Solved Enabling Windows Mail in Windows 7

Mr GRiM

Mr GRiM

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Some people Running the Windows 7 Pre Beta 6801 have been asking about Windows Mail in Windows seven and where they can find it.

The strange thing is it is there but it's hidden and doesn't do anything when you click on it, although you will see it in task manager, so if you do want Windows Mail this is what you have to do.

First go to folder options and deselect hide protected operating system files and do not show hidden files, you will now be able to see the Windows Mail executable file which was previously hidden.

Next go to your programs folder and Windows Mail folder and take Ownership of all the files in there, you will need to do this one file at a time and Don't Forget to Give Yourself FULL CONTROL of each file.

Just in case there is another fix for this in the Future you may want to make a copy of this folder and keep it somewhere

Once you have taken ownership and given yourself full control copy all your files from Vista's Windows Mail folder and paste and replace ALL of the files in Windows 7 Mail folder.

That's it and DON'T try to click on the Original Hidden WinMail.exe file, if you do you will not be able to replace it, as it will run and you wont see anything but you will still need to kill the process in task manager.

Good Luck and don't forget do give me some Rep, Thanks!!
 
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Awesome!

When I saw there was no Windows Mail in 7, I was very dissapointed. I know they say POP mail is a dying breed, but I know tons of people including my self who still use it. I noticed the hidden Windows Mail folder and tried to use it but nothing happened. Goofed around in the registry for awhile, removed read only, took ownership, but nothing worked. I finally just gave up. I never even thought of something as simple as copying the files from Vista. Props man, you made my day.
 

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hey guys im trying to get the windows mail to work on win 7, however i cant seem to give FULL control or any permissions to any accounts. could you please help?
 

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Great Hack! The question is: Is it going to work in thefinal retail version of Windows 7? Also, I did it successfully with my build 7100, but I did NOT take ownership one file at a time. I took ownership of the entire folder. It worked GREAT!!

Uh-oh!! Not so fast. I find it won't open .eml attachments. Even after saving to a folder and creating the association. Clicking the file opens WinMail, but to a blank page. Still looking for a solution.
 
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Make sure windows mail is open to 'inbox', then drag & drop your .eml file in the top, click on the heading, and it should open right up. The only thing I haven't been able to figure out yet is how to get it to open when I click on a 'send email' link in a web page. It always tells me there is no default email handler. Already tried checking that off in the windows mail options thing, and even found a .reg file that's supposed to do that but doesn't. That's good enough for me though, I just copy & paste when I need to.
 

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Someone sent me this solution. It worked perfectly.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\eml_auto_file\shell\open\command

Double click on Default in right pane and change Value Data to exactly the following:

"C:\Program Files\Windows Mail\winmail.exe" /eml:%1
 

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Doesn't change anything for me, I copied/pasted it so its exactly as shown. I click on an email address , say in a craigslist post, and it's supposed to open the email program with that address in the heading, all it does is tell me "could not perform this operation because the default email client is not properly installed."
 

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I have a full permission copy of Windows Mail in both c:/program files and c:/ program file (x86) and it will not come up. It shows me an incon for a new mail message in the bottom right display icons and in the processes it shows a winmail.exe and a winmail.exe *32. It is not coming fully up. I am running a full registered copy of Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit. Any Idea's? Windows 7 Windows Live Mail is not working with QuickBooks 10. So I am looking for an email program I am used to that will work.
 

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I'm having the same problem, and when ever I do the Fix inside the normal "Program Files" (not the Program Files x86) it keeps opening repeatedly, and there's no way to stop it (other than shut the computer down)
I grant all the permissions to modify both Windows Mail folders (the one inside Programs Folder and Programs Folder x84) copied all the files from Vista and no good results.
I even tried to copy only the WinMail.exe file and still nothing.
I don't know what I can do next...
any idea of what I could be doing wrong?

I have a genuine Windows 7 home premium x64-bit
and my vista was a Home version 32bit
 
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There is a pattern I am starting to see and its that now that the full version of windows 7 is out the makers of windows 7 must have done something to stop us from starting it properly. After the vista launch fiasco they dont want people going backward.
 

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I know thread is old but I found it so.....
How to get it to open when I click on a 'send email' link in a web page & windows mail in win7.
I am no expert but after total frustration at all the complex answers to get windows mail in I found an answer in another site. So simple. Zip or copy all in windows mail from vista and in win7 rename one there to windows mail_old or whatever and then make new one and place all files from vista folder.

So send web link. All these didn't work so I guessed and went to (I use Fire Fox) to tools , applications, mailto and changed, had to browse to progam files, to windows mail and BINGO!:D:geek:
 

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Hi Mark: I have diligently endeavored to follow your instructions for enabling windows mail in windows 7. However, I am obviously not computer literate enough to understand the nuances of it all. Please contact me and give me detailed, step-by-step instructions explaining how to "take ownership" of a file(s). By that I mean, where to go, how to get there, right click or left click, etc. Or you could call me and help me via phone.
Please let me know something at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely, Freddie Johnson

Mr GRiM said:
Some people Running the Windows 7 Pre Beta 6801 have been asking about Windows Mail in Windows seven and where they can find it.

The strange thing is it is there but it's hidden and doesn't do anything when you click on it, although you will see it in task manager, so if you do want Windows Mail this is what you have to do.

First go to folder options and deselect hide protected operating system files and do not show hidden files, you will now be able to see the Windows Mail executable file which was previously hidden.

Next go to your programs folder and Windows Mail folder and take Ownership of all the files in there, you will need to do this one file at a time and Don't Forget to Give Yourself FULL CONTROL of each file.

Just in case there is another fix for this in the Future you may want to make a copy of this folder and keep it somewhere

Once you have taken ownership and given yourself full control copy all your files from Vista's Windows Mail folder and paste and replace ALL of the files in Windows 7 Mail folder.

That's it and DON'T try to click on the Original Hidden WinMail.exe file, if you do you will not be able to replace it, as it will run and you wont see anything but you will still need to kill the process in task manager.

Good Luck and don't forget do give me some Rep, Thanks!!
Click to expand...
 
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Update:

Modified method of enabling Windows Mail in Windows 7.

Since this original post was made, a simpler modified method has been developed which removes a number of conflicts found in the orignal method. Among other things it stops corruptions from Microsoft Updates, and when a Sysem File Check is carried out from the Run box using the command: sfc /scannow.

It also allows .eml email files to be opened on the desktop or in storage folders; deletes the WinMail splash screen at startup; and prompts to set Windows Mail as default mail server on first start-up.

This is a link to the modified method here.

Cheers PB
 

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tangentjohn said:
Great Hack! The question is: Is it going to work in thefinal retail version of Windows 7? Also, I did it successfully with my build 7100, but I did NOT take ownership one file at a time. I took ownership of the entire folder. It worked GREAT!!

Uh-oh!! Not so fast. I find it won't open .eml attachments. Even after saving to a folder and creating the association. Clicking the file opens WinMail, but to a blank page. Still looking for a solution.
Click to expand...
Hey there TangentJohn.

I've been trying unsuccessfully to find you on Windows 7 Forum for a long time now, because you did some posts there last year which included a link to Windows-Mail.reg and Windows-Mail2.reg which enabled .eml files to be opened on desktop.

I wanted to thank you for that, because they are incorporated as part of the WinMailEdit.zip regedit folder which I included in the modified method of enabling WinMail in Win7 in this post here in Windows 7 Forum. I've always been curious to know how you worked them out?

Also, you probably know by now, but Windows Mail is included in Windows 7 because it is used by Windows Live Mail. That's it's only intended purpose... but we know better now of course... Ha ha!

Cheers PB
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self built
    CPU
    Intel core 2 duo
    Motherboard
    Intel DG33FB, 2nd PC: Intel D915GEV
    Memory
    2GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia PCIE & onboard 2nd PC
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 226BW & Acer 17in standard
    Screen Resolution
    Samsung 3000:1 Refresh rate 2ms.
    Hard Drives
    500GB & 250GB SATA
    Case
    Cooler Master Centurion
    Cooling
    CPU fans & rear extractor fan
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless Multimedia & standard USB connected
    Mouse
    Microsoft Optical Wirelss & USB standard
    Internet Speed
    0.5MB/sec
    Other Info
    Main PC HD is divided into 4 partitons with XP Pro, Vista Ultimate, Win7 & storage. 2nd PC has XP Home. Used for purposes of email corrspondence, online accounts, recreation, and a hobby - not a professional.
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