Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
Windows Mail has been removed from Windows 7, along with several other applications. We'll look at where to find their replacements.
I did not realize Windows Mail is not included in Windows 7 Professional. Is there a way to add Windows mail?
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It's true - Outlook Express was replaced by Windows Mail in Windows Vista, but with the release of Windows 7 even that has disappeared, along with Windows Messenger and a few other items.
To be honest, that's good news for those of us who never used these tools.
But for those who did, it means an extra step or three.
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The official replacements are all now part of Windows Live. For Windows Mail, you can now download its replacement, the free Windows Live Mail. Miss your Windows Messenger? Grab Windows Live Messenger.
Microsoft has a page specifically directing you to the replacement applications: Finding your applications in Windows 7 .
So the replacements are there; Microsoft has simply removed the years of duplication by making Windows Live the official, single set of tools you can download and use if you like.
The problem, of course, is migration. The Microsoft page above indicates that you can Import directly from Outlook Express and Windows Mail folders stored on your hard disk. I've also seen advice to actually download and convert to Windows Live Mail before upgrading or installing Windows 7. (There's even one hack out there that supposedly allows you to copy the Windows Mail executable from your Windows Vista system, but I don't recommend it.)
The full list of applications "replaced" by downloads from Windows Live includes:
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Outlook Express -> Windows Live Mail
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Windows Address Book -> Windows Live Mail
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Windows Calendar -> Windows Live Mail
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Windows Contacts -> Windows Live Mail
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Windows Mail -> Windows Live Mail
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Windows Messenger -> Windows Live Messenger
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Windows Movie Maker -> Windows Live Movie Maker
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Windows Photo Gallery -> Windows Live Photo Gallery
And as I alluded to earlier, there's no requirement that you download or use any of these replacements.
In fact, it might be a fine opportunity to evaluate alternatives.
I've written a new article detailing the steps you might
take to move your Outlook Express email on Windows XP to Windows Live Mail on
Windows 7. You'll find it here:
How do I move my Outlook Express email from Windows XP to Windows 7?
Article C3912 - October 29, 2009
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
I use Postbox Express 2 which I got as a free download, although I believe one has to purchase it now. It is brilliant.
Posted by: Bob Bowen at April 22, 2011 9:08 AMHi
well i am using live mail in place of outlook BUT my Lenovo running Win7 is so slow when i sue live email anyone else had this ? am i doing something wrong?Norton keeps telling me Live mail usage of resources is too high????
Posted by: tim foster at September 6, 2011 10:40 AMHi,
Trend Micro suggested I update my windows so I clicked on the link it suggested and updated Windows from the Microsoft web page.
I have all my business emails on outlook express and now I cannot find them at all because the update has made Outlook 7 the default version.
In my program files I can still see a folder called Outlook express and it has icons in it.
How can I get my Outlook Express back so I can use it?
Thanks
Posted by: Sharon at December 15, 2011 6:36 PMSharon
@Sharon
Posted by: Mark J at December 16, 2011 4:09 AMWhenever you run Outlook it makes itself the default email program. If you run Outlook Express you should get a message saying that Outlook Express isn't your default mail client. Would you like to make it your default mail client? If you check the box OE will become the default. But any time you run Outlook it will automatically make itself the default mail client. As for the missing email, perhaps they were downloaded by Outlook and cleared from the server. In that case they should still be in Outlook.
have new windows 7. cannot ger aim to function as with XP. Is it a lost Cause??
31-Jan-2012