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and many of the link pointers within have become mislinked over time, many of the files or information within them is outdated, incomplete, or superseded with more accurate information - and so be careful.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

---

• 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

 

[2dawson]

I'm a first time Win7 user and thanks to this tutorial, I have Windows Mail running well. I managed to move my messages, rules, contacts to the new machine from my Vista machine.

I also have the Junk filter working but still have one question. Is there a way to either automatically or manually update the Junk Mail database?

Thanks for all the help,
Jim

 

[John Edwards]

WM missing from program list for defaults

The title says it. I have windows mail working well. The third computer I've done it on. However the right click>send to Mail recipient does nothing. The *click* disappears into lala land. Of course I tried changing the default on "mail recipient" from 'unknown program' to 'windows mail'. That would open Windows Mail, but not a new letter and, of course, didn't import the file I was trying to send. And then I could only undo that with a system restore.

I had (have?) hopes that by going to: default programs> set program access and computer defaults> custom> choose default e-mail program> Windows Mail (it does show HERE!)> and lastly enable access to this program, I would finally make Windows Mail fully functional.

Alas, I may never know. The "enable access to this program" check box is greyed out and when I tell it "OK" it resets back to "Use my current e-mail program" (Which IS Windows mail).

So, bottom line, How can I get my Right Click (on some file)> Send To> Email Recipient to open a letter ready to send in Windows Mail?????

Tangent - did you ever resolve this issue? It's exactly my problem too, so I'd be grateful to know how you did it!

 

[KVacek]

Windows Mail window is invisible

I just installed Windows mail for a client I just upgraded to Windows 7-64 Pro from XP, and he wasn't interested in learning Outlook. After converting his inbox and address book through a third-party app, it worked like a charm for half a day. Then he called me and told me it wouldn't open any more.

Sure enough, when I opened it the window was invisible, though I could see it under Processes in Task Manager - but not under Applications. Multiple retries and a reinstallation of the new MSOE.dll file made no difference. It was late on Friday and so I just set up Outlook 2010 (he had it anyway), imported all his info and account, and he's running. But not happy.

What might have happened with WIndows Mail?

 

[2dawson]

I have Windows Mail running fine with two exceptions:
1.) No way to update the junk mail database.
2.) Spell check doesn't work, gives ms a language error.

Has anyone solved these problems?

 

[endeavor]

Tangent - did you ever resolve this issue? It's exactly my problem too, so I'd be grateful to know how you did it!

John did you already try what Tangent did?
What happened?
It used to be when OE's Make Default button in email Options> General was greyed out, there was a vbs file an MVP made to set it back, but surly for WM there has to be a same simple way to get it back for you. It's just a MAPI problem and can't be that complicated.

Have you searched Google for some help?

Or This One


Or This One

 

[endeavor]

[....]
What might have happened with WIndows Mail?

Who knows what the fellow may have done to it when you werent there.

 

[KVacek]

Oh, dealing with him and computers is definitely like giving a machine gun to a chimp, but I was still there...

 

[endeavor]

I have Windows Mail running fine with two exceptions:
1.) No way to update the junk mail database.
2.) Spell check doesn't work, gives ms a language error.

Has anyone solved these problems?

Spelling, I couldn't be without mine that's for sure, mine works works fine.
Here too, back in the days for OE it was a simple fix for Spelling and we had many MVP's that made various little ditties to fix these things. Anyway, have you searched Google about that one I see a lot of hits on it. We don't have full time resident techs here to do it, so everyone has to do their part and search out the answers and bring their success info back to share to help others.

~~~~~~~~

I don't use the Junk Mail filter at all and have it set to Off.

I was curious though about it..

Is this the Junk Filter Update that you mean?

I just took downloaded it and installed it on my Vista box and Software Tracked the entire install File/Registry, I expected to see a lot of changes, but was surprised yet happy to see very few changes at all. The only pertinent file it changed was in C:\Program Files\Windows Mail and it was the OESpamFilter.dat, it changed it from v6.0.6002.18005 to v6.0.6002.18580.
I came over to my 7 box and went to replace mine with it in the same folder, and to my surprise it's not in there, in fact comparing my Vista to 7 folders on each computer in front of me, there's 3 files in Vista that's not there in 7, one of course is that OESpamFilter.dat and the others are OESpamFilter.dll and WindowsMailGaget.exe..

Do you have the first two in your 7 folder?

Perhaps I don't because I have my 7 Junk Filter set to off from day one.

I was going to give you my updated OESpamFilter.dat file, but now dunno what you got of if even your's ever worked on 7 as is?

 

[endeavor]

Oh, dealing with him and computers is definitely like giving a machine gun to a chimp, but I was still there...

Best you leave him with Outlook then, or you will have to babysit the project constantly. Not that you should have to. It's just that leaving auto updates on for him may have broken it, but just running the winmail32.bat (or 64) should instantly put it all back working. If he tried installing WLM or something then all bets are off, unless you had a backup partition image that is.

My WM has worked for years and never ever any problems with it. Af first I didn't use it full time because I kept booting WXP, but these days 7 WM is full time, I have all my favorite tech News Groups loaded, everything is setup just like I always had on OE from day one on 9x for what is it 13 years now. WM may be slightly fancier but everything is still in the same place and I can almost use it with my eyes closed I've used it so much.
I think I will keep WM going till 2020 <grin>

 

[2dawson]

I have Windows Mail running fine with two exceptions:
1.) No way to update the junk mail database.
2.) Spell check doesn't work, gives ms a language error.

Has anyone solved these problems?

Spelling, I couldn't be without mine that's for sure, mine works works fine...


Thanks, I got the spell check working fine now. Just had to change language to non-English, restart mail, then back to English and start again and it works fine.
~~~~~~~~

I don't use the Junk Mail filter at all and have it set to Off.

I was curious though about it..

Is this the Junk Filter Update that you mean?

I just took downloaded it and installed it on my Vista box and Software Tracked the entire install File/Registry, I expected to see a lot of changes, but was surprised yet happy to see very few changes at all. The only pertinent file it changed was in C:\Program Files\Windows Mail and it was the OESpamFilter.dat, it changed it from v6.0.6002.18005 to v6.0.6002.18580.
I came over to my 7 box and went to replace mine with it in the same folder, and to my surprise it's not in there, in fact comparing my Vista to 7 folders on each computer in front of me, there's 3 files in 7 that's not there compared to Vista, one of course is that OESpamFilter.dat and the others are OESpamFilter.dll and WindowsMailGaget.exe..

Do you have the first two in your 7 folder?

No, I do not. I had just used the one file from Vista, not the entire directory. I'll play with that now.

Perhaps I don't because I have my 7 Junk Filter set to off from day one.

I was going to give you my updated OESpamFilter.dat file, but now dunno what you got of if even your's ever worked on 7 as is?

I'll try the files from my Vista machine. Thanks for the help.

 

[endeavor]

PS, I edited my post because I had typed it backwards, but obviously I was meaning to type:
[...] there's 3 files in Vista that's not there in 7 [...]

 

[2dawson]

PS, I edited my post because I had typed it backwards, but obviously I was meaning to type:
[...] there's 3 files in Vista that's not there in 7 [...]

Thanks, I knew what you meant and moved all three files to the Win7 machine. I had already moved the Blocked senders registry entry from the Vista machine and the Junk filter was working but I think the entries in the registry are the ones you add manually, not the ones in the MS .dat file. We'll now see if it appears to pick up junk listed in their database.

Thanks for your help as I had missed those three files. I don't know what the WindowsMailGaget.exe file does but it doesn't appear to hurt anything.

 

[endeavor]

[...] ..but I think the entries in the registry are the ones you add manually, not the ones in the MS .dat file.
[....]

Not of what was observed on complete tracking the install of that latest definitions file I linked, it Did Not change anything relative in the registry! I just looked over the event again ..all changes were specifically with that .dat file while changing its version from v6.0.6002.18005 to v6.0.6002.18580. I cannot answer however how your junk filter was already working? ..you say it was putting certain worded emails? into the junk folder? ..however note that the Block Senders List entry was already in the WinMailEdit.reg you merged.

I never noticed conversations about this file before but a quick search on this forum showed others talking about the OESpamFilter.dat ..but besides the name being obvious I honestly don't know what the darn thing does, and a quick look at google has the usually bs but if I kept wading through the million converstaions I would find someone who knew what the hell it really does; I have to go back to what was observed on tracking the install though, and seeing is believing. I also extracted the dat and the its subsequent cab contents looking at it all in hex, gosh there were thousands of little files... gotta go do supper with the wife now, see ya dawson...
thanx

 

[John Edwards]

Windows Mail missing from default programs listing

Tangent - did you ever resolve this issue? It's exactly my problem too, so I'd be grateful to know how you did it!

John did you already try what Tangent did?
What happened?
It used to be when OE's Make Default button in email Options> General was greyed out, there was a vbs file an MVP made to set it back, but surly for WM there has to be a same simple way to get it back for you. It's just a MAPI problem and can't be that complicated.

Have you searched Google for some help?

Or This One


Or This One

Endeavour

Many thanks for your suggestion; a Google search produced this Windows Mail missing from the default programs listing which offers a registry entry to download and merge - AND IT WORKS! Brilliant. I didn't think I was going to solve this - it didn't occur to me search under Vista - but of course that's where WM came from! I was worried that it wouldn't work on 64-bit W7 - but it seems fine - so far! THANKS A MILLION TIMES.

By the way, after merging the registry entry, I DO still need to keep WLM marked 'enable access', or else the functionality disappears again and the registry entry needs to be reapplied.

Hope this works for anyone else with this annoying problem.

 

[Sammy888]

Where is the msoe.dll file

Just trying to help out a friend running Win 7 x64s. However, I am confused with the lack of clarity

On the first page it says [SIZE=+0]3. In Windows Mail folder, take full control of the file "msoe.dll" as follows[/SIZE].

Warning
If running 64bit Windows 7, before carrying out this step, read "Footnote 3" below.




A) [COLOR=#3485BD !important][COLOR=#3485BD !important]Download[/COLOR][/COLOR] and install Take Ownership to add it.

B) Open: Start Orb ==> Computer ==> C: Drive ==> Program Files ==> Windows Mail folder ==> Right click: "msoe.dll" file ==> In drop down [COLOR=#3485BD !important][COLOR=#3485BD !important]menu[/COLOR][/COLOR] click: Take Ownership.

*Note 1: If WinMail.exe file is not visible in Windows Mail folder, then apply "Footnote 4" below.

*Note 2: Before proceeding to Step 4, copy and save "msoe.dll" file as back-up for safety.

Am I to copy the downloaded x64 MSOE file and move it to the Windows Mail folder overwriting the existing MSOE file? If so, how do I do this because it won't let me overwrite the folder? Once I do this, do I then take ownership (see footnote 3).
​

 

[endeavor]

[....]
...a Google search produced this Windows Mail missing from the default programs listing which offers a registry entry to download and merge - AND IT WORKS! Brilliant...
[....]

Thats really great John glad you got that done.

..and so dissecting that reg file from where you got it, the interesting thing is that 99.9% of everything that's in it, is a duplicate of what's Already In Our Own WinMailEdit.reg ...except for one little tiney tiny line: "Hidden"=dword:00000000"

...and so:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Windows Mail\Capabilities]
"Hidden"=dword:00000000

...of course to transfer/import Contacts, Accounts, Emails, etc, from a previous installation that will have to all be done manually following tutorial steps 5 & 6, there's no way around that.



[....]
This is all now incorporated into post #1 with many new fixes and updates; so going forward, see post #1

.



.

 

[endeavor]

Just trying to help out a friend running Win 7 x64s. However, I am confused with the lack of clarity

[....]

Am I to copy the downloaded x64 MSOE file and move it to the Windows Mail folder overwriting the existing MSOE file? If so, how do I do this because it won't let me overwrite the folder? Once I do this, do I then take ownership (see footnote 3).​

You have to take ownership first in order to be able to place the file, and the #3 that you referenced is very clear about it with it's 3a & 3b before going to 4. I thought it was well written considering.
Nevertheless understand there is no one full time tech here like MS has to make sure all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed, and so be patient with the process and what it is: a many individuals volunteered project.


[....]
This is all now incorporated into post #1 with many new fixes and updates; so going forward, see post #1

.



.

 

[Sammy888]

]

You have to take ownership first in order to be able to place the file, and the #3 that you referenced is very clear about it with it's 3a & 3b before going to 4. I thought it was well written considering.

Nevertheless understand there is no one full time tech here like MS has to make sure all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed, and so be patient with the process and what it is: a many individuals volunteered project (blessing)

Hey Sammy how about if you just go to the EKMantis Post
...and download the attachment from it, unzip it, right-click> Run As Administrator> on your winmail64.bat ...and in that one second it took you to click and merge it - you are done!
(take ownership and each and every one of the steps are done automatically for you, in one click!)

You can read for a few hours and do it all manually if you want...
...or do a one second click and you're done - you choose.

(caveat: as long the OS partition is C:\ which normally 99.99% of the time it is...
...if not then first just Edit the target OS's partition letters inside either the winmail32..or..64.bat file).

Thanks endeavor, the sequence to me is not in proper chronological order. the take ownership part should be mentioned first. the warning to see footnoote 3 comes next and the warning implies before doing the ownership part, read footnoote 3. it's pretty easy for those who understand the process or have already been through it, but for someone reading the instructions and going step by step it can be confusing . nonethless, i'll try the bat file as u suggested.
Cheers,
Sam

 

[Sammy888]

BTW, I noticed a bug or lack of a feature in this Windows Mail.

The install with the .bat file was seemless! I would suggest the link to the file be included in the first post.

I have several rules set up. I have dozens of folders that I migrated from OE. I have the folder tree closed.

With OE, if any new mail that came in and that was sorted by a rule, the folder will automatically open up. Now, the folder is hidden and I have to open up the main menu of my messages and look down to see which folder has any new email. That's kind of a pain. I guess the only solution is to create a new folder in the local folder?

 

[endeavor]

BTW, I noticed a bug or lack of a feature in this Windows Mail.

The install with the .bat file was seemless! I would suggest the link to the file be included in the first post. ?

I agree, it's up to Brink our Forum Administrator though.
He has his hands full already with what he does... and it will take time for him to tend to and edit the Tutioral.

I have several rules set up. I have dozens of folders that I migrated from OE. I have the folder tree closed.

With OE, if any new mail that came in and that was sorted by a rule, the folder will automatically open up. Now, the folder is hidden and I have to open up the main menu of my messages and look down to see which folder has any new email. That's kind of a pain. I guess the only solution is to create a new folder in the local folder?

I don't 'think' that WM ever auto-opened to the subfolder that a rule-sent message went in to it, or any message? I can see where it would be handy if you have other rules acting as identities to put mail in it.

The only thing WM, Will Do, is if you put your send-to rule entering the 'top level' of a new local folder, that folder will Bold itself when a new unread message arrives in it, the same happened on OE too, but note though neither OE nor WM will Bold the 'first level folder' if it's sent to a sub-folder of it, but going into that first level folder then yes you will see that subfolder will be in bold.

Now I've used OE since the begining and I've never seen it open folders when mail arrived in it? ..that's not to say yours does not, mine never did and looking through the Options on an xp OE box next to me right now, I don't see any options to do that? ...let us know where that option is please I'm curious. My Layout is unique though so maybe I dampened that from happening by my layout preferences. At least the folder the email goes into Bolds itself though. Perhaps you meant the Preview Pane which lets the email message text show upon arrival? I enjoy that feature myself; all previous OE version did that and of course so does WM.