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and many of the link pointers within have become mislinked over time, many of the files or information within them is outdated, incomplete, or superseded with more accurate information - and so be careful.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

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• 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

 

[Donz]

KEW,

In Internet Explorer.
Above your address window, right click and be sure Menu Bar, Favorites, Command and Status Bar are checked.
Click Tools, Internet Options, Progams tab, Internet programs Set Programs, Set Your Default Programs.

Good Luck

Don

 

[endeavor]

OK now I have noticed a strange new problem. On the old HD and using Windows 7 and the old instructions to set up Windows Mail I had the choice of having Windows Mail as the default Mail client. Now that I have used Win 7.1 on the new drive but again the old instructions that use Take Ownership etc. I can no longer find any place in windows or my working Windows Mail to assign it as default mail client.

Is this because of some change in the Windows SP1? Can I get this option back if I try again to use the new instructions (that I had trouble with)? Maybe that is why there are new instructions. I do not want my Outlook which I only use for work to be my default email.

Also just a tip I learned yesterday while doing some maintenance on my new Windows and HD installation. Don’t use the System File Checker tool which is used to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files Windows 7. It made my Windows Mail stop working so I did a system restore to get it back.

kewl1,

If you are going to install SP1 you should do it Before you activate WM, otherwise you will need to run the tutorial again so that it can set everything straight again.

Running the tutorial on page 1 will fix All of your problems mentioned.

If you just wanted to set the Default Programs listing separately then if you look a few posts back to Post 1292 at its screenshot shows you what to do to set WM as the default email client.

Also Yes! you can use the SFC tool with WM just fine going forward without it breaking WM again ...and this is why you should just run the tutorial on Page 1 again because it will reinstate the necessary registry keys needed to prevent SFC from changing out the msoe..dll which will will break WM as you've just found out, and it will also reinstate the correct msoe...dll so that WM will work correctly.

Again, run the tutorial on Page 1 to fix it.

 

[Slartybart]

@kewl1: Yes, that is why there are new instructions.

Issues in version 1 and version 2 of the tut were resolved. You are experiencing those same problems because you decided to run outdated instructions and you didn't find the posts that contained the fixes for the old version. I think you hit the two biggies (SP1 and default pgm) but there are others lurking (and fixed somewhere in the first 1229 posts)

All of the fixes are incorporated into the current tut (version 3) - so you don't have to hunt for them. The current tut doesn't affect user data so you can run it at any time. There are also custom reg files included to solve both the SFC issue you experienced and to turn off the splash screen.

I will try to help you if other questions/issues arise and if they relate to the current tut. Try to be specific.... "I tried to run the batch file, but it didn't work" won't help me help you.

 

[Slartybart]

@endeavor: The tut can be executed at any given point, before or after service packs. It is redundant and confusing to create reg files for every fix - the fixes are already included - just run the tutorial.

I suppose our approaches are different. If anyone is going to reinstall SP1, they should run the WinMail tut again too. Why take a piece meal approach for WinMail - you didn't with SP1 (incorporates all updates since RTM).

So, to keep it simple - run the tut is my answer, just as I would tell people to install SP1 instead of the 100s of individual updates.

As you can attest - the tut works, it's accurate, it's complete and it's safe. I think that if people try to pick and choose what to apply, then the tut becomes as confusing as the previous version.

Please recommend people run the tut. When a new issue does arise or people need operational help (i.e. editing in a command prompt) those are things I will address.

 

[billg226]

Windows Mail in Windows 8

Will Windows Mail work in Windows 8 or are we forced to Windows Live Mail? Have not seen if there is Windows Mail in Win 8 like it is in Win 7.
Thanks,
Bill

 

[Brink]

Hello Bill,

Windows Mail is no longer being supported by Microsoft. It's pretty much dead now.

You don't have to use Windows Live Mail. You can use any email client program you like. Windows 8 does include a "Mail" Windows Store app by default.

Hope this helps some,
Shawn

 

[Ex_Brit]

This tute worked for me as did the Windows Calendar one in Windows 8 Pro x64.

 

[billg226]

Hello Bill,

Windows Mail is no longer being supported by Microsoft. It's pretty much dead now.

You don't have to use Windows Live Mail. You can use any email client program you like. Windows 8 does include a "Mail" Windows Store app by default.

Hope this helps some,
Shawn

Thanks Shawn, Sure wish MS had left us with OE or WM. Will Outlook 2010 work as an Email Client in Win 8?
Thanks,
Bill

 

[Slartybart]

A few members have tried WinMail on Win8. I think it can be done, but requires extra effort than this tutorial alone provides.

Windows Essentials Mail 2012 (re-branded Windows Live Mail) is a good client. There are some things I don't like, but it does the job. There are some added benefits as well, so try WEM (WLM) before dismissing it. Sure it takes some adjustment, but that's why human beings are the dominate species on the planet - they adapt. =:>

As Brink says, you can use what ever client that best suits your needs.

also Bill
.

Will Windows Mail work in Windows 8 or are we forced to Windows Live Mail? Have not seen if there is Windows Mail in Win 8 like it is in Win 7.
Thanks,
Bill

 

[billg226]

Thanks Slartybart, I'll take a look-see of Windows Essentials Mail 2012.......Bill

 

[Brink]

Hello Bill,

Windows Mail is no longer being supported by Microsoft. It's pretty much dead now.

You don't have to use Windows Live Mail. You can use any email client program you like. Windows 8 does include a "Mail" Windows Store app by default.

Hope this helps some,
Shawn

Thanks Shawn, Sure wish MS had left us with OE or WM. Will Outlook 2010 work as an Email Client in Win 8?
Thanks,
Bill

Yes, I'm currently using Outlook 2010 on W8.

 

[2dawson]

A few members have tried WinMail on Win8. I think it can be done, but requires extra effort than this tutorial alone provides.

Windows Essentials Mail 2012 (re-branded Windows Live Mail) is a good client. There are some things I don't like, but it does the job. There are some added benefits as well, so try WEM (WLM) before dismissing it. Sure it takes some adjustment, but that's why human beings are the dominate species on the planet - they adapt. =:>

As Brink says, you can use what ever client that best suits your needs.

I haven't seen any added benefits but all I want is a simple email client like Outlook Express.

If I attach a photo I want the recipient to get a photo, not a link to some web page.

 

[billg226]

Hello Bill,

Windows Mail is no longer being supported by Microsoft. It's pretty much dead now.

You don't have to use Windows Live Mail. You can use any email client program you like. Windows 8 does include a "Mail" Windows Store app by default.

Hope this helps some,
Shawn

Thanks Shawn, Sure wish MS had left us with OE or WM. Will Outlook 2010 work as an Email Client in Win 8?
Thanks,
Bill

Yes, I'm currently using Outlook 2010 on W8.

Can you suggest a Link or site that explains migrating from Win Mail to Outlook 2010?

 

[Slartybart]

I send images all the time, but I don't use the cloud services, just plain old eMail. It's all how you configure and use an app.

I haven't seen any added benefits but all I want is a simple email client like Outlook Express.

If I attach a photo I want the recipient to get a photo, not a link to some web page.

 

[roncerr]

...If I attach a photo I want the recipient to get a photo, not a link to some web page.

WLM 2009 definitely does this and makes it easy as long as you look for the "attach" or "insert" options and avoid "Photo Email". But before giving up on the later versions (2011 or 2012) look for those attach or insert options and avoid "Photo Email". They may be hidden in there somewhere.

 

[Slartybart]

I'm curious why OL 2010 doesn't meet your needs. I'd rather have OL than WEM/WLM, but I'm frugal.

to answer your question though, all you'd have to do is set up WEM/WLM, configure it to point at your POP/IMAP server and complete the login information (user name and password).

there really isn't too much difference in setting up eMail clients - all require the same information
mail server
your login & pw
and
specific port info (usualy standard too, but some are unique)
465, 995
SSL or non-SSL
25 110

Not rocket science, but you have to use the numbers and names provided by your service provider to get it to work. If you have a working OL, you can match the info in there to the new client.

One trick: I don't let WEM/WLM automatically configure the server for me.
On the first screen when setting up the account - tick the manually configure checkbox.

If you want to test it for a while, make sure your tick "Leave msgs on the server" on the advanced tab. That way you can try another client or use OL 2010 and all the msgs will still be on the server. At some point you can make the decision to leave msgs on the server or stop leaving msgs on the server.

If you leave the msgs on the server, you can't go wrong.

eMail is one of those opinion apps "I don't like......" - "I prefer......"
They all do the same thing - get and store your mail.

Can you suggest a Link or site that explains migrating from Win Mail to Outlook 2010?

The simple answer - you don't have to migrate, you can use both. If you only want one, then you'll have to export eMail and contacts from OL and import same into WEM/WLM.

try WEM/WLM and if you run into difficulties - ask for help.

 

[Renamo3]

Migration WM to OL10

Can you suggest a Link or site that explains migrating from Win Mail to Outlook 2010?[/QUOTE]

That will probably be as painfull as migrating from OE6.0 to any ver. of Outlook
MS has not made migration easy especialy when you are trying to migrate address books too. Generaly it is a path with lots of potholes. You might find some help at About.com, they have a lot of usefull info relating to OE and Outlook and the migration from one mail client to another. Good luck Billg266 and please post back if you find usefull info.

 

[roncerr]

...Can you suggest a Link or site that explains migrating from Win Mail to Outlook 2010?

Migrate from Outlook Express or Windows (Live) Mail to Outlook - HowTo-Outlook | HowTo-Outlook
Upgrading to Outlook 2010 - HowTo-Outlook | HowTo-Outlook

 

[phillipcc]

how does one get windows mail to work on windows 8 can someone kindly provide me with some help or details thanks any help would be greatly appreciated thanks

 

[Ex_Brit]

Use the Windows 7 tutorial. You might also was to use the Windows Calendar tute in 7 forums too as the two are connected.

Note neither of those are supported so could feasibly cause security issues.