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and many of the link pointers within have become mislinked over time, many of the files or information within them is outdated, incomplete, or superseded with more accurate information - and so be careful.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

 

[simple simon]

I use windows mail on a win7 netbook, and everything was Ok until I installed SP1... first the msoe.dll issues described by others kicked in, then the computer went haywire, deleting inetcomm.dll... After running a disk check I found that about 155MB of dll files had been treated as lost chains, orphans etc and this effectively crippled the computer so much that I had to wipe the HD and clean install.

Before even trying to use WinMail I also reinstalled the SP1 (as I have a downloaded / offline copy) and then when I went to get Windows Mail working I discovered that all the files I need were already installed - I only had to replace the msoe.dll to have it working again.

Bizarre!

But things are not fully OK yet. I read mail using the imap protocol, and previously when I deleted a message the subject line was struck out and to remove the message I had to click the 'purge' button. Now messages are purged instantly I delete them... does anyone know of a way to change this, as I prefer having the option to purge, in case I accidentally click the wrong message?

TIA

Simon

 

[Greg S]

Is there a way to hide the column grid lines in WLM 2011?

 

[Sammy888]

Is this Windows Mail stable and any caveats?

I havent gone through the 103 pages to see if there is already an answer. But I too wish I had OE on my Windows 7 machine.

With the instructions on how to get Windows Mail on your Windows 7 machine are there any issues in doing so and how stable is it?

 

[win7go]

I havent gone through the 103 pages to see if there is already an answer. But I too wish I had OE on my Windows 7 machine.

With the instructions on how to get Windows Mail on your Windows 7 machine are there any issues in doing so and how stable is it?

Hi Sammy
I have done this Windows Mail install approx. 3 times on my partners school machine. With the exeption of the last the other times it has been very successful. Just need to follow the tutorial.

 

[kewl1]

I have done it on both my laptop and desk top and it is very easy. Not only that but over the past year my desktop was rebuilt and I have changed hard drives etc on both machines causing me to re-install Windows and again I just followed the simple instructions and re-instated Windows mail with no problems at all.

No stability problems at all because it's part of windows albeit hidden and just needs the tweek described in here to wake it up.

 

[roncerr]

...No stability problems at all because it's part of windows albeit hidden and just needs the tweek described in here to wake it up.

An update to Windows could bork the *.dll tweek at an inopportune time and you will have to try going back to the tutorial after they update it or keep a copy of updated Vista handy to get the "fixed" *.dll file. I think this has happened a couple of times already.

 

[simple simon]

I find that every so often Windows Mail freezes / crashes...

first it stops responding to anything I click on, then it gives me a message about 'deleting messages', even though I am not usually trying to do this.

I dont know what happens next, as usually by then I will have closed WM using the task manager via ctrl+alt+del (or ctrl+shift+esc - which brings up the task manager immediately).

Like many people I refuse to use WLM - it makes my Netbook sluggish, its uses far too much resources (memory) and lacks the ability to just 'send' messages (sync is not the same, as I dont want to download everything). Also, on messages which have a large number of recipients WLM seems to verify every email addy before opening the messages, taking 20-30 seconds to do this. By way of contrast, WM just opens the message, immediately - which of course is how things should be!



Simon

 

[Bart2010]

Hi, I'm finding it impossible to install Windows Seven service pack 1 (error 80004005, both with live update and the downloaded service pack), and am wondering if the email hack may be the reason. I have tried all the usual suggestions and nothing works. Sorry I did not have time to read thru the other 103 pages of this thread to see if others had the same problem. If so is there a way to get around it?

 

[Ex_Brit]

Hi, I'm finding it impossible to install Windows Seven service pack 1 (error 80004005, both with live update and the downloaded service pack), and am wondering if the email hack may be the reason. I have tried all the usual suggestions and nothing works. Sorry I did not have time to read thru the other 103 pages of this thread to see if others had the same problem. If so is there a way to get around it?

I doubt the hack has anything to do with it as it didn't in my case. It undid the hack and all I had to do was do it again afterwards. That error can occur for many reasons, one being a program actively preventing it such as an antivirus active, another being not enough free space on that partition or disc to house the temporary files it creates...is that the case by any chance?

Microsoft offer free support for service pack installation problems (or any kind of update installation issues) so you could try them as the last resort.

 

[Bart2010]

Thanks for your response. In the end I searched this thread and found the exact solution, from Ebenezer http://www.sevenforums.com/1264388-post958.html

Followed his steps exactly and it worked like a charm. Had already tried all the other methods usually suggested.

SPI installed and Windows Mail still working well- good to go!

 

[Bart2010]

Gobbledegeek sorry, not Ebenezer.............

 

[Recrush]

Recently I upgraded from Win7 x86 to x64 (professional), but I can't get Windows Mail to work. I got a copy of a working 64bit version (from another computer) of Windows Mail but it won't work on my system, giving this error: 0x8007000E. I Googled it dozens of times but can't get to a solution, most of the results are related to Vista, 32bit and/or other software applications.

My housemate also has a Win7 64bit system, so I already tried copying my Windows Mail to his computer to see if it's corrupt or something alike, but it's not. It totally works on his computer.

Somewhere I found the solution of locating another MSOERES.dll elsewhere on the computer (C:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-m..-core-dll.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16385_en-us_2cea88b0c19dd22e) and placing it in the Windows Mail folder. I was very happy to see it actually launched the application, BUT.. There are no icons whatsoever and some text styling isn't correct:

I copied the whole Windows Mail folder again, placed it on my mate's computer, but with the same result. So this is probably due to MSOERES.dll. But with using the one that SHOULD work, I get the 0x8007000E error.

Does anyone have an idea about how to solve this? I really want it to work the way it should 'cause I know it's possible, as I copied Windows Mail from a working Windows 7 64bit system which also works correctly on my mate's PC. I really want it to work..

P.S.
I already recovered a backup of a clean installation of Windows 7 but still it wouldn't work. I haven't tried completely reinstalling Windows 'cause it seems pretty useless, since it also didn't work on my clean install..

 

[roncerr]

"MSOERES.dll" is not mentioned in the tutorial.

Did you first update fully the 64-bit version of Windows 7 and then carefully followed the tutorial (linked to at the top of this page where it says "click here to read...") to reinstate Windows Mail? It does not require moving/changing multiple files but only msoe.dll which can be downloaded from the tutorial.

 

[Recrush]

I figured I made a simple, stupid mistake myself. I was one step ahead in the wrong direction, for I just copy/pasted Windows Mail from one of my Vista laptops back when I installed Windows 7 32bit version. I honestly thought that WinMail.exe did not exist on a Windows 7 installation so the first thing I did was getting my hands on a x64 copy of Windows Mail from a Vista machine. Your (Roncerr) post made me go through the tutorial again and this time I applied it to the ORIGINAL Windows Mail folder that came with Windows 7. Then, a lot made sense..

So I basically failed to do it right because I was thinking way more difficult than needed.. So yeah, it works like a charm now. Thank you for your input!

 

[juanusz]

How to go back???

Greetings!

My first post here.

I really like Windows Mail in Windows 7. I did this "mod" long ago and forgot about it...UNTIL I spent hours and hours trying to install SP1. I did all the usual MS recommended things but nothing. I had glanced at the CBS log before but apparently overlooked it but did see it this afternoon:

2011-07-12 14:57:23, Error CBS Failed. Attempted to uninstall a version of a non-driver component that is not installed, version: 0X600011db04001, component: 
 
x86_microsoft-windows-mail-core-dll_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16385_none_585517a9869db81d, owner: Microsoft-Windows-Client-Features-
 
Package~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.1.7600.16385.Microsoft-Windows-Client-Features-Update [HRESULT = 0x80004005 - E_FAIL]
 
2011-07-12 14:57:23, Info CBS Failed to mergecomponent [HRESULT = 0x80004005 - E_FAIL]
 
2011-07-12 14:57:23, Info CBS ComponentAnalyzerUninstallDeployment: Failed on update: Microsoft-Windows-Client-Features-Update [HRESULT = 0x80004005 - E_FAIL]
 
2011-07-12 14:57:23, Info CBS Failed to execute item[0] in Package: Microsoft-Windows-Client-Features-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.1.7600.16385, Update: 
 
Microsoft-Windows-Client-Features-Update [HRESULT = 0x80004005 - E_FAIL]
 
2011-07-12 14:57:23, Info CBS Failed to execute execution update. [HRESULT = 0x80004005 - E_FAIL]
 
2011-07-12 14:57:23, Info CBS Failed to execute execution package: Microsoft-Windows-Client-Features-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.1.7600.16385 [HRESULT = 
 
0x80004005 - E_FAIL]
 
2011-07-12 14:57:23, Info CBS Failed to prepare execution [HRESULT = 0x80004005 - E_FAIL]

It looks like Windows Mail is causing the problem.

I am not really all that technical (tutorial follower) so I would like to know how do I go back to the Windows 7 original state. I am thinking that I could install SP1 and then come back to Windows Mail.

Thanks kindly,

j

 

[pete39]

I have tried everything but I too cannot install SP1 but please note, I am 'not' using Windows Mail.

Pete

 

[juanusz]

Okay... like I said I am new here. Although I did use search earlier, I did not find anything useful.

Well, after plowing through this thread I found what I was looking for: Gobbledegeek's post: http://www.sevenforums.com/1264388-post958.html.

Worked like a charm. Thanks, Gobbledegeek!

j

 

[juanusz]

I have tried everything but I too cannot install SP1 but please note, I am 'not' using Windows Mail.

Pete

Hi, Pete!

Being that your problem is not related to Windows Mail then maybe your inquiry should be posted to the appropriate thread. In any case, in order for anyone to help you need to state kind of error message you get?

For example, if you get Error: E_FAIL(0x80004005), then try searching/posting here: Home - Microsoft Answers

Other things to consider:

Go through this sequence: Unable to install updates in Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2

Examine CBS.log here -- C:\Windows\Logs\CBS

If you have update issues then this might help: Repair & Fix Windows Updates with Fix WU Utility | The Windows Club

Also, check: Windows 7 Installation, Setup, and Deployment Forum

j

 

[pete39]

Thank's for your suggestions J.

 

[Dullstroom1]

Great tohave used thjis to get Windows Mail up with Windows 7. However, there seem sto be some differences to using it with Vista ;
1. Attachments seem to be accessible only by double clicking the mail item whereas under Vista a box appeared allowing one to view or save.
2. I have three alias's and when I reply to an email, Windows Mail always takes one specific one which is not the default. If I spot this then I can easily change but is there any way of making the default alias appear as the reply every time ?