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and many of the link pointers within have become mislinked over time, many of the files or information within them is outdated, incomplete, or superseded with more accurate information - and so be careful.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

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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

---

• 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

 

[Bart2010]

Thanks. Computer was all up to date when I got Windows Mail going. I tried what you suggested with reinstalling the msoe.dll files, that didn't work unfortunately.

I think I'll clean reload the whole OS onto my computer and start over. That may also take care of all the other system instability problems I'm having. I'd like to make a backup of the 2 months worth of emails I have saved already before doing that. Is there a tutorial here on how I could back up that email? Again, all the "Windows Mail" tutorials I can find are are for Vista users.... I'm not sure if any of the details would be different on Windows 7 OS....

 

[mitchell64]

Thanks. Is there a tutorial here on how I could back up that email? Again, all the "Windows Mail" tutorials I can find are are for Vista users.... I'm not sure if any of the details would be different on Windows 7 OS....

It should not be any different for Windows 7

Windows Mail - Messages - Vista Forums

 

[poppa bear]

The new laptop has been really unstable, often crashes and seems to have serious system errors ....

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.

It is extremely unlikely the registry edits contained in this tutorial would cause the types of general system error problems you're having. It only edits registry entries specifically dealing with Windows Mail. It has been extensively tested on both 32bit and 64bit Windows 7 operating sytems.

As a quick check list:

1. When running the tutorial, any changes made to the Windows Mail folder in program files should have been made to the 64bit programs files. The other Windows Mail folder in 32bit Program files(x86) should not have been modified in any way.

2. Did you have an email client program as default program before enabling Windows Mail? For example, Windows Live Mail, which can interfere with WinMail in some environments. If you have I'd suggest uninstalling it.

3. Did you install any other new programs just prior to the email error message? And if yes, have you tried uninstalling them?

4. You could try running a System File Check, which restores any corrupted system operating files by typing the followng command in the Run box: sfc /scannow

5. The method shown in the link by mithcell64 is basically the same for saving emails from Windows Mail in the Windows 7 operating system.

An alternative manual method can be used if you cannot open Windows Mail. This method saves your Email folders, Emails and Accounts in one execution. Click here for a link to that method, which shows a quick way and manual way of doing it.

In your case you would be saving the contents of the Windows Mail folder in AppData in Windows 7, not from Vista. The data should be saved to an external media such as a USB stick or DVD disc.

Hope this helps.

 

[Bart2010]

Thanks for your help. I'm beginning to suspect that I changed the 32 bit program files instead of the 64 bit ones.... oops! Can't say I wasn't warned clearly enough. Oddly Mail still worked but I was seeing some very odd behavior.

I did a clean reinstall yesterday and went thru the process again, everything is sweet now. Backing up and re-importing mail and folders went well too. Cheers!

 

[kewl1]

I think MS pulled one of their tricks on me

My Windows mail has worked great for many months ever since I followed this tutorial. Even today I used it all day. But then I shut the computer down instead of putting it to sleep and went out for a while. Now after the reboot my Mail program will not open at all.

I also noticed a trick that MS always pulls on me. I always have my computers set so that they will not download any updates but only inform me that there is one if I want it. MS will however often go ahead and just download AND install one without my permission, often or perhaps always in the middle of the night. There is one with todays date that I was unaware of. This particular one is a Windows Defender update. A System Restore will not help. I only seem to have 3 restore points and if I try to go back to the first one on the 10th it fails. I hate the way MS does business.

Am I the only one with this problem today? Could it be something other than a sneaky MS trick? I will go back and repeat all the steps I did months ago and see if that helps. Any new info that I am unaware of would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bart2010]

Yeah, automatic downloads seem to be a fact of life (not just for MS products, either)...... I wondered last week if my Mail stopped working as the result of an update- I'm not sure if that's even possible, but if so we'd probably be hearing more about it here.... so I guess not. I think my problems were caused by the 64 bit thing as discussed above.

Do you always just put computer to sleep instead of shutting down? If so why would that be? I had the idea shutting down was better, at least occasionally or if for longer periods.

Hope you manage to sort it out- not even being able to open the program sounds bad. My new laptop is only 2 months old (not a lot of files etc...) so doing a backup, doing a clean reinstall and putting everything back again was not to painful....

 

[roncerr]

I've heard other people mention this Windows Update "bug". I've never encountered it because I have it set to disable auto updates and downloads completely. I just try to remember to go to Windows Update on the 2nd Tuesday of the month and sometimes the 4th Tuesday also since they sometimes provide updates then as well.

 

[kewl1]

Well I re-did everything slowly and painstakingly and my mail works again. I noticed that there were an additional 15 Windows updates (the Tuesday onslaught) waiting to be installed after the one that downloaded and installed itself at 4 am so I downloaded and installed all of them before fixing the mail.

So all is well again.

 

[kewl1]

Yeah, automatic downloads seem to be a fact of life (not just for MS products, either)...... I wondered last week if my Mail stopped working as the result of an update- I'm not sure if that's even possible, but if so we'd probably be hearing more about it here.... so I guess not. I think my problems were caused by the 64 bit thing as discussed above.

Do you always just put computer to sleep instead of shutting down? If so why would that be? I had the idea shutting down was better, at least occasionally or if for longer periods.

Hope you manage to sort it out- not even being able to open the program sounds bad. My new laptop is only 2 months old (not a lot of files etc...) so doing a backup, doing a clean reinstall and putting everything back again was not to painful....

No actually I don't always put it to sleep. In this case it was my laptop which I do put to sleep more often. It was a case of going out to get tires installed and I thought I would give it a real rest and shut it right off. Also sometimes I will be downloading something big like a movie so I will just leave it on overnight and then start work on it in the morning. So often it may not re-boot for a couple of days as was the case today. So after the reboot, and then having the mail problem and also noticing the "stealth" download, my suspicions were aroused.

 

[kewl1]

I've heard other people mention this Windows Update "bug". I've never encountered it because I have it set to disable auto updates and downloads completely. I just try to remember to go to Windows Update on the 2nd Tuesday of the month and sometimes the 4th Tuesday also since they sometimes provide updates then as well.

I belive mine is set to notify me of updates but not download them. But it cheats quite often. Your setting I think sounds like a step beyond mine and a better idea so that's what I will do right now.

Thanks Roncerr

 

[Greg S]

I've heard other people mention this Windows Update "bug".

Mine is set for download but let me choose when to update/install but some updates get installed without my consent. I've noticed in the Event Viewer that when this happens, there is always a temporary change of the actual logged in user account, also done without my consent. I've always found it odd that MS can do this without the Desktop/Explorer having to be restarted.

 

[poppa bear]

Updates

I have all updates turned off permanently but periodically check manually for new ones using Windows Updates from: Start menu > All Programs.

It's interesting to note that the last search for new updates showed critical security updates available for the Microsoft Office 2007 programs Outlook, Outlook Malicious Software Filter and OneNote; even though these particular programs from Office are not installed on my hard drive. I only have Word, Excel and Power Point installed. So why is it telling me there are critical updates for programs I don't have installed? Go figure!

I simply un-tick the unwanted updates, then right click them and select "Hide" so they are not offered again.

 

[Ex_Brit]

My Windows mail has worked great for many months ever since I followed this tutorial. Even today I used it all day. But then I shut the computer down instead of putting it to sleep and went out for a while. Now after the reboot my Mail program will not open at all.

I also noticed a trick that MS always pulls on me. I always have my computers set so that they will not download any updates but only inform me that there is one if I want it. MS will however often go ahead and just download AND install one without my permission, often or perhaps always in the middle of the night. There is one with todays date that I was unaware of. This particular one is a Windows Defender update. A System Restore will not help. I only seem to have 3 restore points and if I try to go back to the first one on the 10th it fails. I hate the way MS does business.

Am I the only one with this problem today? Could it be something other than a sneaky MS trick? I will go back and repeat all the steps I did months ago and see if that helps. Any new info that I am unaware of would be greatly appreciated.

Updates for Windows Defender are considered essential for security reasons and therefore come in regardless.

 

[Ex_Brit]

I have all updates turned off permanently but periodically check manually for new ones using Windows Updates from: Start menu > All Programs.

It's interesting to note that the last search for new updates showed critical security updates available for the Microsoft Office 2007 programs Outlook, Outlook Malicious Software Filter and OneNote; even though these particular programs from Office are not installed on my hard drive. I only have Word, Excel and Power Point installed. So why is it telling me there are critical updates for programs I don't have installed? Go figure!

I simply un-tick the unwanted updates, then right click them and select "Hide" so they are not offered again.

At that stage it only knows that you have Office components installed. When updating it will check and cancel the inapplicable ones. I wouldn't hide them, let them be applied, the inappropriate ones will automatically be cancelled. You should let Windows do the deciding.

 

[poppa bear]

I have all updates turned off permanently but periodically check manually for new ones using Windows Updates from: Start menu > All Programs.

At that stage it only knows that you have Office components installed. When updating it will check and cancel the inapplicable ones. I wouldn't hide them, let them be applied, the inappropriate ones will automatically be cancelled. You should let Windows do the deciding.

Thanks Ex_Brit. Some time back, when the updates first became available, I had done as you suggested, but it actually downloaded & installed them, as was shown via Control Panel > Programs > Updates. Then when further updates became available for those applications, it also downloaded and installed them too. That's why I turned off all auto updates options and have done it manually ever since.

I don't know if the Office version makes any difference, but I have MS Office 2007 Enterprise installed. I thought there may have been some hidden root directories for the applications that were omitted when Office was first loaded onto my PC, but after allowing viewing of hidden files/folders, I can't find any in either Program Files, Program files(x86), Application Data or System 32.

Re your statement:

Updates for Windows Defender are considered essential for security reasons and therefore come in regardless.

I don't wish to be controversial, but in my OS of Windows 7 Ultimate, with all auto updates turned off, Windows Defender updates do not download or install until I select them to do so.

 

[Ex_Brit]

I consider myself corrected. You are right. They (WD Updates) are however not something one should be concerned about.

 

[poppa bear]

They (WD Updates) are however not something one should be concerned about.

Well said, and yes, I totally agree.

Cheers and have a happy Christma. PB

 

[Ex_Brit]

..and you, all the best.

 

[hfrank]

Everything went well until . . .

. . . I went into the registry to edit

HKEY_CURRENT_USER ==> Software ==> Classes ==> eml_auto_file

and found that eml_auto_file does not exist in my registry (Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit).

Nor can I simply cut and paste from Vista. I am upgrading from XP-Pro.

Any suggestions?

Harry Frank
Red River, NM
USA

 

[poppa bear]

. . . I went into the registry to edit

HKEY_CURRENT_USER ==> Software ==> Classes ==> eml_auto_file

and found that eml_auto_file does not exist in my registry (Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit).

Nor can I simply cut and paste from Vista. I am upgrading from XP-Pro.

Any suggestions?

Harry Frank
Red River, NM
USA

Footnote 2 in the tutorial referring to this regedit says: "Manually edit the following registry key if it is installed."

If it doesn't exist you don't have to worry about it.

You don't need to cut and paste anything from Vista. Everything you need is in the tutorial on page one of this thread.