How to reinstate WinMail onto Windows 8/10/11

caseym54 said:

As for the clean backup etc process of 1, 2 & 3. I'm not sure.

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??? Your not sure???
..I'll take that as a no then.

I had some issues with a corrupted message store, and I deleted the msg store file

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You say you deleted a "File" ?
(you see words and details matter here) When it comes anything to do with message store corruption, there is no single message store "file" to delete to solve that corruption problem, it's the "entire" folder of..
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail
..that must be deleted in its entirety. You delete the entire folder. Doing anything else less is just prolonging and more complexing the corruption problem. The entire folder is all inclusive and the files and emails within are all interconnected together. Message store corruption cannot be solved unless the entire folder is Deleted and let rebuild fresh anew with all new acct #'s, OR, after deleting the whole folder and before re-starting WinMail the MSF gets replaced by a previously known 100% working MSF; or again, in order to start a new MSF, then the only way is to start from scratch and that is to delete the entire MSF without replacing it, starting WinMail with no MSF in place, and that is a fresh and proper from scratch, rebuild anew.
I've repeated myself though, but all the information of what to do in each situation is contained in the:
Spoiler: Backup/Restore Procedure 1, 2, 3 on page 1

PS, edit:

caseym54 said:

Well, the first question I had was "is this common?" and the answer is clearly NO.

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FWIW, your Amazon script error may be something different than message store corruption though. I've personally never encountered that error yet. It's interesting that there are lots of hits on this error out there concerning Windows Live Mail, for instance, as shown at this link: Here
..but again, I've never encountered it on anything I've done with this WinMail tutorial for vista's "Windows Mail" and exclusively only use this tutorials method, and files, to reinstate WinMail. I've just searched this EightForums and the SevenForums tutorial, and there's not even one post ever mentioning it there either.

I get lots of emails from Amazon, and almost every one is accompanied by an error box, that I need to click on before I can read the rest of the email.
It's a freakin' Script Error, and I've not even tried to "Fix" it. I just click it OFF and go on. I can't remember getting it from any other source than Amazon.
So I just consider it Their problem and not mine.
As they say in N.Y. ,,,,, "Forgetaboutit!"

Hi Guys,

Can i move my WinMail from 1809 to 21H2 (different devices)?

yako2k3 said:

Can i move my WinMail from 1809 to 21H2 (different devices)?

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Hello yako2k3,
You've posted many times before, so I assume you use WinMail and have read and understand the complete tutorial before, and so you already know that the answer is - yes of course the MSF can be moved to different computers and OS's.
I talk all about how to do it throughout the tutorial but mostly within the Backup/Restore Procedures 1, 2, 3
However since you asked the question it concerns me, and I don't want you to mess up your WinMail setup as it is now.
(btw, I like v1809) ..using WinMail gets trickier from v1607 on, and even more from v1809 on, as you will see.

Please read these next suggestions:
On page 1 tutorial, please read the entire spoiler called:
Important Time Line Notes:
Read it all, but especially taking notice from Note: 2/2018 and onward.
..and then of course after understanding all that, then please read the:
Backup/Restore 1, 2, 3 Procedure, completely.

Actually read the entire tutorial again.
All the information is there for you. I do not offer individual help via PM but I always try to help on the forum where I can, and actually have answered and talked about your questions answer many many times before in the forum.

If you are unsure or don't feel confident then just don't do it.
Whatever you do, please be sure to have backups!
Not only to have a Backup/Restore 1, 2, 3 Procedure made Before you begin..
..but also a full partition backup image saved too, just in case.

Zas said:

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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I just re-instated WinMail to brand new (fully updated drivers) laptop with 1920*1080 resol. And the same issue happened to me (it was happened to my old laptop but it was 1280 resol and i dont remember how i fixed it). Now i will look for the solution again. (Backups are coming from old laptop now, after restore them, i will look for the fix blurry issue)

yako2k3 said:

I just re-instated WinMail to brand new (fully updated drivers) laptop with 1920*1080 resol. And the same issue happened to me (it was happened to my old laptop but it was 1280 resol and i dont remember how i fixed it). Now i will look for the solution again. (Backups are coming from old laptop now, after restore them, i will look for the fix blurry issue)

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Found it. The third solution is worked for me.

Hi Endeavor,
had to freshly install Win10 on main PC due to 12 years old SSD died.
Installing WinMail went all ok thanks to the tutorial. However one problem still exists. WinMail refuses to open .doc files, claiming there is no App for this - although I have
MS Word installed and it is also listed among default apps for .doc files. Problem only with WinMail and .doc files, all other files like .pdf or .rar or .zip WinMail sees and is able to handle just fine.

Thanks for your advice / help.

Hello Haunted, I'm glad you got WinMail going again on your main PC.

I once had an SSD go bad myself, but of course I had a backup image of that OS partition saved, and so I just placed a new SSD in and imaged the OS right back on it without missing a byte.

Haunted said:

WinMail refuses to open .doc files, claiming there is no App for this

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I'm trying to understand what you mean here, because WinMail only opens .eml file extensions, not .doc

In case you mean "if you can attach a .doc file" ..I just tried it on Win7 (and also on Win10 too) and I can attach a .doc just fine, as well as right click on a .doc file and Send To Mail Recipient, and that attaches fine too - So I'm not sure what you mean?

Anyway on post #2 a little after step 15, shows you two screenshots (within the spoiler) of how to set WinMail as the Default Mail Client, etc, if that's somehow affecting what you mean?

No, that's not what I meant. Sorry I must have expressed myself wrongly.
I mean opening files attached to the email messages. All open fine except for the .doc - WinMail cannot find associated program to open these, although I have made appropriate association in Windows settings. What could have gone wrong here?

Haunted said:

I mean opening files attached to the email messages. All open fine except for the .doc - WinMail cannot find associated program to open these, although I have made appropriate association in Windows settings. What could have gone wrong here?

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~Show a screenshot to see this
~It does not sound like a WinMail problem though, and more like a .doc association problem.
~If when you open any .doc file that is physically located on your computer, (Not when it's in WinMail attachment mode)
..and you d-click to open it, does it open there when actually located on your computer? (..and not within WinMail)
~What version of Office is installed ?
~Also maybe check in Options the settings you have check-marked on your Security tab, see screenshot below:

EDIT:
PS, btw,
I never have Win10's Windows Defender turned on, but I know the updated Application Control versions these last few years, depending on what and how you have it setup, but setup from a fresh stock install it can get really fussy with some files holding them.
I turn Defender and its Application Control stuff, OFF, but having said that of course I certainly use a quality brand AV instead. ymmv.

Getting Windows Mail to work on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 was as simple as deleting everything out of the C:\Program Files\Windows Mail folder, and then replacing those files with the ones from Vista. Make a shortcut of WinMail.exe to the desktop and job done.
I've actually done that several times, so I know very well that "It Works"!

However getting Windows Mail to work on Windows 10 or 11, is a whole different Bucket of Worms.
I tried everything in the Tutorial, but only got as far as WinMail.exe opening and showing the Welcome email. However when attempting to open 'Accounts' so I could create a new account, I get nothing. Something's missing, but I just don't know what.

TM

TechnoMage said:

Getting Windows Mail to work on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 was as simple as deleting everything out of the C:\Program Files\Windows Mail folder, and then replacing those files with the ones from Vista. Make a shortcut of WinMail.exe to the desktop and job done.

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Technically that's not entirely true and is an incomplete statement as is. Win8 is Definitely different than Win7 with WinMail, and even at that, Win7 requires more steps than what you said to have everything work 'Properly' ...the right WinMailEdit.reg and proper msoe_86or64.dll need to be present for Win7 - both supplied in that tutorial at this link here:

For Win8 or 8.1 to work 'Properly' with WinMail definitely requires the steps and files on Post 1 of this threads tutorial, and doing steps 1 through 10.

Of course for Win10/11 requires both Post 1 & Post 2, and all steps to be done and done Exactly!
If something does not work then you did not do all the steps correctly, sorry, but it's a simple as that, period, no exceptions; yes I'm that positive. Many years with this.

However when attempting to open 'Accounts' so I could create a new account, I get nothing.

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Here, make sure when you copy files to their target locations, don't get fooled by the sometimes confusing Win10/11 replace prompts; iow, make sure you actually follow through with making 100% sure the files actually gets placed! I strongly suspect this problem of yours happened just like that, when you went to replace the ACCTRES.dll in the System32 folder - it did not take, did not actually replace/place itself, therefore you have the wrong version. Either way can cause that Accounts button not to open; and/or the acctres.dll.mui that goes in the System32\en-US folder to match that file - the same thing and both Will Cause just the the Accounts button to be inactive, and not open when you click it.
*Also further note: important ..read the small fine print on the end of Step 13 Post #2 !
So please do that one again. Both of these files are given in post 2 of the tutorial as "x64-System32.zip" (or x86-System32.zip) depending your OS bit.

Besides Post 1 & 2, please read posts 3 and 5 too. So much to know, but once you get it, it's easy; that is until on Win10/11 a Windows Update is done and it breaks it all again; but all that is covered throughout the tutorial, what to do and how to prevent WU, when necessary, on Post 5.

Hi endeavor,

Three years ago I finally decided to build a new computer and install W10 for the first time.
I had always used Windows Mail on Vista and W7 and was looking for a way to keep using it with W10.

That’s when I was fortunate enough to discover this website.
Although the tutorial is a little vague and the author somewhat confused at times, I’ve now managed to successfully reinstate WinMail three times (W7 to W10 v1909, v1909 to v20H2 and most recently W10 v20H2 to v22H2).

Yes, I am pulling your leg, of course!
Thank you so much for the great work, for sharing the fruits of your labour and for your incredible willingness to help us “cling desperately” to WinMail.

Long live WinMail!

From a grateful Swiss “disciple” and a fellow “stickler for details”

agev
Btw, Win10 feature updates and upgrades to W11 are blocked.

Thank you so much for the great work, for sharing the fruits of your labour and for your incredible willingness to help us

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You're welcome agev, and I appreciate your comments.

From a grateful Swiss “disciple” and a fellow “stickler for details”

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Yes details are so important, and it's incredibly difficult to jam pack written detailed information one on top of the other, diverted into spoilers for outside brevity, as well written to cover all languages that would be reading/translating English words. It took many months of my life, but no complaints, it was fun to me and I'm good at it ( I do get frustrated sometimes with the drive-by's I admit)

Details, Details, Details, and so I say for those that follow the details from post 1 through 5 like you, especially Win10 and morso Win11, then reinstating WinMail is pretty easy but you have to keep up with it and control over WU. It's certainly not easy for the average causal user, and they should use something easier.

My greatest appreciation from users is that when they use the Like button on posts and especially the Tutorial pages post 1 thru 5, and although I am 100% a volunteer here and get absolutely $ nothing for the work done, it's just all about the feel good of helping those that like WinMail. That's it.. just a feel good.

Is there a list of WIn10 updates that break a working Winmail installation?

Failing that, does updating to 22H2 from a fully patched 21H2 version break Winmail?

caseym54 said:

Is there a list of WIn10 updates that break a working Winmail installation?

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There is no list but it's usually during a major upgrade of OS version numbers that set off an inspect/reset of the OS code previously removed, whereas small per item updates will not (if they even make them any more) but to be honest I've not paid attention because I personally prefer to only do fresh installs of what I feel is the OS at its peak version build - and stay with it, and lock it down and rarely do any updates. I'm not one who needs to have every single update there is, but again ymmv. This puts me in a position to never have WinMail get broken, unless I'm fully aware of it. What I've always said you always need to have a Backup/Restore Procedure 1, 2, 3 done and ready to go. I make one at least once a month (actually I make a full OS partition backup and could pull what I need from that) ..but again my OS's are all locked down and will never do any update unless I let it. That way I'm always in charge. See the second half of post 5.

does updating to 22H2 from a fully patched 21H2 version break Winmail?

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Both Win10 & Win11 carry those builds. Anyway depending on what version build you are coming from, and updating to, can remove any OE legacy code as mentioned in the post 1 spoiler of Circumvented Info 6/2017, with features removed or deprecated in Windows 10:
<<Features and functionality removed in Windows client - What's new in Windows>>
..of which any OE/WinMail legacy code that we put back in this tutorial to make WinMail work, will be removed again.
However by re-running the tutorial again puts WinMail back together, and so irregardless it's imperative to just always have a saved working copy of the Backup/Restore Procedure 1, 2, 3 done/saved beforehand - if you want the opportunity to have all your WinMail MSF, etc, able to be put back all together how it was before the update, or it's unrecoverably lost. See tutorial for complete info.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

caseym54 said:

Is there a list of WIn10 updates that break a working Winmail installation?

Failing that, does updating to 22H2 from a fully patched 21H2 version break Winmail?

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I clearly remember that updating to 21H2 DID NOT break my working Winmail. I will however wait with 22H2.

BridgeHead said:

Like some others here, I had gmail issues due to 2FA that were solved using an App Password. But I now have two accounts that are Microsoft 365 accounts that stopped working. It seems Microsoft is turning off Basic Authentication account by account. I am able to generate an App Password but it doesn't work (either because admin hasn't enabled something or Microsoft Exchange isn't allowing app password from winmail). For the moment, I am forwarding emails from the affected accounts to others that work and can at least view emails but SMTP isn't working either, so can't send out. Bummer!

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Hi there,
Did you find a way how to connect Microsoft 365 account on your WinMail ?

Antibody has fix the integration of Microsoft 365 account on WinMail ?
My WinMail on Win 10 is starting and working, but I cant add my e-mail form Microsoft 365 like an Exchange Server.
Thanks

Does anybody know how to connect WM to Outlook 365 Exchange account ? (on win 10)