How to Reinstate WinMail onto Windows 8 or Windows 10 ..including Server
Windows 7 users go: Here
..updated October, 2019..
Windows 7 users go: Here
..updated October, 2019..

Microsoft no longer supports Windows Mail, aka WinMail. It's recommended you use another well known supported email client. Using WinMail on Win8 or especially Win10 is not supported, and is a special per-user decision who understands completely that reactivating WinMail 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 makes 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 Win8/10/Server, these issues are programmatic and in most cases cannot be resolved by this tutorial, and will never be fixed.
Having said all that disclaimer, if you have the technical ability, and can put up with the annoying minor by-product bugs, then like so many of us still enjoy using vista WinMail on Windows 8/10/Server ..ymmv!
Having said all that disclaimer, if you have the technical ability, and can put up with the annoying minor by-product bugs, then like so many of us still enjoy using vista WinMail on Windows 8/10/Server ..ymmv!
..The default language of this tutorials install is English..
Important Time Line Notes - Must Read (click spoiler)

Note: 2012 ..if you run SFC /SCANNOW on Win8/Win10/Server (not Win7) ..most times it Will Break WinMail's operation each time you run it since it also overwrites many of the necessary files within your Windows Mail folder - the way to fix it is easy, once again take ownership of the Windows Mail folder, delete it, and copy/paste a new Windows Mail folder in its place. Also know if you update from Windows 8 to 8.1 and especially Win10/Server, as well with doing many major MS updates that come along, they Will stop WinMail from working by overwriting many of the needed WM programs folder files, change permissions.. ..but no problem, take ownership of the Windows Mail folder again, delete it, replace it with a new one, apply reg file(s) where appropriate, all of which are supplied in the latest attachments.
** Note: 7/2016 ..if doing a repair, then before proceeding, to clear any errant instances of WinMail.exe still running: reboot, or 'end task' on WinMail.exe ...iow, if you're doing a repair of WinMail because it won't start after an update, and you had been clicking WinMail.exe numerous times to get it to open but it wouldn't - then be sure to first reboot Before you start the repair to Clear any errant instances of those WinMail.exe that are still running (there can be many) ..or instead of rebooting you can open Task Manager and 'end task' on any/all running instances of WinMail.exe - but in any case you do it Before you proceed to delete/replace the program folder. The point is you can't (it won't let you) delete it if any instance of WinMail.exe is still running.
Note: 2/2018 ..for Windows 10 latest builds v1709+ or Server 2019+, it is to know that after installing Updates and it breaks WinMail, you will have to re-do All The Steps on Post 1 & Post 2 again - trust me here, it's just faster/easier doing the complete way in the long run! You see, some updates delete/change a few files and registry entries, while others do it much more aggressively removing most all WinMail files and code, and so it's Much Quicker, More Efficient, Complete, and all inclusive to just run the entire procedures again to catch/fix all changes at once! A fresh install of Win10 1709+ now Requires both Post 1 & 2 anyway ..Feel Confident no matter how many times you run this Tutorial, its files and procedures were specifically made to Not change any current_user settings or message store, and so nothing of that will be touched. When you're familiar with doing the procedures, you'll be able to do it all in just a few minutes!
Note: 7/2019 ..for Windows 10 users who upgrade builds over an existing one on v1903+ ..As We Should Always Do Once A Month Anyway, but Especially Before Any Installs or Upgrades - is to First, Create Full WinMail Message Store Backups Before Doing Anything! Recently some people with their WinMail client working well, had upgraded to new Windows 10 builds, and after going through the full WinMail tutorial afterwards to re-instate, only to find their existing WinMail message store was left corrupted from the 'upgrade process itself' experiencing the Save, Send, or Receive error messages 0x800C013E or 0x800C103C similar to these screenshots as shown below:
..Or even without getting any error prompts shown above some users stated it would not send or receive, or just close. The easiest fix to resolve these errors after you had run though all procedures in Post 1 & 2 again, is to then perform a full Restore of the Backup/Restore procedure below, and you'll be back up and running like new again in minutes.
! 9/2019, because of v1903+ upgrades causing many message store corruptions lately, I've now made the Backup/Restore Procedure Step 1 ..Everyone should create a Full Backup now ..and then periodically, but Especially Before You Upgrade!
If however you Did Not


To save yourself all this effort and lost mail, etc ..simply follow the Backup & Restore procedure as outlined in its spoiler below, and create and maintain a recent Full Backup in advance to have ready


(..if in a pinch, and by chance you are geek and lucky enough to have saved a Partition backup of your C:\ Partition at some point, and it had WinMail installed on it, you can also pull that dated message store folder out of it and use that if necessary)
One final note for everyone about this issue, don't mistake Send/Receive errors specifically related to not having your Accounts> Properties> Server & Advanced tabs not filled in properly, with Message Store Corruption Send/Receive errors ..of course these Account setup errors are a different issue.
When first setting up your Accounts, Everyone needs to check with and follow their Own particular Mail Server setup instructions given for these settings, and each company whether it be Comcast, Yahoo, Gmail, etc, each seems to be different in one way or another so be attentive; and whether you use IMAP or POP.
____________________________________________________________________________________
fwiw, before running this tutorial I've always temporarily disabled UAC, and the latest versions Windows Defender, just so as not to be bothered by any unnecessary nuisance prompts, but of course ymmv. I use a different AV anyway..
Caution: The Win7 Tutorial procedure will Not Work to reinstate WinMail on Win8/10/Server, or vice-versa!
Do not use the attached WinMailEdit.reg here with the one given in the Win7 Tutorial either because it's only for Win8/10/Server! ..if you do then during first install you'll lose SFC usage protection from breaking Win7 WinMail.
Use each tutorials own install procedure for the OS that it's posted for! Only the Backup/Restore Procedure is the same for all.
Warning: Besides Windows 8, if you're keeping a Windows 10 version Before v1709 installed for your use, then Do Not Use Any Attached Files on Post 2 or it will break your WinMail installation! .In conjunction with Post 1, Post 2 is used additionally Only for Win10 v1709+ and Sever2019+ users only!
<tidbit> If there are any Win10 v1703 users out there who still want to stay on v1703 in its older build b16193 or earlier (i can't imagine anyone but just in case) ..understand you can't upgrade past its b16193 point or it'll break WinMail's operation: see spoiler below "Circumvented Info 6/2017"; if however you specifically want v1703 but want to install its latest build (beyond b16199) you still can, but besides post 1 you'll now need to also include post 2 procedures to fix it. Note: in the tutorial to avoid any confusion with these v1703 build specifics, instead of listing v1703_b16199+ ...I just list it as v1709+
Note: Anywhere in the tutorial that there's a + after a version number, indicates it also includes all versions beyond that one; for instance, when it says v1709+ means v1709, 1803, 1809, 1903 and so on. Same with Server 2019+
Important WinMail Backup/Restore procedures! - Must Read (click spoiler)

WinMail Backup/Restore Procedures
I've now made this Step #1 to encourage you to create a Backup, Before, you do a Windows Update or Upgrade! It will prove to be of ultimate benefit going forward.
Do yourself a big favor right now - First, Create Backups! ..this is for those who already have a previous or current fully working WinMail setup to draw from, otherwise for those who do Not yet already have a fully working WinMail installation to make backups from, skip step 1, your WinMail setup will end up @ default. Of course later when you get WinMail all setup fully working how you want it, this is when you make a Backup, and keep it current. The only time you create a Backup, or do a Restore, is on a Fully Working WinMail setup; or a Restore after you've finished the procedures for your OS version, either after Step 12, or Step 15.
Now I know at the bottom of this tutorial there is a link for a Built-in Import/Export Backup and Restore (Vista Version) and that's fine and is an alternate way of doing it although not nearly as good or complete as what I will explain next, which is specifically for 'WinMail to WinMail' setups; I Much Prefer to do it this next way for a number of beneficial reasons.
This next method is used when you already have WinMail fully setup with all options and settings the way you want, and contains years of Accounts and their settings, Emails, Newsgroups, and all their Folder structures, all your GUI settings, etc, so before you upgrade or do anything - be sure to create this full version backup for safety, so you can always easily recover from any message-store corruptions or whatever happens; or you can also Transfer it to another computer, or even Transfer your entire WinMail setup to different OS's right back to Exactly how it was on the source the day you created it, without the need for 'importing' which never gets things like folder structures right anyway.
This is a direct backup, and assumes you're using the default message store location folder.
There is nothing more comprehensive and completely accurate than this next manual Backup/Restore procedure.
Important: Please be sure to have read in the previous spoiler "Important Time Line Notes" Note: 7/2019, and realize just how important it is that you always have available a recent Full Backup of these Backup/Restore procedures below, and the consequences if you don't with lost mail data - I can't impress upon everyone enough of how important this is going forward!
Create Backups:
On your latest, fully working ..already setup, WinMail, right click and create a zip backup on this Message Store folder:
C:\Users\yourcomputername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail
..also referred to as: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail
It contains All the individual Folder Structure layouts within WinMail, and All Mail/News Emails, All Accounts* info, etc.
AND, Importantly, Also be sure to:
Regedit right click Export this entire folder key on your latest WinMail setup, that's already been fully setup and options done:
"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Mail"
It contains all settings for the WinMail GUI Layout ..all Tools> Options Settings, Columns, Rules, etc.
In WinMail go to Tools> Accounts> and highlight each Account and click the Properties button, and click the Servers tab, and write down or better yet copy/paste into a text file the username & password ..Do This For Each Account! ..no worries Everything else throughout there gets saved automatically in the above process of the message store folder save.
Tip: if you forgot your password and want to reveal what's behind the xxxx bullet asterisks, use This Program to reveal them.
(fwiw, on Win10 upgrades especially, I prefer not to use the import/export .iaf account files method to prevent account mixing of xxxx.oeaccount info etc, of a before and after upgrade conflict - Use the full Backup/Restore procedure here instead assuring to prevent those problems)
The reason for these backups is three fold: To easily repair/recover from a random WinMail corruption, or an OS upgrade that caused WinMail message store corruption, or having any type of unresolved Save, Send, or Receive, error messages; or to transfer your perfectly working WinMail setup from a previous build or OS version to a new one. And so Always create a full WinMail message store backup procedure BEFORE you upgrade! ..to always be ready to efficiently and easily recover.
Be sure WinMail is Closed when you do any of these backup or restore procedures!
To Restore:
When you do a fresh install of a new Windows OS, or an OS Upgrade, or Update, and then to setup WinMail again afterwards you first run through the appropriate steps on its corresponding OS WinMail tutorial first - in order to reverse the WinMail regression done. Now before opening WinMail and After re-running the appropriate WinMail tutorial again, next, you Delete the message store folder that's there, then extract the zip of your Latest saved message store folder in its place, and also merge the latest saved registry export of your personal HKCU reg saved above, so that when you open WinMail it's already setup Exactly like its source in every detail, fully setup with All Emails, Accounts*, Settings, and complete GUI layout, etc.
*The only thing you'll have to do is re-enter the password of your mail and news servers in the Accounts> Properties> Server tab password slots for it (or instead when you first connect to your mail server will prompt you for it to enter, and then checkmark the remember box) ..You should know what your servers name/pass are anyway (have them saved in txt file somewhere) Everything else gets restored Exactly as it was on your recent source - it's so elegantly simple to do. You'll never need to use an Import button on a 'WinMail to WinMail' setup or transfer again - it's a hundred times faster and much more accurate matching its complete source layout.
Obviously 'Always' keep your backups current! ..and Be Careful when you replace the Current Windows Mail message store folder: ..first you Delete it, then extract your zip backup one in its place - understand it needs to be at the Exact Path! You can select to Extract Here, but no matter what just Be Sure you don't end up with two nested 'Windows Mail/Windows Mail' message store folders one inside the other or it'll break default path and corrupt. Also do NOT extract/copy/paste over itself (on top of) the current folder and its contents which would cause mixing and 'for sure' corruption! ...so understand you need to Delete the old folder first, then, place the working backup one in its place! That's So Important!
If you forgot or did not make a message store Backup (Don't Let That Happen!) ..especially for Win10 before an upgrade, and you have WinMail message store corruption errors of any kind, then see within the above Timeline Notes Spoiler ..and scroll down to the Note: 9/2019 ..on how to recover from scratch.
This same 'WinMail to WinMail' Backup Information above applies to all - Vista/Win7/Win8/Win10/Server.
There is nothing more comprehensive and completely accurate than this manual Backup/Restore procedure.
Caution: Naturally this procedure won't transfer properly for those who have message store corruption on their Source setups! ..It also may not work correctly for those who have moved their message store folder from its default location to another! ..So don't use it! A modified backup/restore procedure would have to be done (which has not yet been specified) or, on your new setup when you reinstate WinMail not using the Backup/Restore procedure, instead do the rest of the tutorial which starts a fresh WinMail and sets it up from scratch. Then if needed because of a non-WinMail mail client source, you can use the built-in import features, it's not as good, but certainly better than nothing.
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Win8/10/Server x86/x64
Reinstate WinMail: (Please understand everything on these posts is for advanced computer users only)
1. Imperative, Before Proceeding To Upgrade Your OS, Especially Win10 users! You First create a full 'Backup' of the Backup & Restore procedure of your current, working, WinMail setup. Read the Backup/Restore spoiler above how to do that. Also see Time Line Notes 7/2019 !
2. Go to Folder Options, and set these settings as shown in my screenshot below: (click spoiler to see screenshot)
3. Install Brinks Take Ownership reg from Here (..or for Win10 Here, but registry lines are identical)
4. Then right click on your "Program Files\Windows Mail" folder* and click Take Ownership
* ..always using "Program Files\Windows Mail" folder only! ..x64 users Never touch/use that other folder there called: ''Programs Folder (x86)'' !
5. Then right click on your "Program Files\Windows Mail" folder, and Delete it **
6. Then extract, and copy/paste the attached, x86, or, x64 'Windows Mail' folder in its place... (match your OS bit)
All the Correct files needed are Attached at the bottom of these posts to download - confirm and match your OS bit, x86 or x64; you cannot mix files from one bit into the other!
7. Create a shortcut from the program folder 'WinMail.exe' file you just copied there - to the Desktop (use to start WM 'After' you're all done)
8. extract, copy/paste the attached "msidcrl30.dll'' file over to "C:\Windows\System32\msidcrl30.dll'' (again match your OS bit)
9. extract, merge the attached WinMailEdit.reg (..this reg is for both x86 and x64)
10. extract "Update_5-2018.zip" (bug fix) copy/paste revised msoe.dll to WM programs folder (thanks dadreamer for your work on this and its reg)
11. For Win10 v1709+ / Sever2019+ users only, continue to Post #2 to finish before opening WinMail; otherwise go to step 12
(anywhere in the tutorial that there's a + after a version number, indicates it also includes all versions beyond that one)
12. You are done..
~ Start WinMail and she opens immediately...
...from here you setup the Windows Mail client as normal...
(click spoiler for more info within)
For those users who already had WinMail working great on another computer setup, and have done a new fresh OS install elsewhere, or have bought a new computer, or have updated their OS, etc, and want to transfer that other working WinMail message store setup, GUI layout, settings, etc, completely 'AS IS' to their new computer setup (or even same setup) please go back and fully read and understand the 'Backup/Restore Procedure' spoiler on how to do that.
You can do a Restore at anytime After you're finished with your WinMail re-instate procedures for your OS version, which is either after Step 12, or Step 15 ..depending on OS version.
You can do a Restore at anytime After you're finished with your WinMail re-instate procedures for your OS version, which is either after Step 12, or Step 15 ..depending on OS version.
After correctly doing steps 1-12, I had WinMail start up in minutes within each of these OS's shown below:
..installed/tested on both x86/x64
Here's some first open WinMail screenshots I made in 2012 using it on Win8 beta CP, then to Win8.1 Pro, Server 2012 R2, Server 2016
(click spoiler to see screenshots)
Here's more WinMail screenshots made on the first Win10 Preview, then to Win10 pro v1507, v1511, v1607, v1703_pre-b16199
(click spoiler to see screenshots)
(click any images to open full size)
Win10 Technical Preview
Windows 10 v1507, b10240
Windows 10 v1511, b10586
Windows 10 v1607 b14393
Windows 10 v1703, b15063
..anything beyond b16199 with v1703 here, also requires post #2 procedures to fix it - for more info see spoiler "Time Line Notes" <tidbit>
Win10 Technical Preview

Windows 10 v1507, b10240

Windows 10 v1511, b10586

Windows 10 v1607 b14393

Windows 10 v1703, b15063
..anything beyond b16199 with v1703 here, also requires post #2 procedures to fix it - for more info see spoiler "Time Line Notes" <tidbit>

All new screenshots for newer versions of Win10 & Server will be in Post #2
________________________________________
6/2017
Microsoft has removed the OE legacy code of WinMail, see within article here:
Features removed or deprecated in Windows 10
This further affects/breaks Win10 WinMail users starting at Windows 10 v1703 b16199 onward
Windows 8 and Windows 7 WinMail users were unaffected
Updated 5/2018
WinMail is now working again on Windows10 v1703_b16199+ (onward) ..see/implement Post #2 to fix it!
(to avoid any v1703 build confusion - I just list it as v1709+ ..see <tidbit> in Time Line spoiler)
Microsoft has removed the OE legacy code of WinMail, see within article here:
Features removed or deprecated in Windows 10
This further affects/breaks Win10 WinMail users starting at Windows 10 v1703 b16199 onward
Windows 8 and Windows 7 WinMail users were unaffected
Updated 5/2018
WinMail is now working again on Windows10 v1703_b16199+ (onward) ..see/implement Post #2 to fix it!
(to avoid any v1703 build confusion - I just list it as v1709+ ..see <tidbit> in Time Line spoiler)
For using WinMail on Windows10 v1709+ ...see Post #2 for more information
All new procedures & screenshots for these newer versions of Win10 & Server will always be put in Post #2
_____________________________

As of October, 2019 the instructions given here supersede all other instructions given in forthcoming older posts. Realize some of the posts that follow are nearly 8 years old, and many of the link pointers within have become mis-linked 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
...Always refer to this Tutorial post for the very latest updated information
Good luck, thank you, and long live WinMail

...click the Like button below when you're done, it's appreciated...
Related Tutorials
- Backup/Restore Procedure 'WinMail to WinMail' (See Backup/Restore Spoiler Above)
- Built-in Import/Export Backup and Restore (2007 Vista Version)
- Windows Calendar - Import into Windows 7
- Windows Mail - Windows 7 Help Forums
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