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and many of the link pointers within have become mislinked over time, many of the files or information within them is outdated, incomplete, or superseded with more accurate information - and so be careful.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

 

[Greg S]

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.

yes I meant folders stored on the hard drive

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.

No, I'm not creating folders manually on the hard drive

I read your last post and am at a loss to understand what is happening there. .

So am I

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..

Then you are telling me what I want to do can't be done. I want my WinMail created folders under WLM's heading of Windows Mail as seen in this screen shot below. I have them in WLM's Storage Folder, I just want them up where the screenshot shows

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.

I did delete them and did not delete the file mentioned

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.
Cheers PB

Well for me they were not there after deleting them. It appears to be a lost cause for me as is with some many things that others can do with their setup that I can't. I've tried every possible way I know of but can't make it work.

One more thing to mention, I did not, nor was I asked to import anything upon install. All this was done without my consent to the best of my knowledge. It did a fantastic job and all was there and works. It's just that my created folders from WinMail are located down the tree in WLM under the heading Storage Folders. I have no need to import the default Inbox, Sent etc.. This was done auto during install and had all my WinMail emails in the default Inbox, Sent etc.

 

[poppa bear]

To Greg S re:

Screen shot of your set-up:

​

From the screen shot you've shown of your setup, I think you must be using an earlier version than the beta. When I installed the version before beta, and beta itself, both times my conctacts were auto added to WLM Contacts, but no emails, folders or accounts came across. This is how mine ended up:

​

I can't really make any sense out of that pic as it seems to show Windows Mail as an account in the left panel of the main window of WinLiveMail. How did you create Windows Mail?​

Originally Posted by poppa bear.

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.
Cheers PB

Well for me they were not there after deleting them. It appears to be a lost cause for me as is with some many things that others can do with their setup that I can't. I've tried every possible way I know of but can't make it work.

Apologies. What I said there is not strictly accurate. They will be shown in the main window of WLM when opened from desktop shortcut. If they aren't all there in the account from which you deleted them on HD, they will eventually all be restored as you use the account. In other words, if you download a new email, a new Inbox is created in the account folder on HD. And same thing will happen if you create a draft that is sent from that account. That is a new Drafts sub-folder will be created in the account folder on the HD.

Re:

Then you are telling me what I want to do can't be done. I want my WinMail created folders under WLM's heading of Windows Mail as seen in this screen shot below. I have them in WLM's Storage Folder, I just want them up where the screenshot shows

You cannot create an exact duplicate of what you had in Windows Mail. The closest you can get is to use one account as a primary account that contains your custom folders. And use Quick Views to overview all your emails by choosing appropriate setings.​

The purpose for using Method 1 is to save manually setting up custom folders in the account you choose as your main account. And then having to move all your emails from Storage Folders. This method will normally import all you emails and folders from Local Folders on your hard drive in WinMail, into ONE account of your choice in WLM. That's why I've got it set up with all my accounts minimised and Quick Views showing all sub-folders so I can view all emails.​

I hadn't actually tried before to set up custom folders in Quick Views, but tried just now, and it won't let you because it isn't an account but a summary folder.​

 

[Greg S]

I can't really make any sense out of that pic as it seems to show Windows Mail as an account in the left panel of the main window of WinLiveMail. How did you create Windows Mail?​

Yes, I'm using the release older version. I'm not using the Beta. I didn't create that Windows Mail heading in WLM. That was all done automatically as mentioned earlier without my consent, to the best of my knowledge. At the time, Windows Mail was still my default client. I was asked upon launching WLM if I wanted to make it the default to which I answered yes because I had already tried and liked what I saw in an earlier snapshot. Even though I wasn't asked about importing, I will say this again, it did an excellent job moving everything over other than what we are talking about here, placing all my Windows Mail created folders within the Storage Folders of WLM. If I can't get them moved up to where the screen shot shows without the duplication factor then all is well, I'll live with it.

 

[poppa bear]

I didn't create that Windows Mail heading in WLM. That was all done automatically.... Even though I wasn't asked about importing, I will say this again, it did an excellent job moving everything over other than what we are talking about here, placing all my Windows Mail created folders within the Storage Folders of WLM.

It's hard to compare between different versions of WLM, but if the Windows Mail folder shown in your screen shot functions the same way as Quick Views folder, it will not be possible to have custom created folders in it period.

For purposes of testing, after opening WinMail.exe, I created several custom sub-folders of Local Folders. I then used the command "Import Messages" in WLM. This is what I ended up with, which is I think similar to what you got. It imported all the created custom folders as well as all emails.

​

1. It is not possible to move or copy the created custom folders to Storage Folders or to any of my Accounts, (Bern or Poppa).​

2. It is possible to manually create new custom sub-folders in any account of choice, eg Poppa, and move or copy/paste all the emails from Storage Folders to the corresponding newly created sub-folders.​

​

3. Once the emails are all shifted, Imported Folder (1) can be deleted entirely from Storage Folders, which deletes all sub-folders. Or you can just leave everything there and use it as a storage depot.​

4. Method 1 of my post showing how to import emails and folders should normally achieve Steps 2 & 3 above without the necessity to create new custom folders or move the emails across.​

5. The same result can be achieved as in Step 4 above by taking the following steps, after importing emails and folders from WinMail.​

5.1 Delete all folders from the account Bern on the hard drive.​

​

5.2 In Storage Folders on HD copy all sub-folders of Local Folders and paste into Bern account on HD.​

​

5.3 This is how they appear in the left panel of main window of WinLiveMail opened from desktop shortcut. Notice the name of "Received Invoices" has been changed by WLM to "Re 2ad". It can be changed back to "Received Invoices" in the left panel, but not on the HD.​

In this example, the Imported Folders in Storage Folders in left pane of WLM has been deleted.​

​

Re:

If I can't get them moved up to where the screen shot shows without the duplication factor then all is well, I'll live with it.

Sorry to be a bit slow in the uptake, but I don't really understand what you meant by the duplication factor? Do you mean leaving all the created custom folders in Storage Folders and duplicating them in an Account folder?​

 

[Greg S]

It's hard to compare between different versions of WLM, but if the Windows Mail folder shown in your screen shot functions the same way as Quick Views folder, it will not be possible to have custom created folders in it period.

I can create as many folders under Windows Mail heading as I want. Screenshot below shows 2 that I just now made for this purpose. My Folder and My Folder 2

Sorry to be a bit slow in the uptake, but I don't really understand what you meant by the duplication factor? Do you mean leaving all the created custom folders in Storage Folders and duplicating them in an Account folder?

No, what's happening is this, My old hacked WinMail has some storage folders in it, for example, Seven Forums and Wilders Forums. I can import them into WLM under the heading Windows Mail which on your set up may read Bern. After the import I can look on the hard drive where these folders are written to disk and there are two folders of each I just mentioned. The folders that should be written to disk should be labeled as mentioned above Seven Forums and Wilders Forums and of course they are there but in addition to them are two more folders with the names of Seven Forums (1) and Wilders Forums (1). Instead of having just the two folders written to disk, I have four, Seven Forums + Seven Forums (1) and Wilders Forums + Wilders Forums (1). The emails for these folders are in the folders that have the (1) after the name. If I delete the the folder that doesn't have the (1) after the name, it gets re-created. This is one of what I refer to as duplication. The other duplication is that even when I open up WLM after the import, the imported folders are there, just the two folders with the correct name of Seven Forums and Wilders Forums and under my account name which in this case seems to be Windows Mail. If I click one of those folders to veiw the emails, let's say I click the Seven Forums folder to view it's stored emails, the emails are there but duplicated. Each email has a duplicate, sort of. I say sort of because only one has the email content. The other duplicated email has only the Header info of From, Subject and date with the body of the message reading, Windows Live can't find this message.

Above I mention, deleting the folder without the (1) after and it gets re-created. Every time this is done, the emails for said folder will get doubled up again for viewing inside of WLM. Meaning, to start with I have two emails, if I delete the extra folder the emails get tripled making me have three emails now instead of two. If I delete it again, I will now have four emails. I know it's weird

 

[Greg S]

OK update. I can create the folder under my user account Windows Mail which will be empty, then drag and drop the emails from WinMail local folders or from WLM's Storage folder and I do not get the duplication. The drawback here is that I have the <websitename.net> next to all the From headings which I do not like but may have to live with.

 

[Greg S]

Update to the update,lol. Fixed it.


1) Create folder under user name, and in my case the user name is Windows Mail and for example the folder created is Seven Forums which has the same under Storage Folders.

2) Expand Storage Folders and click the Seven Forums folder to view listing of emails

3) Highlight the first email in the Seven Forums folder which is under the Storage Folder heading

4) Hold down the shift key and press the down arrow key to select and hightlight all emails in Seven Forums folder.

5) Right click all the highlighted items and select Move to folder and select the folder Seven Forums which was just created under the user name, this case it's Windows Mail

6) Delete the empty Seven Forums folder under the Storage Folders heading.

7) Done!

 

[poppa bear]

No, what's happening is this, My old hacked WinMail has some storage folders in it, for example, Seven Forums and Wilders Forums. I can import them into WLM under the heading Windows Mail which on your set up may read Bern. After the import I can look on the hard drive where these folders are written to disk and there are two folders of each I just mentioned. The folders that should be written to disk should be labeled as mentioned above Seven Forums and Wilders Forums and of course they are there but in addition to them are two more folders with the names of Seven Forums (1) and Wilders Forums (1). Instead of having just the two folders written to disk, I have four, Seven Forums + Seven Forums (1) and Wilders Forums + Wilders Forums (1). The emails for these folders are in the folders that have the (1) after the name. If I delete the the folder that doesn't have the (1) after the name, it gets re-created. This is one of what I refer to as duplication. The other duplication is that even when I open up WLM after the import, the imported folders are there, just the two folders with the correct name of Seven Forums and Wilders Forums and under my account name which in this case seems to be Windows Mail. If I click one of those folders to veiw the emails, let's say I click the Seven Forums folder to view it's stored emails, the emails are there but duplicated. Each email has a duplicate, sort of. I say sort of because only one has the email content. The other duplicated email has only the Header info of From, Subject and date with the body of the message reading, Windows Live can't find this message.

Above I mention, deleting the folder without the (1) after and it gets re-created. Every time this is done, the emails for said folder will get doubled up again for viewing inside of WLM. Meaning, to start with I have two emails, if I delete the extra folder the emails get tripled making me have three emails now instead of two. If I delete it again, I will now have four emails. I know it's weird

I hear what you're saying, and I get exactly the same as the first duplication if I move the folders to Bern account as in Steps 5.1 - 5.3 in the last post. The duplicates aren't there when the folders are first pasted, but are created after you close the account file on the HD, and seen when you re-open it. Ditto for the folder without (1) in the name. If it's deleted no data is lost, and the folder is recreated on closing/re-opening the main folder.

However, I don't get this duplication in the account Bern. All I can say is: Weird!!! However, it does seem to be an inbuilt feature of WinLiveMail that it creates back-up folders of data somewhere on HD. As I said earlier, you can't delete Inbox, Sent Items, etc, permanently from any account or folder in the left panel of WLM. My God, imagine trying to hack WLM to set it up on Windows 8 if they had no email client or even WLM? I think I'd have to go Apple Mac or dare I say it, even Linux... God forbid it ever comes to that!!!!

 

[Greg S]

Hi PB, I fixed it. See post http://www.sevenforums.com/823921-post751.html

 

[poppa bear]

Update to the update,lol. Fixed it.

1) Create folder under user name, and in my case the user name is Windows Mail and for example the folder created is Seven Forums which has the same under Storage Folders.

Good work Greg. The only problem is I don't have a user name folder in the left panel of WLM main window.

I've got Quick Views, my account names, Outbox and Storage Folders. It won't let me create any sub-folders of Quick Views, and the imported folders are already in Storage Folders, so I've got nowhere to go with the fix.

I can, however, get the same effect by manually creating a sub-folder in any one of my account folders. Ain't it great that the later beta version has removed the Windows Mail folder!!!! Aaaaaggggghhhhh! Sounds of hair being pulled out in lumps! LOL!

Update: Is your user name folder Windows Mail separate to your accounts folders in the left panel?

 

[Greg S]

Update: Is your user name folder Windows Mail separate to your accounts folders in the left panel?

I have only one account in WLM. It is pop3 gmail. The account name as best that I can tell was auto defaulted to Windows Mail. Go figure,lol. It appears I've gone all around the world to do what could easily be done from inside WLM. One thing missing is my folder that I lost. It was deleted from the heading Storage Folders. If I still had it in there, I could do the same as mentioned in my last reply to make work 100% the way I want. Now if I try any of the other steps to get it under Windows Mail username heading, it leaves me with the dreaded < craparrows.com >... I wonder if it would keep them intact if I import it which will put it into a folder called Imports, then move it as described in my other reply?

 

[poppa bear]

Update: Is your user name folder Windows Mail separate to your accounts folders in the left panel?

I have only one account in WLM. It is pop3 gmail. The account name as best that I can tell was auto defaulted to Windows Mail. Go figure,lol. It appears I've gone all around the world to do what could easily be done from inside WLM. One thing missing is my folder that I lost. It was deleted from the heading Storage Folders. If I still had it in there, I could do the same as mentioned in my last reply to make work 100% the way I want. Now if I try any of the other steps to get it under Windows Mail username heading, it leaves me with the dreaded < craparrows.com >... I wonder if it would keep them intact if I import it which will put it into a folder called Imports, then move it as described in my other reply?

I think there's a simple work around to this problem, assuming you're importing from WinMail in Windows 7. Before doing it though, I'd clean up Storage Folders both in the WinLiveMail.exe main window and on the hard-drive, by deleting the following folders if they exist: Imported Folders (1) & Recovered Folders (1) or any other similar named folders with a number after the folder text name.

1. In WLM main window in left panel, create a new sub-folder in your account Windows Mail with the same name as your custom folder in WinMail. In this example lets call it Business Mail.

2. Go to: Menu Bar --> File --> Import Messages --> Highlight: Windows Mail --> Next --> It should have auto selected the pathway to WinMail as the source folder --> Next --> Dot: Selected Folders --> Highlight: Business Mail folder (the name may appear edited with a number added to it) --> Next --> Finish.

3. The imported folder will be saved in Storage Folders --> Imported folders (1) --> Local Folders --> Business Mail. The name Business Mail will probably have been modified.

4. Manually move all the emails out of Business Mail folder to Business Mail sub-folder in your account folder Windows Mail.

5. Delete the folder Imported folders (1).

6. For a thorough clean-up. Open: Start Orb --> User name --> AppData --> Local --> Microsoft --> Windows Live Mail --> Storage Folders --> Delete the duplicate folders: Recovered Items (1) & Imported Folder (1).

I have come to realise your version of WLM works basically the same as mine, except mine did not auto set up accounts, only contacts. Whereas you have only one account in the left panel of main window named Windows Mail, I have two: Bern & Poppa.

It has also become clear that Method 1 of importing emails and folders as shown in my earlier post is not viable due the duplication of folders on the HD in AppData.

The method shown in this post is the preferred method if you've got WinMail installed and active in Windows 7. I have amended my post here accordingly.

 

[Greg S]

Update: Is your user name folder Windows Mail separate to your accounts folders in the left panel?

I have only one account in WLM. It is pop3 gmail. The account name as best that I can tell was auto defaulted to Windows Mail. Go figure,lol. It appears I've gone all around the world to do what could easily be done from inside WLM. One thing missing is my folder that I lost. It was deleted from the heading Storage Folders. If I still had it in there, I could do the same as mentioned in my last reply to make work 100% the way I want. Now if I try any of the other steps to get it under Windows Mail username heading, it leaves me with the dreaded < craparrows.com >... I wonder if it would keep them intact if I import it which will put it into a folder called Imports, then move it as described in my other reply?

Update: Is your user name folder Windows Mail separate to your accounts folders in the left panel?

I have only one account in WLM. It is pop3 gmail. The account name as best that I can tell was auto defaulted to Windows Mail. Go figure,lol. It appears I've gone all around the world to do what could easily be done from inside WLM. One thing missing is my folder that I lost. It was deleted from the heading Storage Folders. If I still had it in there, I could do the same as mentioned in my last reply to make work 100% the way I want. Now if I try any of the other steps to get it under Windows Mail username heading, it leaves me with the dreaded < craparrows.com >... I wonder if it would keep them intact if I import it which will put it into a folder called Imports, then move it as described in my other reply?

I think there's a simple work around to this problem, assuming you're importing from WinMail in Windows 7. Before doing it though, I'd clean up Storage Folders both in the WinLiveMail.exe main window and on the hard-drive, by deleting the following folders if they exist: Imported Folders (1) & Recovered Folders (1) or any other similar named folders with a number after the folder text name.

1. In WLM main window in left panel, create a new sub-folder in your account Windows Mail with the same name as your custom folder in WinMail. In this example lets call it Business Mail.

2. Go to: Menu Bar --> File --> Import Messages --> Highlight: Windows Mail --> Next --> It should have auto selected the pathway to WinMail as the source folder --> Next --> Dot: Selected Folders --> Highlight: Business Mail folder (the name may appear edited with a number added to it) --> Next --> Finish.

3. The imported folder will be saved in Storage Folders --> Imported folders (1) --> Local Folders --> Business Mail. The name Business Mail will probably have been modified.

4. Manually move all the emails out of Business Mail folder to Business Mail sub-folder in your account folder Windows Mail.

5. Delete the folder Imported folders (1).

6. For a thorough clean-up. Open: Start Orb --> User name --> AppData --> Local --> Microsoft --> Windows Live Mail --> Storage Folders --> Delete the duplicate folders: Recovered Items (1) & Imported Folder (1).

I have come to realise your version of WLM works basically the same as mine, except mine did not auto set up accounts, only contacts. Whereas you have only one account in the left panel of main window named Windows Mail, I have two: Bern & Poppa.

It has also become clear that Method 1 of importing emails and folders as shown in my earlier post is not viable due the duplication of folders on the HD in AppData.

The method shown in this post is the preferred method if you've got WinMail installed and active in Windows 7. I have amended my post here accordingly.

OK, seems my question above was the ticket afterall. "I wonder if it would keep them intact if I import it which will put it into a folder called Imports, then move it as described in my other reply?"

It worked like a charm! No more < craparrows.com > in my emails header,lol Thanks PB

 

[poppa bear]

OK, seems my question above was the ticket afterall. "I wonder if it would keep them intact if I import it which will put it into a folder called Imports, then move it as described in my other reply?"

It worked like a charm! No more < craparrows.com > in my emails header,lol Thanks PB

Yes, all I've done basically is reiterate your method, the only small adjustment being to custom select the folder to import so you don't get the whole lot a second time. Not that it would matter much. You could just move the emails from your custom created folder in Storage Folders to your Windows Mail account custom folder of the same name,then delete all Imported Folders to get rid of the duplicate imports.

In Brink's tutorial on importing emails from WinMail in Vista to WLM, he first exports the messages from WM in Vista to a storage folder on desktop. And then uses the Import Messages option in WLM to import the messages from the desktop folder.

It would be interesting to see if he gets any problems like "< craparrows.com >" LOL! I may use his method to see what happens as I've still got Vista installed on HD.

 

[Greg S]

In Brink's tutorial on importing emails from WinMail in Vista to WLM, he first exports the messages from WM in Vista to a storage folder on desktop. And then uses the Import Messages option in WLM to import the messages from the desktop folder.

It would be interesting to see if he gets any problems like "< craparrows.com >" LOL! I may use his method to see what happens as I've still got Vista installed on HD.

Please post results, I'm interested. I promise, I tried every conceivable way but your/our last method was the most efficient way. Create the new folder under your user account within WLM window and importing just the items you want, then manually moving them to the newly created folder and deleting the empty Imports folder.

Forgot to mention, I am now totally satisfied with WLM. I know that I'm running the non Beta version but I really like it. I'm slow to catch on, so sometime in the future we may be doing this again when I go Wave 4. It may be distant future because the ribbon toolbars are a little too much for me.

 

[poppa bear]

In Brink's tutorial on importing emails from WinMail in Vista to WLM, he first exports the messages from WM in Vista to a storage folder on desktop. And then uses the Import Messages option in WLM to import the messages from the desktop folder.

It would be interesting to see if he gets any problems like "< craparrows.com >" LOL! I may use his method to see what happens as I've still got Vista installed on HD.

Please post results, I'm interested. I promise, I tried every conceivable way but your/our last method was the most efficient way. Create the new folder under your user account within WLM window and importing just the items you want, then manually moving them to the newly created folder and deleting the empty Imports folder.

Forgot to mention, I am now totally satisfied with WLM. I know that I'm running the non Beta version but I really like it. I'm slow to catch on, so sometime in the future we may be doing this again when I go Wave 4. It may be distant future because the ribbon toolbars are a little too much for me.

Hi Greg,

I used Brink's method for importing emails to WinLiveMail from WinMail running on both Vista and Windows 7, and it worked flawlessly for both operating systems. This basically involves:

1. Using the Export Wizard to export messages, (in the Windows Mail format), from WinMail to a storage folder on the desktop.

2. Using the Import Wizard to import messages, (in the Windows Mail format), to WinLiveMail, from the same desktop storage folder to which WinMail saved them.

• Notice that Windows Mail format is selected in both the Export and Import Wizards.
• There were no "< craparrows.com >" formats for any of the emails imported.
• They could all be moved to the folders of choice in either of my account folders of Bern or Poppa.
• All custom created folders are imported across.
• It was necessary to clean up Storage Folders on the HD in WLM udner AppData by deleting the folders: Imported folders (1) & Recovered items (1).
• There was one small glitch. In the custom created folder in WinMail, there was only one message stored. In the imported custom folder in Storage folders, the custom folder was re-named with a number on the end; and the email message was duplicated with two identical copies.

When you used the Import Wizard in WinLiveMail to import directly form WinMail, as opposed to importing them from a desktop folder to which they had been manually saved from WinMail.exe window, it worked OK with no "< craparrows.com >". This suggests the glitch is in the emails saved to desktop having the wrong file type, as opposed to the file type used by the Export/Import Wizard.

While the method shown in my post here worked when importing emails from WinMail in Vista to WinMail in Windows 7, it couldn't work between WinMail & WinLiveMail because the two programs employ totally different set-ups for email storage. In WinLiveMail they are stored in individual account folders. In WinMail they are all lumped together in Local Folders.

Overall I'm very happy with WinLiveMail... even a bit excited! I know the Ribbon is a bit daunting at first, but I try to think of it like the Menu Bar buttons being replaced by tabs. And when you click a tab, you get icon buttons instead of a drop down menu. The hardest part is becoming familiar with the location of the different buttons.

The value of the Quick Views folder comes into it's own when you are using multiple accounts. It can be very messy trying to find any one email by wading through them all. Quick Views shows all emails in all accounts, so in a way acts like Local Folders in WinMail. The only thing it doesn't do is show all custom folders.

There is also a Quick Access Bar, which is similar to the Menu Bar, and can be seen in this screenshot:

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It can be placed above or below the Ribbon by right clicking and selecting the option you want. It can also be customized to contain a number of shortcuts, as shown in this screenshot.​

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By clicking the Home tab twice, once, and twice again, there are three view formats.

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a) Screenshot 1 shows both the Ribbon and Quick Access bar visible.

b) Double clicking Home tab in screenshot 1 view shows only the Quick Access Bar as in screenshot 3 above.

c) Single clicking Home tab shows the Ribbon but hides the Quick Access bar. (No screenshot).

d) Double clicking it again takes you back to the first screenshot view with both Ribbon and Quick Access visible.

 

[primal]

Is it now accepted that it is better to use WLM than make WM work on 7 with the dll from vista? I lost is at that update and got it back by removing the update. But since the update is security i would like to have that

 

[Greg S]

Is it now accepted that it is better to use WLM than make WM work on 7 with the dll from vista? I lost is at that update and got it back by removing the update. But since the update is security i would like to have that

Hi primal, better would have to be based on your wishes and desires. Personally, I'm glad that I have switched. As to your security concerns with the WinMail way, I honestly don't know. One would think Windows Live Mail would be the securest but who really knows for sure.

 

[poppa bear]

Is it now accepted that it is better to use WLM than make WM work on 7 with the dll from vista? I lost is at that update and got it back by removing the update. But since the update is security i would like to have that

To obtain the security of update KB978542, download and install it, which will stop WinMail working. Now re-install the msoe.dl file shown in Step 4 on page one of this thread, which will allow WinMail to work again. To do this you will probably have to use Take Command to get rid of the existing msoe.dll before replacing it.

The msoe.dll in Step 4 is from WinMail in Vista which has had the msoe.dll modified by installing KB978542 update in Vista. The point is, if the update affects any other associated Windows 7 files in WinMail to enhance security you will still have this. And you will have the security issue fixed in msoe.dll itself because this was done in Vista by the update before the msoe.dll was imported.

Do NOT uninstall KB978542. If you do, the next time you run Win updater, it will install it again, which will modify the Vista type msoe.dll to a Windows 7 type msoe.dll which will bork WinMail again.

As for using WLM, as Greg S says, it is a matter of personal choice. However, Microsoft are committed to using WLM in future Windows operating systems, the next being Windows 8 which is currently under construction. And they are not going to provide an independent, stand alone email client, nor a patch for WinMail in Windows 7. What you have in WinMail working in Windows 7 is a hybrid application, which has not and can never be fully functional. For example, the auto SPAM filter doesn't work, and there are other things that don't work. This means that ultimately you will have to use WLM or 3rd party software such as Mozilla Thunderbird, which is not too bad an application, but lacks certain features which make it unaccetpable to me.

Cheers PB

 

[roncerr]

I used Brink's method for importing emails to WinLiveMail from WinMail running on both Vista and Windows 7, and it worked flawlessly for both operating systems....There was one small glitch. In the custom created folder in WinMail, there was only one message stored. In the imported custom folder in Storage folders, the custom folder was re-named with a number on the end; and the email message was duplicated with two identical copies.

Instead of using the import AND export wizards, I was thinking of using only the WLM import wizard (choosing the Windows Mail format) to browse to an external hard drive containing Vista's Windows Mail folder. I imagine that would create a separate folder tree within WLM containing my saved emails from Vista. I would also create new empty sub-folders in various places within WLM and drag groups of emails from the imported tree structure over to the new places where they would be integrated into WLM. Finally I would delete the imported (now empty) tree structure. I believe that's how I originally moved my OE emails over to WinMail. Any comments?