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and many of the link pointers within have become mislinked over time, many of the files or information within them is outdated, incomplete, or superseded with more accurate information - and so be careful.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

 

[PeterM42]

Windows (7) Mail

Mark,

Many thanks for that. Great post!

This was driving me mad as "Windows LIVE Mail" is dreadful and other options such as using Thunderbird, etc just don't come close to Outlook Express/Windows (6/7) Mail.

It would save a lot of heartache is MS just re-enabled Windows Mail in Windows 7.

Just a thought - presumably we will have the same problem in Windows 8 - AAAAGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!

Regards,

PeterM

 

[Trillium]

I have been following the threads and tutorials on Reinstating Windows Mail on Windows 7 forever. Just a quick request for HELP! as I am in no ways computer literate at all. Do I need to have a program to unzip a file? I am going to try EKMANTIS batch file to try and install WM on my new Windows 7 computer and I don't understand zip files at all. Endeavors post #1160 mentions something about "Windows Mail missing from the default program" and a registry entry. He'd asked Brink to look at this and incorporate it in the first step of the long tutorial. If I just use EKMantis batch file should I go into the registry (whatever that is) and type that in?

 

[Brink]

Hello Trillium, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Personally, I would not recommend anyone to use Windows Mail anymore since it's dead and not supported by Microsoft anymore.

I would recommend to use another email client program like the free Windows Live Mail or Thunderbird instead.

 

[Trillium]

Thanks for the welcome Brink. I know this topic is dead in the water - but I really wanted to try to use Windows Mail and install it myself. My impression after following the original postings under "How to Reinstate Windows Mail on Windows 7" (some 144 pages worth) and this link (117 pages) that some people have been successful. I personally don't care if WM is no longer supported - I don't want to go to "Live" anything. I was simply trying to save myself some big bucks that was quoted to me for a computer expert to come and do the installation.

 

[Donz]

Trillium,

If it's a new computer, be shure to do all windows updates including service pack 1, before you run the batch file.
Otherwise you will probably have trouble installing SP-1 as I did with a friends computer. I ended up doing a total reinstall of 7.
Also before running the batch file, and after all updates, I would suggest you create a system image file in the event you have to reload in the future
It's still very uncertain what will happen when SP-2 comes along.

I'm running WM, and really like it.

Don

 

[Trillium]

Thanks Donz - it's a brand new laptop running Windows 7 and it has SP1 already installed. I have made recovery disks as per the manual and created a system image file. Endeavors post #1160 mentions something about "Windows Mail missing from the default program" and a registry entry. He'd asked Brink to look at this and incorporate it in the first step of the long tutorial. If I just use EKMantis batch file should I go into the registry (whatever that is) and type that in?
Did you have to do that as well?

 

[Donz]

Trillium,

I really don't understand the missing from default comments.

I have WM, WLM, and Thunderbird all loaded, and have no problems.

WM does seem to be the default fo me. When I rt-click a .jpg, and select Send To, Mail recipient, it opens WM.
Also in WM if I go to Tools, Options, under the general tab there is a selection for Default mail and for news handlers.
My 'Mail" button is greyed out, probably because it's the default.

I also show all 3 email programs listed in Default Programs.

I did my install before the batch file was available.

Don

 

[endeavor]

Trillium, the fact that you are asking what to do with a zip file is concerning, meaning, if you don't understand that how will you be able to do or understand the rest of the process - and I don't mean that in a disrespectful way at all, honestly.

I do understand Brinks point about moving on to a new email client that's 'supported' is warranted...for most people; However for those who have the capability, and still want to use the Outlook Express style that they grew up all their computer life with, well then that's fine too, just so long as they realize any limitations that go along with doing that. (for some they consider them minor limitations, but overall give personal preference advantages ...at this point in time anyway)

As far as that registry key you're referencing, that one point is minuscule in the overall scope of things, and only arises when someone has installed a few different email programs at the same time and conflicts between which program is default 'may arise' and has for a few people. Donz as you saw had good luck, and it's impressive he uses WM, WLM, and Thunderbird at the same time.

To your other question, Windows 7 comes with a built in zip file extractor which you will see if you right-click on that zip file, it will give you an option to unzip/decompress it.

Yes all you will need to do is run the bat file which takes care of 'some' of the Tutorial processes, there's a bit more to it, however! also realize all the other normal procedures of setting up an email account that you have to do manually as with any other email client that you're installing fresh without importing informatons. There are plenty of webpages out there on how to do that.

You're on your own here really. I almost advise you against it myself, in fact I do.

If you choose to go forward, don't do anything unless you full backup/restore capabilities.

 

[Trillium]

Donz and Endeavor. Thank you both so much for your input. I think I may just try to do the install - (nothing ventured, nothing gained). With my current isp I can access my mail from any computer which is somehow linked to Windows Live. I hate the set-up and how it looks, but it is an option. I also have G-mail and I could go that route as well. Since my current laptop runs Vista and has Windows Mail, I can use that for my e-mail and just go Windows Live Mail on my new computer. Again, thanks for everything.

 

[Banyarola]

Reply Font Color

Using this tutorial I got Windows Mail working fine in my Windows 7 64 bit OS.

I have one problem, when I reply to messages the font color is a light BLUE..
The light blue font only appears in replies and forwarded emails.

When I create a new message the font color is black like I selected in options..

When replying I change the font color to black but it only stays black only for that reply.

I also have Windows Live Mail installed and I don't have the problem with that.
I don't use Live Mail so if that is causing the problem I could un-install it.
Any suggestions..

Thanks

 

[Donz]

I don't know if this would help, but worth a try.

Tools, Options, Compose tab, and switch Font settings a few times. Size and color etc...

 

[Banyarola]

Thanks, but I have been doing what you suggest since yesterday when I got Winndows Mail installed.

 

[Ex_Brit]

There's also the setting "Reply to messages using the format in which they were sent" under Tools/Options/Send, that may have a bearing. Play around with the settings and see what happens.

 

[Banyarola]

Thanks guys, I got it working right now.
It seems the Black I choose was a custom color, wherever that came from, so I changed to another Color, that looks black and it's working fine now...

Brit, I have the option you suggested UNCHECKED But I did play around with it before and it did nothing.

 

[Ex_Brit]

LOL, glad you've got it licked.

 

[Banyarola]

Funny thing is, that while it works fine now there is no BLACK in the color options.
Only the custom one I used where the problem started.

I tried picking the BLACK one again in the pull down menu but it shows up as a custom color and not black but brown.
I did it a few times and it keeps changing...

I'll have to stick with the dark blue for now until I figure out how to get the black working..

 

[Ex_Brit]

You mean here? How odd. I'll have to think about this. (Click to magnify)

 

[Banyarola]

Yes Brit, if I choose the BLACK it displays BLACK on any new messages but in the replies it shows up as blue and if I check the font color in the font option in the reply message it shows up as BLACK CUSTOM. But it displays as light blue..

Only if I pick the NAVY color in the font options in the compose selection does it display the proper color in both the new messages and the replies..

 

[Ex_Brit]

How weird. Hopefully someone with more knowledge than I will chip in here.

 

[Banyarola]

Well Brit, I just changed it back to black in the compose menu and now the replies are in the black font also and not the light blue. So I guess it's working normally.

Over the past two days I must have sent myself a 100 emails trying to figure it out..
I never got so many emails in one day from someone I like so much...

Thanks for your input.It prompted me to tinker some more with it.