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and many of the link pointers within have become mislinked over time, many of the files or information within them is outdated, incomplete, or superseded with more accurate information - and so be careful.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

 

[RKelly5327]

Endeavor, as you requested. I hope this is the right place... - I haven't been on here for a few days, been tied up with snow. I haven't received any emails lately from the District Office. I'm wondering if I'm still on the list. If I do I'll come back here and find out how to forward it to you. I was wondering about that because I know I can't click on it to open it.
Question; if I DO see one in Mailwasher and don't open it in W.M., would I be able to get it in Outlook, click on it to forward it to you? Would that work? I use the free version of Mail Washer that they offered for a short time. It's a great program and helps a lot in situations like this.
You are a helpful guy, Sir. Thanks- RK

 

[kewl1]

Hi Slartybart,

I assumed that if the disk says Windows 7.1 that it includes the SP1 ie it is Win 7 already updated with SPI included. Is this not correct?

 

[roncerr]

Hi Slartybart,

I assumed that if the disk says Windows 7.1 that it includes the SP1 ie it is Win 7 already updated with SPI included. Is this not correct?

While that's a reasonable assumption, I'd love to see a photo or screen shot of such a disk. It seems unlikely that Microsoft would use "7.1" and "7 SP1" interchangeably. Service Packs are free "updates" or "fixes" available from Windows Update, while a .1 "upgrade" comes from the Windows Store and may or may not have a price for the extra "features" that make it an upgrade rather than an update.

 

[Slartybart]

Hi Slartybart,

I assumed that if the disk says Windows 7.1 that it includes the SP1 ie it is Win 7 already updated with SPI included. Is this not correct?

I'm not sure... I've never heard it expressed that way. So I Googled Windows 7.1 and the results only showed Windows SDK 7.1 & Driver Kit 7.1. There are a few user sites that refer to Windows 7.1 and I suspect that is just a carry backwards from Windows 8 references.

Oh well, semantics! You learn something everyday! Windows Update would guarantee that you have SP1, as long as you run it and apply what it offers. You can always check Computer properties to be certain - it will tell you Windows 7 edition or Windows 7 edition Service Pack 1

What disk? Is it a retail, OEM, or burned ISO version of Windows 7?

 

[endeavor]

Hi RK,

The one email attachment you sent to me was not an original .eml file, and is unusable.
I'm not sure what you did with it but it was pre-converted into some sort of txt format, therefore unusable in this test. I can't use forwarded messages bodies either, and please do not 'open' and then forward it in Outlook either. I only want the original 'unedited' .eml file itself as it arrives in the WinMail inbox folder, and zip it, and then send me that attachment with any mail client you choose. I mention in detail how to get it in that Other thread - read about how to do it in the bottom half of that post 17, and then post 23.

Also I've been working on this issue (when possible) in my spare time after a busy work schedule. I've started a bench test fresh install Win7 SP1 64 bit setup, not just for this issue but that I'll also be able to use for general 64 bit software testing going forward. I have to install all my trouble shooting softwares onto its base before I can proceed onto updating it forward. Anyway I should have some news within a week or two, but hopefully sooner if time permits but that's been in short supply. The more crash.eml files I have the better just in case. Once I can present it by installing the problem, then I'll be able to easily extrapolate the difference. As it stands though a fresh install of Win7 SP1 64 bit 'as is' with no further updates (except for WinMail assimilation) does not exhibit the problem.

 

[RKelly5327]

Next one I get I'll send it that way, Endeavor. The first one I sent, as you saw, was a different format entirely. I didn't do anything with the one I sent as an attachment. I sandwiched it in between two others as attachments, then deleted the others before I sent the "offender". Then I forwarded it back to myself from Outlook to WM and it opened without crashing. Anyway, when I do see another one, I'll dig it out and try to get it to you as you say.

 

[endeavor]

I did some testing on this, but as I said in my previous post that after a fresh install of Windows 7 SP1 64 bit 'as is' with no further updates (except for WinMail assimilation) it does not exhibit the WinMail crash problem with those certain HTML emails.

And so for testing going from there over to Windows Updates yields over a 100+ new updates!
Instead of doing them all at once I was set to do them in smaller lots for easier trouble shooting techniques, but first did the larger ones, upgrading it's current Internet Explorer version up to one of the two offered which were IE10 or IE11. I needed to test IE10 anyway so I started with just that One check-marked to install (Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems) ...let WU do its thing for that, rebooted, and then opened each one of the crash .eml files sent in from other members, and they all opened just fine, and so no problem here.

Then back to WU and updated to IE11 with only that check-marked to install (Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems) ....let WU do its thing, rebooted, and then opened the crash .eml files ...Bingo! ...it crashed just like all the details as has been reported. Well that didn't take too long - so now we know who the installed culprit is, and this saved me a lot of time installing those other 100+ KB updates.
I see having just IE 11 check-marked at WU to install, but it also auto installs behind the scene 11 other KB updates along with it, and so afterwards I uninstalled each one of those to make sure they were not separate as the crash cause, but in the end they were not, WM still crashes.
I tried Many! other different things trying to isolate the problem further, too many to mention here, but with no success. I was really hoping it was just a single small update that was causing this problem as it would be easy to just not install it, or modify it.

The WinMail crash problem only exists in a Win7 64 bit and is obviously related to IE11's functioning; however again and again Win7 32 bit with all updates including IE11, WinMail is not affected and works fine with those problematic HTML emails.

For those that have 64 bit in the meantime that want to use WinMail, either stay with or go back to an IE version before IE11, or, if using IE11 set options to not view in the Preview Pane and don't open HTML emails that you know has problems, or if you want the preview pane then set options to open all emails in Plain Text, and if there are any HTML emails you want to see that you know are fine, then with the message open just go to the top tab of:
View> Message in HTML ...and it will render in HTML while you already have it open.

I will have this test bed setup and available for a long time, I can try Anything to isolate or get around the problem. At the moment I need to walk away from this for some fresh air.

 

[andjayik]

i do not even have ie installed on my computer and it still crashes some emails. Even in a fresh install.

 

[roncerr]

i do not even have ie installed on my computer and it still crashes some emails. Even in a fresh install.

Some components of IE are installed since it's part of the OS. The "IE Not Installed" issue raises several interesting questions. Do people who have not installed IE still see IE updates in Windows Update? Would they see and be able to upgrade to IE11 from IE10? If IE was disabled or not installed, how would one check the version used by the OS? Would the IE version of "Control Panel>>Internet Options" still be present and look the same.

Of course, none of this addresses andjayik's issue since he says he has the problem even with a fresh install of Windows 7 which comes with IE10. How was the "fresh install" done...did you start with a blank or formatted hard disk, known as a "clean install". Did you do the Windows Updates before or after installing a different browser? Which browser? Maybe the other browser has the same "improvements" as IE 11.

 

[andjayik]

my win 7 install disks have ie removed from them, i remove unwanted stuff using rt 7 lite. i use firefox only.

 

[Slartybart]

my win 7 install disks have ie removed from them, i remove unwanted stuff using rt 7 lite. i use firefox only.

IE and the OS have been closely tied together for, well forever. You might have removed the IE application from your install disks, something I would not recommend, but there are pieces intertwined so tightly that you'd have to surgically remove them. I believe that's what Ron was trying to point out.

I'm wondering now if your install might be part of the problem (by removing IE from the install process). Endeavor has discovered that everything works well in 32 bit Windows and even in 64 bit Windows until IE 11 is applied to the test system. This tells me that your system is unique.

Hopefully the interested parties can find a workaround that I can incorporate it into the tutorial. As this is an issue with a few msgs and a few users and is related to an outdated / unsupported eMail client that has been patched to make it work on Win 7, I won't be spending too much time on it.

Bill
.

 

[andjayik]

i even tried a win 7 full install with ie in it same thing. Only some emails crash majority work.

 

[Ex_Brit]

IE is installed on every OS from MSFT so I think you mean it's not active in your setup. As far as all this difficulty with Windows Mail and IE11 is concerned I'm sure there has to be an easy fix as I have no problems at all with mine and it's fully updated. The question is of course, what is causing it for some people and not for others.

 

[endeavor]

The 'supported' way to uninstall IE on your computer is to go to: Program & Features> Turn Windows Features On or Off, and uncheck the IE listed in the list, and reboot, but WinMail will still work irregardless since as you all already know IE is not really uninstalled, it's only disabled from our view or web access use. WinMail of course is tied into Internet Explorer, but even if you disable IE and can't use it, yes it is still there and WinMail with IE11 will still crash if you open 'one of those problematic HTML emails' whereas IE8, IE9 & IE10 will not crash. 'If IE is disabled though' you can still see what version you have 'present' by going to: Default Programs> Programs and Features> Turn Windows Features On or Off> ...it's usually the third entry down (alternately you can just search your iexplore.exe properties)

@ Ron to your post, yes if you disable IE via the Programs and Features tab, the Internet Options GUI is still there in Control Panel, and looking at it's slightly modified in that when you open it the General tab looks a bit different (tested). Concerning Windows Update in this disabled IE instance, and you go to Windows Update with it disabled yes you are Still being offered security updates to IE but Only to the current version you have installed/disabled at the moment, however when you re-enable it, then when you go to WU you now will additionally be offered any newer versions of IE available (tested). also btw official Win7 SP1 comes with IE8.

@ Ex-Brit - I see my 64 bit WM works with 99.9 % of all emails too, it's just those few that others have received from specific sources and sent me for testing, that if I open them in mine, will crash it. If they gave me permission I would send you the same .eml files too and you only need to doubleclick the .eml files to open, and pretty positive it would crash your WinMail.exe too; you just haven't received any problematic ones yet and it's not that widespread.
~~~~~~

Again I was hoping it was just a single small KB install replacing a file or two that was the culprit causing the HTML WinMail crash, but it's not. The 64 bit (even 32 bit) IE11 finished install is nearly 100 MB and also replaces a thousand files, I can see every single file/registry change it made. I'm not going to mess with the 64 bit IE install unless it's turns out to be just a simple, logical change with no other consequence.
You can only imagine though as each successive IE that comes out it will probably even limit WinMail operation even more, so get used to it. At the moment with IE11, Win7 32 bit OS WinMail users, are in luck.
(fwiw, I've already tried different versions of the mshtml.dll mentioned previously, hoping for success - but it was everything but. I even had the "Programs Folder (x86)" WinMail 32bit and got it working on Win7 64 bit, but that does not solve the problem either. I tried a lot of different things, afterall the test bed being indestructible and being powered by an i7 and SSD, one can partition image back to a fresh install in 45 seconds flat, which makes testing it all so much easier. Also being a disposable test bed setup lets you be more empowered to test Anything without consequence)

If any of you techs want me to try a theory or two, feel free to PM me, that way we don't clutter up this thread with unnecessary test talk posts. Bill wants his tutorial thread neat and only WinMail related, and I support that.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Does altering Security options in WM under Tools/Options make any difference?

Also make sure that both IE11 and Windows Mail have full permissions in your firewall.

 

[Ex_Brit]

It just occurred to me, are you using the 64-bit IE as default? If so try the 32-bit as I would imagine WM might have problems linking up with the 64-bit version.

 

[endeavor]

Hi Ex_Brit,

Please remember as mentioned at the end of my previous post, please use PM for any little tid-bit testing ideas like that. We have seen in the past where the little back-n-forth testing talks really confused newcomers, too many unrelated posts mounted up, and we had to delete so many really neat, but extra unnecessary posts.
Perhaps we can delete our posts later, but for now as to your first security question you were kidding me asking me that one right - I hope so. As for the second one same answer really, actually I keep the built in firewall turned off but that's OT. It's none of these issues anyway. Have you read all the posts in the other thread spoken of earlier, of which I link post 17 of it earlier but you'd want to start from it's post 1.

As to your IE 32 vrs 64 bit question, actually I keep both the 32 & 64 ie shortcuts in my QuickLaunch for usage, but if you think about your question you will realize that iexplore.exe does not even need to be started for WinMail to work. As you know that 32 bit iexplore.exe is used similar for website compatibility issues but not used for WinMail operation in that sense. And so while within the 64 bit OS for WinMail I would have to get the 'Programs Folder (x86)' files of WinMail.exe which currently if you look all the calls in the registry are to open the 64bit folder WinMail.exe, and then the same would be for the 'Programs Folder (x86)' for iexplore.exe.. here though they do not have a 32 bit version mshtml.dll and the whole gamut of what that goes along with, and then where the problem in 64 bit seems like and error prompts that it's arising from, all in relation to let WinMail display its HTML emails and use it's embedded links to external websites for pictures, etc, rendered in the email.
I think it's a good thought in theory though Ex_Brit and I understand where you were going, it's a bit though to implement with many unknowns. Nothing is ever off the table though.

Again though going forward to any techs lets please use PM's for the testings back and forth conversations as Bill has previously hinted and requested a number of times to do, unless he indicates different I will follow his wishes.

Thank you

 

[Ex_Brit]

Offering suggestions by private message sort of defeats the object of forums when people can learn from the posts. Anyway they were just thoughts. Strange how all these problems are arising for some and not for me. I'll bow out and let you guys sort it out amongst yourselves.

Plus regarding firewall permissions, that would refer to whatever firewall is in use not necessarily WF.

 

[endeavor]

I understand what you are saying Peter. I Do Understand the point of keeping it neat having been right in the middle of it previously, as for instance saw like how Grits the other year didn't know if she was coming or going being a newbie of what's real or what was conjecture, or what she was suppose to do, and many others.

Don't say you don't have the problem unless you have actually opened an email from any of the three known email website flyers senders that I know of so far. I'm sure you aren't on their mailing list.

Please don't bow out or be offended please that was not my intention, we have always appreciated your input! You are a long time and appreciated special member.

ps,
It's not a Firewall issue in any way shape of form, period.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Please email me a sample or tell me how to get one sent to me....I'll PM you.