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and many of the link pointers within have become mislinked over time, many of the files or information within them is outdated, incomplete, or superseded with more accurate information - and so be careful.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

okeedokee, Thanks

 

[endeavor]

WinMail on Windows 8

Setting up WM on Windows 8 is also possible, I have now worked out the details - and yes it does work.

I posted over in the EightForums how to do it: check it out







..

 

[Sammy888]

I'm fairly certain that "not junk mail" is a per item function. You either need to add the sender to your contacts, safe sender's list, or, as you said, build a rule.

I know safe sender's list is present after you reinstate WinMail. You can see the list in Junk Mail options, l, but I'm not sure if it is functional.

On the main WM GUI (not an email GUI) you go to the top tab of Tools> Junk E-mail Options> and in here you have many settings you can make - and so check all the many different settings within all tabs in there to see if anything is your problem. I personally have mine checkmarked on the first first tab and first selection which is to Turn it Off, but your needs may vary.

One of a number of caveats using WM on 7 is that you are not 'automatically' able to update the junk filter definitions anyway and so they are old as it is, nevertheless the original ones will still follow the mindset of its time period if you have it turned on. I personally just leave it on Off.

Unfortunately, the settings are on (active) and my senders are in the safe list, yet their mail is still being sent to the junk mail folder.

 

[endeavor]

Unfortunately, the settings are on (active) and my senders are in the safe list, yet their mail is still being sent to the junk mail folder.

I recommend turning the Junk E-Mail settings Off.
I've never had an email go into anything but the inbox yet.
Go To:
Tools> Junk E-mail Options> Options> check circle "No Automatic Filtering;" also "uncheck both boxes in the Phishing tab too;" for the heck of it make sure "no boxes checked within the International tab within its two 'Blocked' lists tabs;" also "Blocked Senders tab being empty"... now see if those same emails are delivered into the inbox... ...they should, if not perhaps remove them for the other "Safe Senders" tab to see if that somehow even though backwards thinking, helps. Have I missed any settings to be sure its Off?

If you insist on using the Junk-Email with WM in 7, then experiment and try:
Tools> Junk E-mail Options> Options> ..and here checkmark Safe List Only, and put those particular people you're having trouble with in the Safe Senders tab and see what happens.

Has there been any other users that have had the Junk E-Mail being "Fully Functional" "with WM on 7" ?
(except for the updating of its filter definitions which we know of course that's history)

 

[Slartybart]

@Sammy888: I see that endeavor posted "turn off junk mail....." which should do the trick (stop sending mail to the junk folder). But it leaves you without that level of 'protection'.

I know that WLM is 'better' at junk mail in that it allows you to say "I trust this sender", but as I said before, I don't know if that carries forward to WinMail - even though the safe sender hooks are there.

..... I know safe sender's list is present after you reinstate WinMail. You can see the list in Junk Mail options, l, but I'm not sure if it is functional.

Unfortunately, the settings are on (active) and my senders are in the safe list, yet their mail is still being sent to the junk mail folder.

Are the senders in your address book?
If I recall correctly, people in your address book (contacts) are more trusted than those that are not. Even with a sendeer in my address book, I would still get eMail moved to the Junk folder if the Phishing filter saw something questionable - usually mail sent to a mailing list, or some other criteria defined in the filter. Having friends, family, and known senders (your bank, your newsletters, etc) in your address book helps limit the Junk filtering, it doesn't eliminate it.

The choice is yours, try adding the sender to your address book (Contacts) and see if that helps, or as endeavor suggests just turn off junk mail filtering. MS isn't offering updates to WinMail junk filtering any longer, so you're not going to get any improvement over what you have now in that regards.

Experiment with different settings until you're satisfied, you mentioned rules in a previous post, OR you move to another client.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Mark, how come I have to do a Google search on the Internet to find this? It doesn't appear to be linked in the forum search nor appear in the list of Tutorials 'W'. 'M' or 'H' for that matter.
Or I am going blind perhaps...LOL.

 

[Slartybart]

@Ex_Brit: Methinks you're going blind - lol

Seven Forums Search Windows Mail (1st result when I posted this)
Tutorial Index W (4th from the top when I posted this)

Of course something might have been fixed behind the scenes between your post and mine.

 

[Ex_Brit]

..Going blind...?? Been going there for years...LOL I could have sworn it failed to appear with under W or M or even in the Tute Index when I looked...but then these tired eyes are not what they used to be.

Thanks

I was referencing it in order to get WM to work in Windows 8 actually as I positively refuse to use their Mail App preferring the desktop view for all things....and it does work with an extra file added plus the fix posted elsewhere in these forums for making WM the default client.

You can probably tell from that I'm a diehard fan of Windows 8....not.

 

[Slartybart]

@Ex-Brit: They don't sell 5+ dollar store reading glasses, that's why you'll see (or maybe not) many typos in my posts - lol

Get in touch with endeavor, He's already done most of the work for WinMail on Win 8, but is reluctant to take ownership of a tutorial. I think he has it done, just needs someone to fine tune and "own". He helped me test the "unofficial tutorial" that I wrote.

edit: oops this post by endeavor was only a few posts back

 

[vmcinab]

How to reinstate Windows Mail in Windows 7

Thank you so much for posting these instructions. I have been using WLM (which I despise) since I upgraded to Win7 from Vista, and have really missed Windows Mail.
I have followed all instructions in your article, and Windows Mail is up and running. The only problems are that accessing WinMail is not available on the Context Menu, and when I try to access WinMail from the IE9 Toolbar, I get the following message: "Default mail client is not properly installed".

This is what I have done so far:
- associated the .eml extension with Windows Mail (are there other files that need to be associated?)
- set and reset "Set Program Access and Computer Defaults" in both Custom and Microsoft sections a dozen times, but it won't hold. Windows Mail is still there, but the radio button won't stay checked. Also, WLM still appears on the Default Programs list, but not Windows Mail. I think this might be a Registry problem, but I can't find any instructions on the internet on how to fix it.

Can you help?

 

[Ex_Brit]

I had to do a lot of reading - I followed this Tute to the letter and the other tute, also in the Windows 7 forum on how to set Windows Mail to be the default mail handler.

If I had the time I'd spell it out but I'm afraid I don't. If you do your research and a lot of reading I hate to say you should get it working OK.

 

[endeavor]

Thank you so much for posting these instructions. I have been using WLM (which I despise) since I upgraded to Win7 from Vista, and have really missed Windows Mail.
I have followed all instructions in your article, and Windows Mail is up and running. The only problems are that accessing WinMail is not available on the Context Menu,

By the context menu, do you mean for instance when you right click on a file, lets say an .mp3 or .pdf file as an example, and right click on it and select Send To: ..and that will open up WinMail to a New Message, as well it will show/attach the file you right clicked on as an attachment. That process works fine on mine right from the start and still to this day, although I have never had WLM or any other email client installed on this particular box either, therefore it must of been WLM that will mess with the default Send To options, although if you set WM as the Default Mail Client, it should set those functions back in action.

and when I try to access WinMail from the IE9 Toolbar, I get the following message: "Default mail client is not properly installed".

IE9 Toolbar, hmmm, I have IE9 installed and at first I don't see that option for WinMail on it but I have set extra 'stuff' to off. Let me play with it to see if I can find what you mean here... ...okay I maybe found it, my option was unchecked, but if I right click on the top of the browser underneath the address bar and put a checkmark along side the 'Command Bar' option (I had it unchecked for a cleaner look and to give me more, another inch, of space for webpages to render instead of another toolbar I don't need) ...anyway with the Command Bar checkmarked yes I do see an icon for 'Read Mail' now if that's the one you are talking about? ...and if I click it, yes it will/does open the WinMail program. I assume you are saying yours does not?... Here again though I have never had WLM or any other mail client installed on this particular setup, but more than likely it does 'mess with' the original default operation of WM like it appears that your WLM has. I can vouch for a fresh install of Windows 7 without any other email clients installed, this function works fine.

This is what I have done so far:
- associated the .eml extension with Windows Mail (are there other files that need to be associated?)

The .eml extension was already associated when you ran the installation procedure, and you can see it in the WinMailEdit.reg as:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Windows Mail\Capabilities\FileAssociations]
".eml"="Microsoft Internet Mail Message"

- set and reset "Set Program Access and Computer Defaults" in both Custom and Microsoft sections a dozen times, but it won't hold. Windows Mail is still there, but the radio button won't stay checked. Also, WLM still appears on the Default Programs list, but not Windows Mail. I think this might be a Registry problem, but I can't find any instructions on the internet on how to fix it.
Can you help?

This fix to get the Default WinMail box to 'show' there was also already added into the WinMailEdit.reg, and you can see it as:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Windows Mail\Capabilities]
"Hidden"=dword:00000000

However I think what you are saying you have it listed and you can set it Default, but it just won't stay as Default?
...again I don't have WLM installed but I'll ask you if there is an option on WLM to always check to make sure it's the default mail client or similar, and you can turn that off so that it will let WM take over. Actually I think in WLM it's listed something like 'enable access' ...and that needs to be checkmarked, or you will have to apply the above reg again and re-checkmark the WM Default so that WM can dominate it.

In many of these cases you see since MS will never update WM to fix any newer conflicts with other email programs for Windows 7, so no doubt there will be plenty of conflicts going forward that will not be fixed; even though it's possible to do so with the right knowledge yes, but WinMail is more and more going to be problematic in those multiple install situations - but not so much in an always 'WinMail only' installed environment.

If it was really x10 important enough, at last resort I could take the time to install whatever version you have of WLM on the test bench install of a stock 7 WM install, fully tracking the changes it makes to the WM installation, compiling the solution to put back what WLM takes from WM; moreso if you are considering uninstalling WLM.

However it would be an endless and thankless task going forward to keep up with new program installs and their constantly changing environment against/affecting WM.


.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Setting the default is easy with two fixes in two different posts in THIS thread. You'll have to read the entire thread as I don't have the time to do it myself right now, sorry. Also make sure you read right to the end as one of those fixes is changed, twice.

Look for posts by xsmile in that thread. They have the fixes already zipped, but as I said there are two fixes and he had to change one several times.

 

[endeavor]

Setting the default is easy with two fixes in two different posts in THIS thread. You'll have to read the entire thread as I don't have the time to do it myself right now, sorry. Also make sure you read right to the end as one of those fixes is changed, twice.

Hello Ex_Brit !

fyi though, previously I had gone over that '2009' thread and deciphered that all registry entries that were introduced by all of you back then, right afterwards were incorporated into the reg file on Page 1 of this forum and are still there, however in that 2009 thread it was not yet discovered how to make the Default button 'visible' when it was not. However within the last 6 months that resolve was found here, but problem is it's Not in the current reg file on page 1 - but yes the good news is it's in the current WinMailEdit.reg found here.

Look for posts by xsmile in that thread. They have the fixes already zipped, but as I said there are two fixes and he had to change one several times.

Again though All of those registry entries given in that thread discovery did get incorporated into the Page 1 reg, unfortunately this Important entry is Not there:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Windows Mail\Capabilities]
"Hidden"=dword:00000000

...but again it is included in the latest automation now and hopefully most people will use that instead.

I wish Mark could be put together with Slartybart, or whomever, whatever, so that they can maybe put the latest all inclusive automation on page 1 where maybe now it should be? ...that would be great.

..And by the way Ex-Brit - Thank You for all the work you did in years past on the WinMail project, I saw every single post that You and the others had made about it then and have always appreciated the work and Excitement everyone has put into this project, nice job everyone!

.

 

[vmcinab]

Thanks everybody -- with the help of you fine folks and a lot of internet research, I finally got everything working perfectly last night (or this morning) around 2:30 a.m. -- even the SendTo problem. Sooooo nice to have WinMail back again -- I am very happy!!

 

[Ex_Brit]

Setting the default is easy with two fixes in two different posts in THIS thread. You'll have to read the entire thread as I don't have the time to do it myself right now, sorry. Also make sure you read right to the end as one of those fixes is changed, twice.

Hello Ex_Brit !

fyi though, previously I had gone over that '2009' thread and deciphered that all registry entries that were introduced by all of you back then, right afterwards were incorporated into the reg file on Page 1 of this forum and are still there, however in that 2009 thread it was not yet discovered how to make the Default button 'visible' when it was not. However within the last 6 months that resolve was found here, but problem is it's Not in the current reg file on page 1 - but yes the good news is it's in the current WinMailEdit.reg found here.

Look for posts by xsmile in that thread. They have the fixes already zipped, but as I said there are two fixes and he had to change one several times.

Again though All of those registry entries given in that thread discovery did get incorporated into the Page 1 reg, unfortunately this Important entry is Not there:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Windows Mail\Capabilities]
"Hidden"=dword:00000000

...but again it is included in the latest automation now and hopefully most people will use that instead.

I wish Mark could be put together with Slartybart, or whomever, whatever, so that they can maybe put the latest all inclusive automation on page 1 where maybe now it should be? ...that would be great.

..And by the way Ex-Brit - Thank You for all the work you did in years past on the WinMail project, I saw every single post that You and the others had made about it then and have always appreciated the work and Excitement everyone has put into this project, nice job everyone!

All I know is that I had to revisit the subject to enable Vista Windows Mail in Windows 8 and the fix on page 1 of this tute didn't do the entire job, I still needed the 2 reg files in that thread.
Yes I wish that someone would update the tute's accordingly and actually show one in the Win 8 forums. I was approached to do it, but I don't want to take ownership of a thing like that due to the endless questions that ensue, I just don't have the time to deal with that fallout, as I explained to someone recently who PM'd me and asked if I would. I think they didn't like to hear my answer but that's the way it is.
I am an admin level Moderator over at McAfee forums and as you can imagine, they keep me occupied 99.999% of the time and although I'm retired and should have loads of time, my health isn't good so I have to avoid stress if at all possible, so one forum's problems are more than enough for me I'm afraid.

Thanks for the kind words. By the way your 1st link above doesn't work.

Regards.

 

[endeavor]

All I know is that I had to revisit the subject to enable Vista Windows Mail in Windows 8 and the fix on page 1 of this tute didn't do the entire job, I still needed the 2 reg files in that thread.
Yes I wish that someone would update the tute's accordingly and actually show one in the Win 8 forums. I was approached to do it, but I don't want to take ownership of a thing like that due to the endless questions that ensue, I just don't have the time to deal with that fallout, as I explained to someone recently who PM'd me and asked if I would. I think they didn't like to hear my answer but that's the way it is.
I am an admin level Moderator over at McAfee forums and as you can imagine, they keep me occupied 99.999% of the time and although I'm retired and should have loads of time, my health isn't good so I have to avoid stress if at all possible, so one forum's problems are more than enough for me I'm afraid.

Thanks for the kind words. By the way your 1st link above doesn't work.

Regards.

My point was that every single relevant registry entry in that entire threads reg attachments is Already included in the old WinMailEdit.reg on page 1, I checked every single entry, but again the new WinMailEdit.reg has the other very important one as well. iow, if you merged the page 1 reg, it has all the same entries that old thread has too so there is no difference; compare and see.

~~

Yes Slartybart pm'd and cc'd both you and I about it; I thought you knew that.
I agree with your sentiments about it, I don't have the time to own it either with too much on my plate as it is, but I Do Care.

As you know I also have WinMail installed on 8 just fine too (I'm not booted to it at the moment) I used a combo of automation (even though it did Not need all of it as it was, but did no harm either) and the files I posted about at the 8 forums. I much prefer to use WM on 7 though without a doubt. I'm sure though you need to use/have access to 8 because of your work at McAfee.

~~

All the links I posted in My post work Fine here so I'm not sure why any one of them don't work for you. It's interesting though that within your message of my quoted post, your posts quote Breaks my links though, but my post is fine.
I'm sure Brink would know what the issue is why your quote of my post breaks them; and/or if it's on my end.

Are you using the IE on 8?
I used IE9 on 7 to post it, and I see this forum intercepts the links as you can see the 'mhtml' stuff by hovering the link targets, you can see what it does; but it does get there on IE9, for me anyway. If I'm not doing something right for All Browsers to see any of my links in my posts then I'd like to know about it, and the reasons why, please.

edit:
hmmm, I going to go back right now and edit my post to remove the mhtml additions..., I'm not sure why that happens, I think something to do with logged in/offline link creating.

Best of health to you,

.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Sorry I didn't keep the messages regarding the request for me to take ownership of the issue so couldn't remember who was involved.

If those reg's are already included then I wonder why, for me at least, the one 'cure' didn't work for the default mail client part of the equation? Maybe they have to be applied after making WM work? Sorry, that's where things get too technical for me I'm afraid.

Re: the links, I think it's just a board glitch perhaps?

 

[endeavor]

If those reg's are already included then I wonder why, for me at least, the one 'cure' didn't work for the default mail client part of the equation? Maybe they have to be applied after making WM work?

I don't know for yours, but on my 8 with WM, on first install with no extra registry merges other than the one from post 1230 merged just one time! ..and even looking again right now at WM's Tools> Options> is showing that it's the default Mail & News handler, and so therefore of course each of the two Make Default buttons are greyed out since it's in effect.

As with 7, on 8 I have no other email clients other than WM installed.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Sorry, I understood perhaps wrongly from what has just been said here that the xsmile reg fixes from my old default mail client thread (note: I used 2 not 1) were supposed to be part of the single fix in post #1. Sorry now I'm lost.

I don't see the point of a tutorial if one has to read thousands of posts...why hasn't #1230 been incorporated into post #1? Or perhaps a large font proviso included in post #1 to read also post #1230?

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you as I'm reading things at extreme speed. If so I apologize.