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and many of the link pointers within have become mislinked over time, many of the files or information within them is outdated, incomplete, or superseded with more accurate information - and so be careful.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

 

[grits]

Hi endeavor,
Nope, I still have no desire to install WLM. I see reference to it & all the other 'Live' stuff all thru my PC & have been half tempted to somehow get rid of all of it.

I just realized another oops that I hadn't thought about in my other tries at this & probably best give some serious thought to: I don't have anything for 'imaging' & have only done 1 back up, (just using whatever came with PC) & that was about a month after I bought it. I just never got in the habit of doing it but will have to change that even tho' "it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks".

I have Eudora right now as my email program but not really satisfied with it.

I'm kinda jumping around here .... another thing that confuses me & might have been one of my problems before is not knowing whether I should 'click', 'dbl click', or 'right click', guess I better study up on that too. So. . . . guess I won't get too carried away with Slarty's way until I bone up on simple computer-eze. (don't know if that's a real word)

 

[grits]

Hi Slartybart,

Yes, "Thank you" for coming to this forum with some new info. I was about to tear my hair out over my sooo many failed attempts at something that was supposed to be so simple! Of course that's my fault for trying to jump in to do something when I don't even know so many basics of computer use. (boy, I sure use the word 'so' a lot)
Anyway. . . I'll be back but need to study a bit in between my trips out to mow, water, etc. That migt give you & endeavor more time to iron out some things.

 

[endeavor]

Okay I see the problem with grits.. dam it, I should of noticed that before...

I was focusing on all the errors within her cmd box screenshot which were:
subinacl' is not recognized as an internal or external command operable program or batch file
...as well as the other ones...

But The problem is what kind of cmd box was she in !!!
As you can see if you look at it (staring me right in the face) it was Not As Administrator! ..and so therefore she had the subinacl error for one thing even though she had the subinacl.exe right there in her folder, and since she is not running as Admin a right click and run as Admin is not going to work at all, thus her errors - she must be coming from C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe in order to have a chance..

Also perhaps you just want to have your zip named 1.zip, that way it's easier to type:
cd %USERPROFILE%\Downloads\1

You see what I'm getting at, something/anything/everything to make it easier.

(grits I can feel it, your time to open WinMail is near, and sorry I didn't catch that issue mentioned earlier. Don't worry about your questions you asked just yet, and don't worry about a partition imager I was only talking to Slarty)

 

[grits]

Dang, every time I come here thinking I'll finally do Slarty's thing, I see you two are still working on it . I really,really appreciate it tho' that you're trying to make it easy.! You guys "Rock" !!! Probably best if I quit reading what's back & forth between you two & just be patient another day or so 'cuz most of it is over my head & I'm probably mis-reading some of it anyway. btw, I have done copy/paste before but maybe what you're talking about is different for some reason?

Gotta scoot for now, more yard work to do.
Thanks again guys , pretty soon we can

 

[Slartybart]

There might be some things I missed in the many over 1,200 comments that helped others or that I changed based on my testing.

I am willing to take and incorporate feedback on the instructions I wrote after a reader runs through them and experiences a "problem" that was previously resolved or new ones are presented.

Please use private messaging for feedback so the thread doesn't get cluttered with unimportant chatter. Things like "I'd like to see XYZ changed to GHI" are better discussed offline. All feedback will be considered, but WinMail is gone and going further away. The intent was to make it easier to make WinMail work for now. I'll include your feedback on the thread if a fix is made available. Thanks!

There are some things that are beyond fixing - ie hacking CBS.

Peace!

 

[grits]

Yippie!!! And at 1st launch it didn't even prompt for default, it was set at default already.

Thank you endeavor!! Thank you Slartybart!! I'm so excited I don't know what more to say other than you two "Rock"!! Great job!!

 

[endeavor]

Awesome grits, I'm really proud of you! <very big smile>

fyi, Slarty and I today deleted alot of our posts from the last few days to clean up the back and forth chatter betwen us as we worked things out, and so just in case you see posts missing, that's why.

The new process will work for more people than it even did before.

You did a good job, again, really really proud of you!

.

 

[endeavor]

Slarty the entry "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Mail\.... you've put in your .bat pointing for all the changes to take place now takes care of what we wanted back when EX-Brit brought up the issue in reply to me that's below it, and that is, with the EKmantis bat what if someone had their installation of a partition other than C:\ it was would miss it, I replied to him below that suggesting a change, and by golly you have it done within your bat, thanks, it covers the problem nicely over what EKMantis had it as hard linked, nice job.

I also wanted to note that on my 7 version of Pro or Ultimate setup 'After' the User Account Control and the likes are disabled, then I can just double click or right click and run as administrator on the .bat from anywhere and it works through fine, but after testing on a fresh install or non-modified 7 setup like grits has with User Control On and all the other annoying supposed security things on, I've found you can Not just double click on the bat and have it work, nor can you just right click on the bat and run as Administrator it won't work either; when EKMantis first supplied his bat I may have suggested that it could, but after recently testing on a fresh install I realized you cannot and it's only after modifications, and so therefore to cover all setups it needs to be that you get them into a real "Administrator" cmd prompt First and then proceed then there will be success in all setups, and I see you have done that already in your tut, nice job.

 

[Slartybart]

grits,

Glad to be of service. You were a big help too. A user having difficulty provides more information than someone who successfully follows a tutorial.
Peace!

Yippie!!! And at 1st launch it didn't even prompt for default, it was set at default already.

Thank you endeavor!! Thank you Slartybart!! I'm so excited I don't know what more to say other than you two "Rock"!! Great job!!

 

[endeavor]

Slartybart,

I tested your new process on a fresh Windows 7 install to make sure that the test was equal to any others new setup.

It worked just flawless!

The entire process to set up WinMail really only takes a few minutes.

I actually made 4 screenshots and wanted to post it here just in case it could be a help for others, to see it in action.

Here's the 4 images in this one large Screenshot; you'll need to open it full in a new window to see original size.

Screenshot

 

[Slartybart]

endeavor,

Yep, it was easier and safer for me to test using the variables, plus it's the right thing to do.

Slarty the entry "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Mail\.... you've put in your .bat .....takes care of what we wanted back when EX-Brit brought up the issue in reply to me.....

Most users coming here will not have pimped their computers, so the instructions had to be vanilla. It's more straightforward anyway - you have custom settings or you don't.... works either way.

..... but after testing on a fresh install or non-modified 7 setup like grits has with User Control On and all the other annoying supposed security things on, I've found you can Not just double click on the bat and have it work, nor can you just right click on the bat and run as Administrator it won't work either;.....
..... real "Administrator" cmd prompt First and then proceed then there will be success in all setups, and I see you have done that already in your tut, nice job.

You put a lot of effort into making the re-write better. I incorporated some of your feedback into it, I excluded some because your suggestion didn't work on my machine (no tweaks), other things are considered a contingency.

So far everyone who has tried it had no problems..... but that's only a few. I'll be curious to see how the tutorial works for someone who upgraded from Vista or is still on Win7 w/o SP1.

Peace!

 

[endeavor]

I've said this before and I'd like to say it again...

For myself, and I'm sure many others, I will use WinMail till the year 2020+ or whenever I switch to a new OS...

I love using WinMail ! ...and I love using the Newsgroup aspect of it too, aamof, here's a Screenshot of my WM gui shown after it's fully setup, and opened to a random Newsgroup post. Or here's a Screenshot of just the local folders toolbar Outbox gui.

The fact that I don't need to install yet another separate email client on 7, but just activate one that's already there, appeals to me, not to mention the fact that I've used Outlook Express since it was developed back in what.. 1996? ...I'm just used to it, heck I still have the same wife too <g>

 

[grits]

I had earlier PM'd endeavor about losing my WM after my post #1232 & he suggested I post instead of PM but it was a quick fix after I deleted the desktop ini that I still had from my earlier try of either the EKMantis batch or the original page 1 tutorial. At least for now I have it, if I lose it again & IF I can remember my steps, I will post here.

In the meantime though, I'm not going to use it because in my excitement of finally getting it activated I lost my head & set up the wrong email account (I have 2 with similar addresses) so now have to search help somewhere to see if I can have 2 different addy's in one WM account or install some other email client for 2nd one. I'm also having an issue with IE9 being sooo slow & want to TRY to resolve it before I accumulate any more emails into WM.

 

[endeavor]

I had earlier PM'd endeavor about losing my WM after my post #1232 & he suggested I post instead of PM but it was a quick fix after I deleted the desktop ini that I still had from my earlier try of either the EKMantis batch or the original page 1 tutorial. At least for now I have it, if I lose it again & IF I can remember my steps, I will post here..

Originally Posted by grits
Thanks but I should have posted back shortly after my last one 'cuz leave it to me, I lost WM. Don't have the foggiest idea what I did to cause that but am really disgusted with myself that I didn't go into options to 'leave mail on server after download' 'cuz now I've lost 88 emails that I'd left on server 'til I got WM.
Do you want me to post this on forum or keep it in PM's?

Yes I had asked you to post on the forum so that others could learn from any resolves, of which they would not see if if it was only PM.

Your PM just said "I lost WM" ...now you understand that in itself is not enough detail really to determine anything, we always need more thorough details surrounding what happened.
About that setting to leave mail on the server, well MS default is set to not leave them on server which I personally prefer it that way, but yes in some cases there may be reasons you'd want to change it, do what's best for you. Perhaps going forward until you get your email situation setup the way you want just change that setting for what's best for you.

Now about why you lost WinMail? in the PM I had suggested you didn't lose anything and perhaps like happened before to you your desktop shortcut was removed, either by a stock 7 setup has that silly program that cleans up your desktop shortcuts, etc, for me I always turn those (to me) annoying features off; actually I turn most of the UAC and other supposed security settings settings off, even 'Automatic' Windows Update, but ymmv.
In that PM I suggested to you that you don't just lose WM, and in case it was just the shortcut deleted you could just go to:
C:\Program Files\Windows Mail
..and right click on 'WinMail' in that list of files and Send to: Shortcut to Desktop.
So is that what you did to get WinMail back?

I never mentioned anything about deleting a desktop.ini file, I'm not sure where you got that from?
However those will only appear if you have your settings set to show Hidden System Files, and in your case I don't see why you need to have that set that way. Just go to this post http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/394-hidden-files-folders-show-hide.html and put that setting back to where it was, no problem.

I'm also having an issue with IE9 being sooo slow & want to TRY to resolve it before I accumulate any more emails into WM.

Questions about IE9 are better asked in one of the other forums at http://www.sevenforums.com/ ...Most likely at the Browsers & Mail forum there, but depending on the subject there is a forum for everything there, and when you post in the right forum you increase your chances of getting more/best help for that specific problem. This thread we're posting in now is the Tutorial section called "How to Reinstate Windows Mail in Windows 7" and so we want to keep it to just that. Post your non-reinstate WinMail questions in the proper forum for the best help.

fwiw though, I like IE9, but do agree IE8 may have been just a 'little' bit snappier even though IE9 was touted as being faster was something I never noticed, but I do like some of it's other features. If you're saying IE9 is crawling slow and you have a fast isp connection, then yes it should be pretty fast, if it's not go to the above forum and post about it.

In the meantime though, I'm not going to use it because in my excitement of finally getting it activated I lost my head & set up the wrong email account (I have 2 with similar addresses) so now have to search help somewhere to see if I can have 2 different addy's in one WM account or install some other email client for 2nd one.

Since it's a Mail forum at that link above for Browsers & Mail I gave you, you could ask about how to delete your extra email account you want to do there. But grits since you're here at the moment... grits it's very easy to do, it will be something like:
...open up WinMail, go to the top tab of Tools> Accounts> ...and in here simply highlight the account you don't want anymore, and click the delete button, but Be Sure you delete the right one!!! Don't delete the one you have all your 88 emails in that you mentioned above, so Be Careful! which one you delete!

all the best

 

[Slartybart]

Grits,

I'm not sure what you wrote in your PM to endeavor, but I'll try to address some things I do see. I think you can the desktop.ini because the original tut directed you to change your folder view options, however.. you missed the final instruction "Restore normal..." or it wasn't exactly clear what to do. Normally desktop.ini files are hidden.

To change folder view back to normal:
Control Panel ==> Folder Options == > View Tab
==> Advanced Settings menu
Click the Radio Button labeled "Don't show hidden..."
Mark the Checkbox labeled "Hide protected..."
Click OK until you exit the Folder options dialog.

Note: the new tut does not change folder view options since the build shortcut step uses a different approach.

... but it was a quick fix after I deleted the desktop ini that I still had from my earlier try of either the EKMantis batch or the original page 1 tutorial......

Every eMail client lets you set up multiple addresses. You might have to set up two accounts, even if they point to the same mail server, each account retrieves messages from the server for a login address. Your service provider should have all of the information you need on how to configure eMail clients.

... set up the wrong email account (I have 2 with similar addresses) so now have to search help somewhere to see if I can have 2 different addy's in one WM account or install some other email client for 2nd one.

   Tip

Lost WM grits?

Probably not. For some reason it seems as though your WinMail shortcuts disappear. You have an earlier post saying pretty much the same thing "....can't find ANY shortcuts for WinMail"

I'm not going to try and figure out all of the things you've done to get to this point, but I'll offer an easy fix (I think). Bring up the the local tutorial and simply follow the step -Create a shortcut. That's it. I don't think you have to restart - you're just making a shortcut. all of your settings and eMails should still be in WinMail.

This is not going to solve WHY your shortcut disappears, just get you back up and running.

Peace!

 

[grits]

Sorry folks for leaving you 'up in the air'. I wanted to be able to post something that made sense but will try to hit the high spots.

No, I didn't really lose WM.
I don't however know what I did to lose the desktop shortcut & most other WM listings throughout my PC. It was simple to get it back like endeavor says above, C:\Program Files, right click & Send Shortcut to desktop. It had nothing to do with the 'ini', that was just my own mis-understanding of what he meant. My own mis-understanding of the 'Hidden Files' mixup was due to my own mistake of confusing myself between my earlier tries with the Original Tutorial of page one, then the batch file by EKMntis, then the current method.

It boils down to this: Slartybart & endeavor have done a fantastic job of putting this together! It really was simple. Any problems I had were self caused.

If you really want WM activated in Windows 7 don't hesitate for another minute, download Slarty's zip from a page or two back, follow the instructions & you're set.

 

[Slartybart]

grits,

Good point on your attempts to Reinstate WinMail. If someone wants to get WinMail back, there are two paths to take.

1. Follow the original tutorial (EKMantis's batch files make it easier-but there's not a whole lot of documentation for that) and find the post with a solution to issues that might crop up. Or,
2. use the new tutorial
   - but don't take both paths.

Don't be too hard on yourself, you had already started the original tutorial before I even joined, so you didn't have the option. People make mistakes (read a few real early posts "If I only followed the instructions...." or "I see what I missed...").

The point is, you tried and failed, you tried again and succeeded.

Peace!

 

[RA5C]

Thank you very much.

 

[grits]

The SFC/SCANNOW issue from way back is now moot isn't it? If I were to run SFC it wouldn't affect my Windows Mail?

oops, forgot this . . . when I try to send a link from a web page 'To email recipient' , it opens my Eudora instead of WM & WM isn't listed in 'Program Defaults'.

 

[endeavor]

The SFC/SCANNOW issue from way back is now moot isn't it? If I were to run SFC it wouldn't affect my Windows Mail? .

Yes that's correct, and our own Greg S (nice work Greg) took care of that SFC with WM problem back in this Post. As well I have tested it to prove it out and after running SFC no changes were made to my WM operation; but the fix was specifically to stop the msoe.dll from being reverted and that does work and has been proven, and that fix is already included within the WinMailEdit.reg

oops, forgot this . . . when I try to send a link from a web page 'To email recipient' , it opens my Eudora instead of WM & WM isn't listed in 'Program Defaults'.

I probably could give you a reg key to get that back, mine works just fine however I do not have any other email applications installed except for WM, but remember there are a Number of minor 'brokens' or glitches that do not work on WM anymore doing it on 7, one being if you click the work 'offline' button WM will crash, and a few other minor things all of which I don't even use anyway. Point is, some things on this WM on 7 are broken and obviously won't be fixed ever.
If you want to send someone a web link in an email just copy/paste it in, etc...