, I'm now creating a new working system on the new W7 and will eventualy clone it onto the system disc. (thank goodness for multi-booting!)
(KB890830 comes with the above update so be warned!).
All this seems a lot of trouble, but Windows live mail (especialy the 2011 version) is the most awful piece of software I've ever seen, and it will be great to get back to something of substance.
Regards Muldoni

 

[Noy2014]

My main objective to reinstate the Windows Mail that is hidden in the hard drive. I used the following tutorial;Windows Mail

I am dying here!!! Every attempt to install Windows Mail on my Win 7 has failed. After I follow the instruction, and I attempt to launch WM from the taskbar, it just sucks up all my CPU and RAM resources, and stalls endlessly, ...leaving me with the only option of manual restart.

Does this problem sound familiar to anyone??!!

 

[Noy2014]

I just did re-did everything from scratch. I don't find the instructions all that difficult to follow. Once again, when attempting to launch the program, the CPU/RAM stalls out. I noticed in the Task Manager, that "winmail.exe*32" is attempting to run continuously for hundreds, even thousands of times.

What can this indicate??

 

[Noy2014]

In researching my previous post, I believe I found the solution that I must share with anyone experiencing my frustrations!!!!

ANSWER: 64 bit Window 7, REQUIRES the Windows Mail program from a 64 bit Vista machine!! It is a rare exception, and did the trick for me!!!

MUST READ: Windows Mail on Windows 7 - can't make it work

 

[roncerr]

...found that the update KB978542 is the culprit...

That updade is dated May 11, 2010 (6 months ago). I believe there was an update that borked Win Mail on 7 so they replaced the msoe.dll files (32 and 64-bit) in the tutorial from an updated Vista machine so that they would be compatible with the update. The procedure was to update first and then use the new (now current) msoe.dll afterwards. Could that have been your problem...that you used the currently posted dll first and then did the 6-month old update?

 

[mitchell64]

I have done a lot of searching and ---at last! found that the update KB978542 is the culprit, I've clean installed W7 onto a spare drive, carried out all all the changes in the tutorial, blocked that update (by opting for the manual mode) and it all works like a charm, I'm now creating a new working system on the new W7 and will eventualy clone it onto the system disc. (thank goodness for multi-booting!)
(KB890830 comes with the above update so be warned!).
All this seems a lot of trouble, but Windows live mail (especialy the 2011 version) is the most awful piece of software I've ever seen, and it will be great to get back to something of substance.
Regards Muldoni

Hello muldoni, you may have mis read. You need to install KB978542 then replace the msoe.dll

Have a read here "do not uninstall KB978542"

http://www.sevenforums.com/1063665-post862.html

EDIT sorry roncerr seem to have cross posted

 

[roncerr]

EDIT sorry roncerr seem to have cross posted

No need to apologize. Thanks for the link!

 

[muldoni]

Well, I think I've wasted enough time on this, Microsoft always win in the end!, removing those two updates on my live system had no effect, even after carrying out the entire procedure after removing them. the new W7 system I created would probably work for a while but then another update would roll in and zap the Windows mail so I would be back to square one again. at least it will receive mail ok (but for how long?).
Thanks to all on the forum for help and advice.
regards, Muldoni

 

[roncerr]

...removing those two updates on my live system had no effect, even after carrying out the entire procedure after removing them...

You got it backwards...INSTALL the security updates FIRST. Then use the msoe.dll in the tutorial or follow the tutorial procedure again. The msoe.dll files in the tutorial were updated to be compatible with the new security updates.

 

[xhuboy]

Just need this, hope can help me.

 

[Brink]

Hello xhuboy, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Sorry, but we cannot help you unless you let us know what issue you are having when doing the tutorial on the first page to restore Windows Mail.

 

[bluesgene]

Not sure what I may have done wrong but didn't work

My system is W7 64 bit. Went thru steps to reinstate my Vista Windows Mail. Did not see win.exe file in Windows Mail so used foot note 4, however didn't have a top task bar, tools, drop down menu, etc. to complete. What did I do wrong?

 

[poppa bear]

My system is W7 64 bit. Went thru steps to reinstate my Vista Windows Mail. Did not see win.exe file in Windows Mail so used foot note 4, however didn't have a top task bar, tools, drop down menu, etc. to complete. What did I do wrong?

Sorry about that. You did nothing wrong. It's not shown in the tutorial, but it is necessary to make the Menu Bar visible by going to:

Windows Mail folder --> Top Task Bar --> Organize --> Layout --> Click: Menu Bar.

You will then see the Menu Bar at the top, which contains the Tools option.

Cheers PB

 

[Bart2010]

Hi

I purchased a new Sony Vaio laptop with 64 bit Windows 7 Home Premium a couple of months ago, and was very happy to find this discussion with instructions on how to activate Windows Mail which is my preferred email client. I followed the instructions and got Mail working fine.

The new laptop has been really unstable, often crashes and seems to have serious system errors.... no laptop I've owned before (Asus, etc.) has ever given me so many problems (and this one was twice the price!). I'm wondering whether this could have anything to do with the changes made to registry as part of the process of getting Windows Mail going. Is it possible, or probably not related and the laptop just has some generic error?

Anyway, I now have the very big problem that I can not receive or send any email. When I try, I get an 0x80004005 error message ("An unknown error has occurred...."- no further details given). I have looked for online help, but all Windows Mail forums are for Vista users so they are not that useful. A lot of the info I saw online seemed to blame antivirus programs for causing Windows Mail 0x80004005 error, but my Kaspersky antivirus has not caused any problems with it to date. I tried pausing, and even completely uninstalled Kaspersky and it made no difference so I'm assuming that is not the culprit.

I'm a bit stuck here- has anybody else had that error running Windows Mail on 7, and managed to sort it out?

PS I tried System Restore already- no luck..... was told that "System Restore was not successful"....

 

[roncerr]

So you had the computer for two months. There must have been some Windows Upates. You should have done the Updates before reinstating Windows Mail. If not, try reinstalling the msoe.dll files in the tutorial after the Updates. (If there was a problem with the install order it would just cause Windows Mail to fail; not likely it would mess up anything else.)