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and many of the link pointers within have become mislinked over time, many of the files or information within them is outdated, incomplete, or superseded with more accurate information - and so be careful.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

 

[Slartybart]

Ex_Brit: No apologies necessary and thanks for clarifying your post.

The index entry is there, see post# 62 - or look under 'W'

I wonder if Shawn is going to put the shortcut links back in the Tutorial Index as I see there are none?

 

[Ex_Brit]

Ex_Brit: No apologies necessary and thanks for clarifying your post.

The index entry is there, see post# 62 - or look under 'W'

I wonder if Shawn is going to put the shortcut links back in the Tutorial Index as I see there are none?

I think he sneaked that in after I looked...LOL

Thanks.

 

[steelgtr]

Just use the dropbox zip file posted earlier. Does it all!

 

[Slartybart]

   Warning

DO NOT use anything other than the main post (first page) of this Tutorial.
That's where people get into difficulty.

Just use the dropbox zip file posted earlier. Does it all!

 

[steelgtr]

DO NOT use anything other than the main post (first page) of this Tutorial.
That's where people get into difficulty.

Just use the dropbox zip file posted earlier. Does it all!

It did it all for me in one step. Ownership, etc, but whatever.......r

 

[kewl1]

Windows Mail in Windows 8.1

I bought a new ThinkPad with Windows 8 and downloaded the update to 8.1. For Windows Mail which I have used for years in Windows 7 on various computers using the instructions detailed in this wonderful forum. For 8.1 it was easier than ever. I just copied the Windows Mail files from my Windows 7 laptop onto a stick and then after renaming the Windows Mail folder in Win 8.1 to Windows Mail. Old, I dragged the files off the stick into a folder I named Windows Mail. Easiest thing I ever did.

However and I know this is a different topic, I hate Windows 8.1 so much, even after practicing with it on my old computer using a dual boot configuration for several months, that I reformatted my new drive and put Windows 7 on. Windows 8 is the worst, stupidest, most arrogant thing MS has ever done and I think they have cut their own throats by trying to ram it down our throats while trying to imitate Apple’s ease of use. Apple is brilliant and Metro is garbage. The most unintuitive garbage-ware I have ever seen. I thought Vista was bad but this thing is a nightmare of frustration. It might as well be in Chinese or some alien language it’s just sooo bad. I cannot imagine what those idiots were thinking except that “Oh we must try to have our own iOS and make it work the same on everything from a desktop to a toaster. Idiots!!

 

[Ex_Brit]

It's really designed for touch-screen tablets more than a desktop but you can make Windows 8 look almost exactly like 7 with a few tweaks. With Stardock's Start8 for example you can bring back the old Start button and Start Menu and work from your desktop all the time.

 

[kewl1]

Thanks Ex-Brit,


Even with the start menu I was frustrsated.. As you know, XP was such a stable workhorse and then Vista really threw me off with crazy things like a backup program that would not restore and caused me to lose everything. Win 7 should have been a service pack for Vista and indeed that's what it really amounted too. But we had to pay for it which was criminal. I found 7 to be the perfect stable workhorse replacement for XP. But alas, once again they have to mess with a good thing

 

[Ex_Brit]

Well we all have our favourites I guess. I no longer have XP installed as it's obsolete in April anyway but I'm using Vista right now and have 7 and 8.1 in other partitions as a triple boot. I think Vista is my favourite.

 

[Slartybart]

:focus:
There are nearly 1400 posts on this tutorial - the first 1230 pertain to the OLD method and are useless to the current method. I'd venture that between posts 1230 and 1389 there are only a handful of posts that actually help users reinstate WinMail on Windows 7
:focus:

Please use PM or VM for unrelated conversations.

 

[roncerr]

DO NOT use anything other than the main post (first page) of this Tutorial.
That's where people get into difficulty.

Just use the dropbox zip file posted earlier. Does it all!

It did it all for me in one step. Ownership, etc, but whatever.......r

Aren't both files named "Win74umsZip.zip" ? Do you know for a fact that they are different?

 

[Slartybart]

Ron, I do not know if they are different. I also do not know if they are the same.

I do know that questions posted on this tutorial about this tutorial are the only ones I will address. If someone uses another version, I have no way of knowing what that version does. I don't own that version nor can I modify it if something needs to be addressed in the tutorial.

Besides that, an ambiguus reference to a drop box zip could send a user anywhere.

I appreciate your warehousing the tutorial while it was MIA, but the official page is again part of sevenforums tutorial section. Let's try to keep people on one path.

Bill

 

[endeavor]

This tutorial is back by popular demand.

That's Great, thanks...

I'll still use WinMail on Win7 & Win8 till I'm 6ft under.

Good to see the rest of you here, and a warm hello to each of you.

 

[alaamostafa15]

Moving windows mail from win7 x32 to win7 x64

Dear Sirs, I followed your first version of this tutorial on Windows 7 since 2011 and it worked fine, I really appreciate your efforts.
I used to make "Windows Mail Store folder" in a partition other than the operating system, so if my system crashed "store folder" will not be affected.
In my procedure I copied "Mail store folder" from Vista x32 to Win7 x32, then ran through your instructions, and when I launched Windows mail I changed store folder to the location where I copied it from Vista, I had only to enter user name and password.
Now I am going to move to new PC which comes with Win7 x64 pre installed.
I will follow your latest instructions for x64, but what I am afraid of is when I copy mail store folder from Win7 x32 to Win x64 something will crash, something which is not reversible.
So would you please advise if this procedure is save, or you don't recommend it.
Thanks in advance
Best regards

 

[endeavor]

Dear Sirs, I followed your first version of this tutorial on Windows 7 since 2011 and it worked fine, I really appreciate your efforts.
I used to make "Windows Mail Store folder" in a partition other than the operating system, so if my system crashed "store folder" will not be affected.
In my procedure I copied "Mail store folder" from Vista x32 to Win7 x32, then ran through your instructions, and when I launched Windows mail I changed store folder to the location where I copied it from Vista, I had only to enter user name and password.
Now I am going to move to new PC which comes with Win7 x64 pre installed.
I will follow your latest instructions for x64, but what I am afraid of is when I copy mail store folder from Win7 x32 to Win x64 something will crash, something which is not reversible.
So would you please advise if this procedure is save, or you don't recommend it.
Thanks in advance
Best regards

By store folder you mean this folder right?
C:\Users\(yourname)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail
Since you are just gong to 'copy/paste' that folder from one OS to another then you will still have the original, and so in that case you cannot lose anything nor affect the source in your test.

Even though I prefer to leave the location of the folder default as above, I routinely switch that folder out in a number on instances between Vista, or Windows 7, or Windows 8 with full success every time, but must admit I've only done it within 32 bit, however I don't think within that folder there are any 'bit' conscious files anyway, just data, and so I don't think you will have any problem whatsoever; but again you still have the original as long as you just copy/paste, and so you have nothing to lose in your test.
fwiw, discussing the longevity of what you are doing with your store folder like that, is that I've seen the store folder become corrupted before and so relying just on the one store may not be foolproof over time. If you don't use any backup via partition images that you can just restore a dated store folder if problems arise, then instead for a good backup you can just make a zip or rar of that store folder above occasionally (like once a week or whatever is right for your usage) keep it stored on a stick or similar, this way if your store folder was ever to become corrupted in any way, you just delete the current folder and unzip/rar your backup folder in its place.
Also keeping a copy of your store folder allows you great flexibility, like for instance testing your 64 bit install with immunity of hurting the source store folder. (for gp though, after you have WM setup on the 64 bit but before you replace its store folder, zip/rar it Before you make the move, that way you always have a way back to square one. Also importantly every time removing/deleting the folder you are replacing, not just a copy into, and overwriting files; as well again save what you delete for a way back till you are sure.

Even though your question is not exactly a part of the subject matter or intent of this tutorial, and I don't want to stray from the tutorials purpose, however your subject does have its merit. I still recommend to leave the store folder in its default location though, and for backup if you don't use imaging, then a simple zip of the folder occasionally can prove more than valuable when the need arrises.

 

[Slartybart]

As endeavor said: You'll be fine.

Note however that comments made about the previous versions of the tutorial are still there, but only have historical value.

If you do have an issue reinstating WinMail, make a new post and someone will assist you.
Don't try to wade through all of the old posts looking for an answer - that will only make it more difficult.

The current tutorial has been tested and is considered safe. Follow ONLY the steps on the main page found here and you should be set up in no time. The steps in the tutorial have no bearing on your procedure of moving the location of the message store.

I will follow your latest instructions for x64, but what I am afraid of is when I copy mail store folder from Win7 x32 to Win x64 something will crash, something which is not reversible.

 

[roncerr]

FWIW, I think alaamostafa15's concern is copying the store folder from a 32-bit system to a 64-bit system.

 

[Slartybart]

Good point Ron,

I think it will be ok, it's data. What do you think?

There is an implied backup in "copying", so nothing catastrophic (no loss of eMail, or contacts).

Bill

FWIW, I think alaamostafa15's concern is copying the store folder from a 32-bit system to a 64-bit system.

 

[roncerr]

...I think it will be ok, it's data. What do you think?...

I'm still on a 32-bit system (Vista>Windows 7>Windows 8) and try to stick with one active drive. Since I switched from Windows 98 to Vista in 2007, I can no longer use "logic" or "intuition" or "common sense" when it comes to making decisions about what Windows will do.

 

[Slartybart]

Ok, thanks.

As long as retains an original copy of the message store I think it will go well.
The worst thing might be that alaamostafa15 would have to import msgs and contacts instead of simply changing the location of the message store.

It was a great question, thanks for pointing it out Ron.

This tutorial only covers reinstating WinMail. Calendars and Contacts are covered elsewhere.
Still I believe the msgstore will be fine. But I wouldn't have thought about the ancillary features.

So what's the verdict?
I forget if you're updating the same machine to x64 or a different one

If it's the same machine, back it up entirely or make an image
then

Update to x64
edit: Run Windows Update until nothing is offered.
SP1 is required for the tutorial

Run through the tutorial
Go through your "change location" process
provide feedback if it failed or succeeded

Thanks