How to reinstate WinMail onto Windows 8/10/11

Thanks Endeavor!

Thank you so much Endeavor!

You made my day and saved me a night to do that research by myself. All your instructions are verbose enough and clear. Great stuff!

Oh, yes, forgot to mention my OS. It's Windows 10 Pro, v.1511
WinMail works as a charm.
 

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Thank you for your appreciation vintom!
It is for people like you who know how to show appreciation, is why I do it; well... to be honest, of course for my own use too!

You reference your v1511 install which is the most recent version released, of which I had just installed/tested WinMail on and posted a working screenshot of it too, is also known as:
Win10 Pro 1511 build 10586 (x86 or x64)
 

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Just go ahead. Windows Mail wont work afterwards though. Just replace the folder(s) as instructed in the link I just gave and it will work again.
Peter, Sorry for slow reply. Wife was in accident with no serious injuries but did have a compressed fracture in L1, will have surgery after 12/7. Anyway, thanks for your input & this may be off-topic but before I install new build, I have Classic Shell installed, should I uninstall it? I've backed up all my WinMail folders/files as recommended by you & Endeavor & was just wondering on question above. Thanks, Bill
 

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Post #10 was updated today - where I just added a link to another Screenshot showing WinMail installed on the latest update of Windows 10 Pro build v10586 is all. All instructions remain the same for the update procedure as they have been right along.

Post # 10 - How to re-activate WinMail on Windows 8 or Windows 10

Endeavor, I finally got around to Restarting so Windows 10.1511.10586 would install. It went through a long process & I thought well it's installing anyway but when it was all done after an hour+ it was not the right build but reverted back to build 10240 7 broke WinMail but I used your instructions and got it back in couple minutes. I did some research on the "BIG" November Build 1511 and found out MS pulled it & will slowly send it back out.
Anyway, thanks again for your time to come up with the easy to follow instructions.
Bill,
WinMail forever!!!!
 

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Endeavor, I finally got around to Restarting so Windows 10.1511.10586 would install. It went through a long process & I thought well it's installing anyway but when it was all done after an hour+ it was not the right build but reverted back to build 10240 7 broke WinMail but I used your instructions and got it back in couple minutes. I did some research on the "BIG" November Build 1511 and found out MS pulled it & will slowly send it back out.
Anyway, thanks again for your time to come up with the easy to follow instructions.
Bill,
WinMail forever!!!!

Hi Bill,

When I installed the latest build I just mounted the iso of it, then installed it from there, is the best way by far imho, and did not take more than 15 to 20 minutes. I'm not sure why it took you an hour, unless you have an older machine for processor power. Fresh install or upgrade depending on preference, if I upgrade though I always remove the huge Windows Old folder afterwards, since if I want to revert versions there is no question in my mind, I will do it via partition imaging software.
I'm not sure why you installed the wrong version, but of course it's all labeled and you can even do hash checks to verify what you're installing. I always sugest creating a C:\ partition image backup onto a different partition or via USB3.0 to a spare HD first, just in case, and so if you wanted to go back, it's much faster and way more accurate than a system software reversion.

Yes there is always a bug or two in each new versions, it does not bother me especially when it's an upgrade of versions off the first version. When the time comes which should be sometime soon, that I can call a certain build a final in its class, I will do a fresh install of it from scratch. Until then am just going along for the ride to enjoy the scenery so to speak, just getting use to it.

Anyway all is OT to the WinMail thread, including Classic shell, and so I'll stay on point. All have simple logical answers though anyway. Questions about those things though can be done under the right thread. (ps, hope the misses is okay ++)

The WinMail part is easy.

Best Wishes for everyone healthy in mind and body, and have great holidays!
 

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I can't link WinMail to my Windows Mail message store

Endeavor,
By following the instructions in post #10, it looks like I was able to (almost) get WinMail going on Win 10.

My problem, at this point, is that when I launch WinMail, I get this error message:

winmail err 1.JPG

Clicking OK gives this screen:

winmail err 2.JPG

What ever directory I select (from the two I have listed below) I get this message:

winmail err 3.JPG

I have lots of memory and my disks are only half filled.

Part of my problem may (or may not) be that a couple of years back I installed an SSD as my new C:/ boot drive and ended up with a dual boot system. There are Windows Mail folders in both the Programs Files folders on my C: and D: drives. Before the Win 10 upgrade my WinMail under Win 7 was running out of the D:/Program Files folder.

Looking around, I have found multiple Windows Mail message stores in Users\Me\Appdata\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail

WindowsMail.MSMessageStore.2013_11_27_17457 11/27/2013 47,120 KB on my C: drive (this one looks like a backup)
WindowsMail.MSMessageStore 12/02/2015 30,736 KB also on my C: drive
WindowsMail.MSMessageStore 02/06/2013 43,024 KB on my D: drive

The WinMail folder I set up is on my D: drive in place of the one that was working under Win 7.1.
However, the most recent Message Store appears to be on the C: drive.

Any ideas?
 

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Hi John,

From your screenshot background that looks like x64 right, you might want to change your spec to say x64 instead of just Win 10 Pro. Sometime these details are important for sure.

Speaking of screenshots you did a good job of outlining your problem.

I've never encountered that particular problem myself, but there was someone recently that pm'd me with a similar message store prompt message, but I don't know if they ever got it resolved.

It's always something simple, however it might not be in this case because of a number of reasons and what you did to cause this issue. Thinking outloud here, if you imported you old message store into the new one and clicked some wrong buttons, or some other function similar you did setting up WinMail.

Also I myself triple boot on each of my Primary partitions, and yes of course WinMail is on all my different OS's since Vista, However! in my case, I don't use a standard or definitely not the built-in boot loader of the OS, no way do I want MS or any particular OS boot loader system files getting its paws into any one of my other OS installs; iow, installing OS's allowing it to place 'any' of its OS files throughout any other of my primary partitions or even logicals is strictly not allowed on any of my setups! period! ...specifically because for those very reasons. On each Primary partition of mine, only One OS is allowed to be set active and set visible at any given time, the other two are Always set Hidden. When I install a new OS - all other primary partitions are set in-active, and set hidden, so that the built in boot loader does not see or activate, AND, it does not place any of its files within any other primary partitions. When I boot to other partitions OS's, automatically the one that it's leaving, is set inactive and set hidden (...anyway, all of which is very OT to WinMail so I don't want to digress here)

Back to your issue, in order to solve your current problem I need to be able to reproduce your problem, and then develop a reverse for it. I would need to have your exact movements of what you did to duplicate it, and then resolve it, and/or your computer and keyboard in my hands to figure out how to set it straight.
Also as you know I am a big supporter of everyone use a partition image backup software program, so that they can restore OS partition images at will, backwards or forwards in time, which allows them to have god like power over most all situations - I wish we could do that in real-life with our lifes' timeline - LoL

You should only have One:
''C:\Users\you\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail'' folder and its specific related files within it's folder.
(once you start fooling with files or accounts in this folder, or news or local folder (needs to be done only by an Expert user) ..then all bets are off, but once you do and the registry picks up various incorrect targets, then again you're in trouble! Some type of registry and/or system and/or partition image restore is necessary to set it aright again.

I do know one thing for absolute sure, is if you install your OS anew, with it being the only OS seen on your system, and following proper importing guidelines, fresh installs are better, then absolutely you will be able to reinstate WinMail every single time without any problems.
 

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Fixed it, thanks Endeavor

Well.... I just gave up, deleted all of the Windows Mail folders I could find in Program Files (there were a few of them) and then redid it all using your downloaded Windows Mail folder.

Took all of three minutes.
When I started up WinMail my thousands of old emails were still there and it immediately downloaded all of the new emails I had missed over the past week.

Works great. Thanks again.:)
 
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Nice job then John,

In order for you to still have those emails then you had to of... well it's complicated to type it all out.
It's unlikely if you created multi-folders within your incoming WinMail folder that they would have stayed in order within the same folder structure. I don't care for restored folder structures either.

Yes my message store from way back to Windows95/98/etc, etc, etc ...goes with me in each new OS install I do. Looking at my current inbox my first email goes all the way back to the early 1990's LoL!
I have swapped my email store from one OS installation to another different one yes, but I will not even outline the procedure.
Not many people do it, it's a complicated procedure sort of, well not if you have the exact steps written out; I've even forgotten most of it of which I mean ''to have it in my accessible brain memory that is'' ...and of course I would have to refer to my notes I made to myself. Next time I have to do it I need to organize my notes to myself better...I know I can succeed in doing it, but I would not walk anyone else through it and don't want to be responsible, and only advise installing from scratch and importing, etc.
Yes swapping email store folders within ''the same OS'' but just different timelines (from restored partition images) ..is very easy since the registry markers are all the same number, so it's just a delete/copy/paste of that entire folder. I do that part all the time.

Anyway, nice job, and happy holidays everyone
 

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In order for you to still have those emails then you had to of... well it's complicated to type it all out.
It's unlikely if you created multi-folders within your incoming WinMail folder that they would have stayed in order within the same folder structure.

That wasn't a problem for me. I've never had folders within folders in my Local Folders.
 

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I have successfully followed all of these steps and now have windows mail working on my computer, thank you. I do have a question though if I may - is there anyway to make it look clearer, the font seems bold and blurry if that makes sense, when I ran this on windows 7 it was really clear. thank you in advance.
 

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Glad you have WinMail itself working Zas
Your expressed concern doesn't seem like a WinMail issue at all though.
No one has ever mentioned this problem either fwiw.
The problem lies elsewhere I imagine.
Are the font's bold & blurry in notepad or other GUI's?
You have the right video card drivers installed right, etc...?
Have not messed with system wide font settings previously, etc?
Is this a fresh Win10 install, or something you have had right along?

edit: test screenshots
edit: deleted
 
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Its a new computer with windows 10, I previously had windows 7 which I really liked... I have adjusted the display settings to 125% but everything is pretty clear apart from windows mail! I tried putting it back to 100% and it was a little clearer but also a lot smaller.
I also have a driver updater and all my drivers are upto date. I wonder if it's because I used the files that were in the thread rather than collecting my own Winmail files from my other computer, but I can't see how that would make a difference really.
 

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As you can see by my screenshots on page 1 of Windows 10 and WinMail, the fonts of email renders look normal, and are fine.

I can say with certainly that on a Windows 10 default install, and a WinMail default re-activation of itself - and everything left in its default settings, that the font renderings are normal looking.

The files I uploaded on page 1 are the ones I use.
If you had a working WinMail on Windows 7 then you can use yours if you want, actually they pretty much should hash check the same, although yes there are slight Vista file version variations of the WinMail programs folder files that could work depending on your Vista update process at the time you copied your WinMail programs files out of it, but none of those would affect font renderings, as long as you stayed true to the entire process throughout your WinMail history and transfer of its files.
 

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Thank you for the reply, Actually it stopped working, the shortcut disappeared from my desktop! I went through all of the steps again and the same thing happened. Although I love windows mail I am going to look for an alternative, but thank you so much for your help anyway. :)
 

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You're welcome Zas, and I hope you have very good holidays.

fwiw, the only way that the shortcut or the programs exe would disappear is if you do not have your folder options settings to show system files and un-hide extensions since the WinMail.exe has the HSA attributes, all of which was covered in the beginning posts if you're able to understand their intentions technically. However rather than explaining all those details, if you had followed the instructions exactly you would not have any problems at all. There are no font problems with WinMail's fonts and is surly something you have done erroneously.
If you are more comfortable with moving on to a supported Mail Client then I recommend wholeheartedly that you do that please, and to anyone else, since the procedure to reinstate WinMail is for medium to advanced computer users, but at that the procedure is simple yet requires understanding and close attention to known computer related details.
 

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I did actually follow all of the instructions exactly as they were written and I did it not once but twice. Each time it worked for a little while and then the icon disappeared from my desk top.
I am pretty savvy when it comes to this stuff, not an expert by any means but I can follow instructions and I did. I don't know what happened, and I am not going to worry about it,
I would, as I said, prefer to use windows mail but I have found a reasonable alternative called OE Classic. It is a simple and straightforward layout, and they have amazing technical support and are working on bringing in more features to make it more like the old Outlook Express and of course more like our friend Windows Mail.
So thanks again for your help, and for anyone else who may have issues with re-installing windows mail, check out OE Classic.
 

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Endeavor,
By following the instructions in post #1, it looks like I was able to (almost) get WinMail going on Win 10.

My problem, at this point, is that when I launch WinMail, I get this error message:

winmailerror.JPG

[....]

Any ideas?

John, going back to Your Post
...I know you had already solved this John without ever realizing what you did to fix it, but another user came across this problem as well and I quickly realized and could see that can only happen when one tries to work with the WinMail folder in the ''Program Files (x86)'' group - and that's when if you try and start it from there you will get that same prompt.

The answer was/is when working with WinMail on x64 bit versions of Windows (same as x86) ..you always only work with the WinMail in the ''Program Files'' folder only, and you do not touch the ''Program Folder (x86)'' group.
 
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I've tried going through all of the posts to find an answer on setting Windows Mail as the default client in Windows 8. I downloaded a registry import file from the Windows 7 that allows Windows Mail to be set as the default, but what I cannot seem to do is set up the MAILTO protocol to launch Windows Mail. This way I can send a message from another app. However, Windows Mail shows up as selection for defaults.

WinMail.jpg
 

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