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and many of the link pointers within have become mislinked over time, many of the files or information within them is outdated, incomplete, or superseded with more accurate information - and so be careful.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

 

[Greg S]

Pls help : I have big problem when using Windows Mail - that is not usually happend but it is not first time

After received and read a mail, I could not read again right after moved it to specific folder? I do not understand why right after I moved it into the folder it shows a message as : "the contents of this message cannot be found" - the sender and receiver also disappeared, the mail's size (including attached files) are not changed but could not see/open/read...while other mails still can see and read with no problem?!

I am using Windows 7 Home version 64bite - Dell adamo.

Pls help to fix it! Mntks

I have not experienced this problem using WinMail app, Cheers PB

I have, quite a few times. I attributed it to CTM but I assume it couldn't be responsible. I think it has something to do with the way WinMail stores messages. If one has a pre-mature shutdown, semi crash etc.. it seems as though it retrieves enough info to display the listing of the email but the contents are lost. I don't know.

 

[poppa bear]

I have, quite a few times. I attributed it to CTM but I assume it couldn't be responsible. I think it has something to do with the way WinMail stores messages. If one has a pre-mature shutdown, semi crash etc.. it seems as though it retrieves enough info to display the listing of the email but the contents are lost. I don't know.

Yes that's exactly what it does. In WinLiveMail on a few occasions where I have dragged an email from Inbox to desktop, and lost the contents, and deleted the original from the Inbox without realising I'd lost the contents, I've managed to retrieve the contents by dragging the empty desktop copy back into Inbox, then opening it and save as to desktop. Which shows the contents are stored somewhere even if it's only on clipboard. However, it doesn't always work, and whether it does or doesn't it's random. And it happened in both WLM Beta and the previous version of WLM.

I think you'd have to be an oracle... or Windows representative, which is equivalent, to explain it away... LOL!

 

[Greg S]

Well I'm going on a couple or more days now with the WLM(not beta) and have to say I like it. The only complaint I have is the bloat factor. Yea I know hard drives are cheap but the size of this WLM and all it's tag along addons that got downloaded with it in my opinion is quite hefty for an email client. I wish now that I could get my WinMail plus WinMail registry items back to default but I'm not going to tinker with it. I did undo the WinCal but I rolled back to a previous snapshot and was so excited about WLM, I forgot to undo it after restoring,lol. Oh well, I'll keep WinMail and WinCal as souvenir.

 

[haitran]

Pls help : I have big problem when using Windows Mail - that is not usually happend but it is not first time

After received and read a mail, I could not read again right after moved it to specific folder? I do not understand why right after I moved it into the folder it shows a message as : "the contents of this message cannot be found" - the sender and receiver also disappeared, the mail's size (including attached files) are not changed but could not see/open/read...while other mails still can see and read with no problem?!

I am using Windows 7 Home version 64bite - Dell adamo.

Pls help to fix it! Mntks

I have not experienced this problem using WinMail app, but strangely enough am experiencing that same problem with some emails, but not all, I receive in Windows Live Mail Wave 4 Beta.

It seems to happen more frequently when I drag/drop the email from In-box to desktop. I have since started moving them to desktop by opening the email and choosing Save as File, and choosing Desktop as destination.

Other than that I have no idea why this is happening, but will bring it to the attention of Microsoft related to WinLiveMail Wave 4 Beta.

Sorry can't be more helpful. Cheers PB

Tks a lot for your advice.

It is strange when I've saved that mail to an usb and open it in other PC - it can read without problem?? however, I sent back file back to my laptop via skype or YM and tried to open it by Win Mail and outlook -> nothing happens with WMail but the outlook open a new mail with file attached

What kind of improvement from MS

 

[poppa bear]

Well I'm going on a couple or more days now with the WLM(not beta) and have to say I like it. The only complaint I have is the bloat factor. Yea I know hard drives are cheap but the size of this WLM and all it's tag along addons that got downloaded with it in my opinion is quite hefty for an email client. I wish now that I could get my WinMail plus WinMail registry items back to default but I'm not going to tinker with it. I did undo the WinCal but I rolled back to a previous snapshot and was so excited about WLM, I forgot to undo it after restoring,lol. Oh well, I'll keep WinMail and WinCal as souvenir.

I've been running WinMail alongside WinLiveMail now for over a month with no apparent conflicts. I have WLM set as default.

It's actually handy, because in WLM Wave 4 Beta, they left out a feature that was in the earlier versions of WLM. I'm talking about the command: Menu Bar --> Format --> Background --> Then choose Color, Picture or Sound.

I'm using the following work around to enable background to be added to WLM emails. Create a new email using WinMail. Insert the background of your choice. Then choose "Save as" to desktop. When it is re-opened to edit it, WinLiveMail program opens it with the background inlcuded.

I reported this missing feature by phone to M$ and they guy there said he'll bring it to the attention of the Windows Live team, but can't guarantee to fix it in current beta version.

Over all I'm quite happy with WLM Wave 4 Beta, using it as a normal email client with Sign in switched off; Account names in left panel minimized to name only; and Quick Views folder options set to act like Local Folders in WinMail. I chose to download no other programs except WinLiveMail, so there were no ancillary programs. In the older wlsetup-web setup download engine, even when you only chose Mail, you still got other programs. Not so with the latest wlsetup-webc.exe download engine... see my earlier post here for this link.

 

[Greg S]

Well I'm going on a couple or more days now with the WLM(not beta) and have to say I like it. The only complaint I have is the bloat factor. Yea I know hard drives are cheap but the size of this WLM and all it's tag along addons that got downloaded with it in my opinion is quite hefty for an email client. I wish now that I could get my WinMail plus WinMail registry items back to default but I'm not going to tinker with it. I did undo the WinCal but I rolled back to a previous snapshot and was so excited about WLM, I forgot to undo it after restoring,lol. Oh well, I'll keep WinMail and WinCal as souvenir.

In the older wlsetup-web setup download engine, even when you only chose Mail, you still got other programs. Not so with the latest wlsetup-webc.exe download engine... see my earlier post here for this link.

Tell me about, oh you just did,lol. I found a web site that told which of these mail extras were just that, extras. It also told how to uninstall them and I did for one, ChoiceGuard. I think there were two others that are/were not required but I have not uninstalled them.

 

[Greg S]

Here's the link mentioned above, one of you here may have given it to me so feel free to take credit for it.

Installing/uninstalling Windows Live 2009 (Wave 3) QFE 2 applications and the Windows Live Communications Platform update - Windows Live

Now, can someone translate to me what and which ones are exactly not needed? I'm sure there are varying criteria like whether one has and uses messenger or not etc.. Come on PB, Speak to me.

Is Windows Live Upload tool needed?
Is Windows Live Sign-in Assistant needed?
Is Windows Live Call needed?
Is Windows Live Communications Platform?
Is Windows Live Sync/Microsoft Sync Framework Runtime/Microsoft Sync Framework Services?

I'm not sure if all of these were installed but I think I remember seeing them being installed during the multi megabyte download and install.

If I have to, I'll take a snapshot, run the uninstall commands and see what if anything breaks. I'm not to up on this additional fluff so if someone could read that link and give me some insight on what may be needed. All I want WLM to do is send and receive mail and I don't mind having the sign-in thingy for the extra calendar labels. Other than that, if it can go, I would like to have it gone.

 

[roncerr]

Here's the link mentioned above, one of you here may have given it to me so feel free to take credit for it.

Installing/uninstalling Windows Live 2009 (Wave 3) QFE 2 applications and the Windows Live Communications Platform update - Windows Live

Did you notice "This is an old article and relates to a previous release of Windows Live 2009 applications"
It seems to me you might consider deleting everything and start over with the new link that will let you select WLM alone.

 

[Greg S]

Here's the link mentioned above, one of you here may have given it to me so feel free to take credit for it.

Installing/uninstalling Windows Live 2009 (Wave 3) QFE 2 applications and the Windows Live Communications Platform update - Windows Live

Did you notice "This is an old article and relates to a previous release of Windows Live 2009 applications"
It seems to me you might consider deleting everything and start over with the new link that will let you select WLM alone.

Yes, I should have noted that it was for all Live products. I only have WLM installed which also installed according to the article other things supposedly mail related that may or may not be needed. It's the may not needs of just WLM in that article that I want clarification on. Also, just to make sure, here is the version of WLM that I am using

 

[roncerr]

...Also, just to make sure, here is the version of WLM that I am using...

Yes that's the current version and the one I have.

 

[Greg S]

...Also, just to make sure, here is the version of WLM that I am using...

Yes that's the current version and the one I have.

Having a problem with stationary, it doesn't seem to work. Any clues?

 

[poppa bear]

Yes, I should have noted that it was for all Live products. I only have WLM installed which also installed according to the article other things supposedly mail related that may or may not be needed. It's the may not needs of just WLM in that article that I want clarification on. Also, just to make sure, here is the version of WLM that I am using

View attachment 82827

Hi Greg,

To be honest I'm not sure which of those options apply to the latest version of WLM which does not have a version number, but is simply known as WLM Wave 4 Beta.

I had a session by phone a few days ago with a Microsoft administrative person named Jeff Putt, and he's the head honcho of Windows Programs, Australia wide. He discovered after we had compared features for awhile that he did not have the same version of WLM that I had from the link shown a few posts back. I emailed him the link and when he downloaded it, he said he couldn't understand why MS(USA) had not auto sent him the latest version of WLM. And after further investigation, confirmed that the one obtained from the link I sent him was indeed the latest.

When I used this download engine to obtain WLM Wave 4 Beta, the only option I ticked was Mail. And all I've got in "Programs and Features" in Control Panel is "Windows Live Essentials Beta". When I click this program as if to uninstall it, the window that opens has the options to: Remove one or more Windows Live programs OR Repair all Windows Live programs. If I click the "Remove" option, it opens a window that shows which programs are installed, and asks "What do you want to uninstall".

​

The only two programs I have listed are "Mail" and "Photo Gallery and Movie Maker". Originally I only donwloaded Mail, but later added PG & MM, so this program is not an essential or even directly related program for WLM.

To me this implies that "Mail" by itself includes all the necessary elements to successfully run WLM.

Apart from the missing option of being able to Format an email to add background color, picture, etc, it is fully functional. However, the MS guy conceded this was an accidental omission that would be corrected in a later model.

Hope this helps. Cheers PB

 

[Greg S]

Yes, I should have noted that it was for all Live products. I only have WLM installed which also installed according to the article other things supposedly mail related that may or may not be needed. It's the may not needs of just WLM in that article that I want clarification on. Also, just to make sure, here is the version of WLM that I am using

View attachment 82827

Hi Greg,

To be honest I'm not sure which of those options apply to the latest version of WLM which does not have a version number, but is simply known as WLM Wave 4 Beta.

I had a session by phone a few days ago with a Microsoft administrative person named Jeff Putt, and he's the head honcho of Windows Programs, Australia wide. He discovered after we had compared features for awhile that he did not have the same version of WLM that I had from the link shown a few posts back. I emailed him the link and when he downloaded it, he said he couldn't understand why MS(USA) had not auto sent him the latest version of WLM. And after further investigation, confirmed that the one obtained from the link I sent him was indeed the latest.

When I used this download engine to obtain WLM Wave 4 Beta, the only option I ticked was Mail. And all I've got in "Programs and Features" in Control Panel is "Windows Live Essentials Beta". When I click this program as if to uninstall it, the window that opens has the options to: Remove one or more Windows Live programs OR Repair all Windows Live programs. If I click the "Remove" option, it opens a window that shows which programs are installed, and asks "What do you want to uninstall".

View attachment 82885​

The only two programs I have listed are "Mail" and "Photo Gallery and Movie Maker". Originally I only donwloaded Mail, but later added PG & MM, so this program is not an essential or even directly related program for WLM.

To me this implies that "Mail" by itself includes all the necessary elements to successfully run WLM.

Apart from the missing option of being able to Format an email to add background color, picture, etc, it is fully functional. However, the MS guy conceded this was an accidental omission that would be corrected in a later model.

Hope this helps. Cheers PB

I have/had four WLM associations listed in Revo Uninstaller.
1) Choice Guard
2) Windows Live Essentials
3) Windows Live Sign in Assistant
4) Windows Live Upload Tool

In the Windows directory there is a folder for installations called Installer. To view it you have to untick Hide protected operating system files in Folder Options. In there I found the other install packages mentioned in the article. If you know the date that you installed wave 4, go to that folder and see what you have in there using the date to sort it.

 

[Greg S]

Another question on WLM and it may have already been answered. This is about the drop Storage Folders in the left pane. As mentioned, I have selected not to show it but WLM imported from WinMail folders that I made in WinMail and they appear in the Storage Folders. Can I move these up under the heading Windows Mail and if yes how? I tried to do it but it gets duplicated in the actual storage folder directory, I think that's where it was. Next and if I can get the folders moved up, can I right click delete in the Storage Folders the Drafts, Sent, Deleted, Inbox, Junk Mail, Outbox?

 

[poppa bear]

I have/had four WLM associations listed in Revo Uninstaller.
1) Choice Guard
2) Windows Live Essentials
3) Windows Live Sign in Assistant
4) Windows Live Upload Tool

In the Windows directory there is a folder for installations called Installer. To view it you have to untick Hide protected operating system files in Folder Options. In there I found the other install packages mentioned in the article. If you know the date that you installed wave 4, go to that folder and see what you have in there using the date to sort it.

This is a pic of what I have in Installer folder in Windows with protected operating system files visible and WLM Wave 4 Beta installed. I can't relate any of the folders or files shown in this pic to the ones shown in that article to which you showed a link? Maybe I'm misreading or in the wrong folder.

​

Re:

Another question on WLM and it may have already been answered. This is about the drop Storage Folders in the left pane. As mentioned, I have selected not to show it but WLM imported from WinMail folders that I made in WinMail and they appear in the Storage Folders. Can I move these up under the heading Windows Mail and if yes how? I tried to do it but it gets duplicated in the actual storage folder directory, I think that's where it was. Next and if I can get the folders moved up, can I right click delete in the Storage Folders the Drafts, Sent, Deleted, Inbox, Junk Mail, Outbox?

This is a post here on importing emails from WinMail to WinLiveMail. There are two methods, but I'm not sure if this answers the questions you have asked.​

Method 1. This is the method I prefer because it puts all your emails and folders exactly where you want them in WLM, and exactly duplicated as they were in WinMail.​

All the folders as shown in WinMail will be imported into one account of your choice in WLM, and show up as was displayed in WinMail with all the emails in their correct sub-folders. The only sub-folders of Local Folders that won't import across are custom ones you've created that have no emails in them. You can either save a dummy email to these folders before importing to ensure they will import across; or re-create them in the account you have chosen in WLM after importing all the others.​

Method 2. The problem with this method is all your imported emails and folders are forcibly imported to Storage Folders, and must then be moved to the selected final destination. It also means re-creating any custom folders in the destination folder.​

This is basically the same as the method shown in the tutorial by Brink. All your imported folders and emails are now stored under: Storage Folders --> Imported Folders --> Local Folders --> Inbox, Sent Items, etc.​

You can move the emails in the folders to a different folder in an account of your choice, by either drag dropping, or right clicking an email, or highlighted group of emails, and choosing "Move to folder". However, you can't move the actual sub-folders themselves. Once you've moved all your emails out of Inbox, Sent Items, etc under Imported Folders, you can then delete the "Imported Folders" folder, which includes all the sub-folders.​

Hope this makes sense and is what you want to know?​

Cheers PB​

 

[Greg S]

I have/had four WLM associations listed in Revo Uninstaller.
1) Choice Guard
2) Windows Live Essentials
3) Windows Live Sign in Assistant
4) Windows Live Upload Tool

In the Windows directory there is a folder for installations called Installer. To view it you have to untick Hide protected operating system files in Folder Options. In there I found the other install packages mentioned in the article. If you know the date that you installed wave 4, go to that folder and see what you have in there using the date to sort it.

This is a pic of what I have in Installer folder in Windows with protected operating system files visible and WLM Wave 4 Beta installed. I can't relate any of the folders or files shown in this pic to the ones shown in that article to which you showed a link? Maybe I'm misreading or in the wrong folder.

Cheers PB​

You have to do one of two things, 1) pause the mouse over the file to get tootip property info, 2) right click the file and select properites.

I haven't digested your other help reply yet, back in a few wiht hopefully success.

 

[Greg S]

I have/had four WLM associations listed in Revo Uninstaller.
1) Choice Guard
2) Windows Live Essentials
3) Windows Live Sign in Assistant
4) Windows Live Upload Tool

In the Windows directory there is a folder for installations called Installer. To view it you have to untick Hide protected operating system files in Folder Options. In there I found the other install packages mentioned in the article. If you know the date that you installed wave 4, go to that folder and see what you have in there using the date to sort it.

This is a pic of what I have in Installer folder in Windows with protected operating system files visible and WLM Wave 4 Beta installed. I can't relate any of the folders or files shown in this pic to the ones shown in that article to which you showed a link? Maybe I'm misreading or in the wrong folder.

View attachment 82976​

Re:

Another question on WLM and it may have already been answered. This is about the drop Storage Folders in the left pane. As mentioned, I have selected not to show it but WLM imported from WinMail folders that I made in WinMail and they appear in the Storage Folders. Can I move these up under the heading Windows Mail and if yes how? I tried to do it but it gets duplicated in the actual storage folder directory, I think that's where it was. Next and if I can get the folders moved up, can I right click delete in the Storage Folders the Drafts, Sent, Deleted, Inbox, Junk Mail, Outbox?

This is a post here on importing emails from WinMail to WinLiveMail. There are two methods, but I'm not sure if this answers the questions you have asked.​

Method 1. This is the method I prefer because it puts all your emails and folders exactly where you want them in WLM, and exactly duplicated as they were in WinMail.​

All the folders as shown in WinMail will be imported into one account of your choice in WLM, and show up as was displayed in WinMail with all the emails in their correct sub-folders. The only sub-folders of Local Folders that won't import across are custom ones you've created that have no emails in them. You can either save a dummy email to these folders before importing to ensure they will import across; or re-create them in the account you have chosen in WLM after importing all the others.​

Method 2. The problem with this method is all your imported emails and folders are forcibly imported to Storage Folders, and must then be moved to the selected final destination. It also means re-creating any custom folders in the destination folder.​

This is basically the same as the method shown in the tutorial by Brink. All your imported folders and emails are now stored under: Storage Folders --> Imported Folders --> Local Folders --> Inbox, Sent Items, etc.​

You can move the emails in the folders to a different folder in an account of your choice, by either drag dropping, or right clicking an email, or highlighted group of emails, and choosing "Move to folder". However, you can't move the actual sub-folders themselves. Once you've moved all your emails out of Inbox, Sent Items, etc under Imported Folders, you can then delete the "Imported Folders" folder, which includes all the sub-folders.​

Hope this makes sense and is what you want to know?​

Cheers PB​

Method one doesn't work. It works but as I mentioned earlier, it duplicates the folders on the HD as well as the mail seen in WLM although the old copies say that they can't be found.

Well I've successfully screwed it up doing this. Now most all emails show the [email protected] tag in the from heading. Sad part, I didn't take a snapshot prior to this.

 

[poppa bear]

Method one doesn't work. It works but as I mentioned earlier, it duplicates the folders on the HD as well as the mail seen in WLM although the old copies say that they can't be found.

Well I've successfully screwed it up doing this. Now most all emails show the [email protected] tag in the from heading. Sad part, I didn't take a snapshot prior to this.

I'm really sorry to hear that Greg. I don't fully understand what you mean when you say Method 1 duplicates the folders on the HD as well as mail seen in WLM? I've used this method on several occasions, and never had a problem with it, and I've talked to other members via PMs who have successfully used it. I am assuming you're importing your emails from WinMail in Windows 7, to WinLiveMail also in Windows 7?

It is critical in this method to totally clean out the Local Folders in the destination folder of the account folder you select in WLM, as per Step 7. Also, no folders should be manually created in the Account folder under the main folder of AppData, as distinct from drag/dropping the folders from the saved "Imported emails" folder as seen in Step 10. New folders should only be created in the accounts accessed in the main window of WLM.

When this method is finished you should end up with all the original emails and folders of Inbox, Sent Items, etc, in the destination account folder, (under AppData main folder), and showing only in the Account folder in the left panel of WLM.

Unfortunately I don't know why the emails are showing the send from name as [email protected]

Have you still got your original emails saved in WinMail? If you have, then I'd re-set WinMail as default. Delete all accounts and clean out all emails from WinLiveMail. Then see if your send from box in emails created in WinMail is back to normal.

If it is, then try re-creating your accounts in WinLiveMail, setting WLM as default and starting the import of emails again. Maybe, to be safe, use Method 2. At least this way your emails will all be stored in Storage folders. You can then create any custom folders you need in the destination Account folder in the main window of WLM, and shift the emails to these folders.

 

[Greg S]

Method one doesn't work. It works but as I mentioned earlier, it duplicates the folders on the HD as well as the mail seen in WLM although the old copies say that they can't be found.

Well I've successfully screwed it up doing this. Now most all emails show the [email protected] tag in the from heading. Sad part, I didn't take a snapshot prior to this.

I'm really sorry to hear that Greg. I don't fully understand what you mean when you say Method 1 duplicates the folders on the HD as well as mail seen in WLM? I've used this method on several occasions, and never had a problem with it, and I've talked to other members via PMs who have successfully used it. I am assuming you're importing your emails from WinMail in Windows 7, to WinLiveMail also in Windows 7?

It is critical in this method to totally clean out the Local Folders in the destination folder of the account folder you select in WLM, as per Step 7. Also, no folders should be manually created in the Account folder under the main folder of AppData, as distinct from drag/dropping the folders from the saved "Imported emails" folder as seen in Step 10. New folders should only be created in the accounts accessed in the main window of WLM.

When this method is finished you should end up with all the original emails and folders of Inbox, Sent Items, etc, in the destination account folder, (under AppData main folder), and showing only in the Account folder in the left panel of WLM.

Unfortunately I don't know why the emails are showing the send from name as [email protected]

Have you still got your original emails saved in WinMail? If you have, then I'd re-set WinMail as default. Delete all accounts and clean out all emails from WinLiveMail. Then see if your send from box in emails created in WinMail is back to normal.

If it is, then try re-creating your accounts in WinLiveMail, setting WLM as default and starting the import of emails again. Maybe, to be safe, use Method 2. At least this way your emails will all be stored in Storage folders. You can then create any custom folders you need in the destination Account folder in the main window of WLM, and shift the emails to these folders.

No problem, I lost only one folder which can be retrieved from various sources on my end. Let's say I have a email folder named Seven Forums in WinMail. I run through the Method one and end up on the hard drive storage with two Seven Folders. One is named Seven Forums and the other is named Seven Forums (1). I open WLM up and all emails in Seven Forums in WLM under Windows Mail heading have been doubled up but only one of each of the double ups work. I go back to the hard drive storage, open up Seven Forums folder and it has only one small file in it. I open the Seven Forums (1) folder and it has all the emails in it. If I delete the Seven Forums folder with the one small file in it and rename the Seven Forums (1) folder to Seven Forums, it automatically re-creates a Seven Forums folder and renames the other to Seven Forums (1).

 

[poppa bear]

No problem, I lost only one folder which can be retrieved from various sources on my end. Let's say I have a email folder named Seven Forums in WinMail. I run through the Method one and end up on the hard drive storage with two Seven Folders. One is named Seven Forums and the other is named Seven Forums (1). I open WLM up and all emails in Seven Forums in WLM under Windows Mail heading have been doubled up but only one of each of the double ups work. I go back to the hard drive storage, open up Seven Forums folder and it has only one small file in it. I open the Seven Forums (1) folder and it has all the emails in it. If I delete the Seven Forums folder with the one small file in it and rename the Seven Forums (1) folder to Seven Forums, it automatically re-creates a Seven Forums folder and renames the other to Seven Forums (1).

Hi Greg, Sorry you're having so much trouble, and I hope I haven't given you misleading information!

Just to clarify things so I know I'm on the same page as you, when you said in your post:

I run through the Method one and end up on the hard drive storage with two Seven Folders.

I presume the hard drive storage you're referring to is: Start > User Name > AppData > Local > Microsoft > Windows Live Mail > BillBloggs, where BillBloggs is the Account name. For purposes of clarity, I'll refer to that BillBloggs account as the one under AppData, as distinct from the one in the main interface of WinLiveMail.

First off, you cannot manually create new folders in BillBloggs under AppData. Any folders there must have been created through the interface of the main WinMail or WinLiveMail window. When folders are created through the main interface of WLM, the ones that apear in BillBloggs in WLM under AppData are linked to the main interface.

This means it's one way traffic. Accounts created in WLM go to --> WLM folder under AppData. But any folders created manually in WLM folder in AppData will NOT go to --> WLM main interface. However, you can import folders to WLM under AppData <-- from WinMail folders under AppDats; because they have been pre-linked when they were created through the main interface of WinMail.

I read your last post and am at a loss to understand what is happening there. It sounds very much like what happened when I tried to manually create a single master folder named "Local Folders" in WinLiveMail folder under AppData. See my post here.

In essence, I created a new folder in Windows Live Mail folder under AppData and named it Local Folders. I then imported the whole contents of Local Folders from WinMail, including two account files, into the newly created Local Folders folder. I then closed everything, and re-opened Windows Live Mail folder under AppData and the folder I created named Local Folders was empty. What's more, it had created two new folders with the names of the two accounts I had imported into Local Folders. Each account had all the emails relevant to that particular account, and the white account file itself.

This is why it is important when doing steps 7 - 9 of Method 1, NOT to import the account files across, but ONLY the yellow folders of Inbox, Sent Items, etc. It is equally important to delete ALL the equivalent yellow folders of Inbox, etc, in the destination Account folder in Windows Live Mail under AppData, before importing them across; but do NOT delete the account file in that folder.

One other thing, if you open BillBloggs under AppData in WLM, and delete every sub-folder of Inbox, Sent Items, etc; they will still be there when you open WLM main window. Also, it will recreate these folders in WinLiveMail under AppData, each time an email is received or sent or moved in Inbox, Sent Items, etc, in the main WLM interface opened from WLM shortcut on desktop.

Sorry if this is too convoluted. It's intened to help clear the waters, not muddy them.

Cheers PB