How to enable Windows Mail app in Windows 7

Windows Mail is a program file of Windows 7 but is inoperable. This post shows how to:

1. Make the Win7 Windows Mail program operate by importing Vista Windows Mail program files to Win7.

2. Edit the registry so email .eml type files from Windows Mail can be read after being saved to the desktop or a storage folder.

Warning: This tutorial is quite old and:

Several of the links have become obsolete, so it is necessary to become member of the forum to use the files attached to this post.

Some Windows 7 updates either stop WinMail working or they won't install.

Being a hybrid app it won't perform all the operations of WinMail in Vista.

Please note:

This procedure should work even with another email client installed. However, in some environments Windows Live Mail has caused conflicts, and had to be uninstalled.

If you're using a 64 bit version of Win7: It will be necessary to import the 64bit Vista Windows Mail file "msoe.dll". And it must be pasted into the Windows Mail folder in the normal 64bit Program Files. Do NOT paste it into the 32bit Program Files(x86).

Footnote 3 - at bottom of page: Shows a picture of the location of Program Files & Program Files(x86)

How to Import Windows Mail files from Vista to Win7:

1. Download and run: "WinMailEdit" from attachments.​

Warning: It is critical to do this before carrying out step (3).​

2. Remove WinMail.exe attributes to show the hidden file "WinMail" in the Windows Mail folder.​

Open: Start Menu ==> All Programs ==> Accessories ==> Run.

Type in the following command, exactly as shown, in the Run box, or better still, copy/paste it, and then click "OK":

attrib -s -h "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Mail\WinMail.exe"

Note: In some environements this run command will not work, and it will be necessary to manually make hidden files visible. See "Footnote 1" below.​

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3. Open the "Windows Mail" folder in Program files, and take full control of the file "msoe.dll".​

Download and run "Add Take Ownership" from attachments. It includes a 2nd file, "Remove Take Ownership", if needed.

In Windows Mail folder ==> Right click: "msoe.dll" file ==> In drop down menu click: Take Ownership.

4. Download and save the appropriate Vista Windows Mail "msoe.dll" file from the attachments:

32bit msoe.dll file

64bit msoe.dll file

Paste this file into the Windows Mail Folder in Win7 Program files, replacing the existing Win7 "msoe.dll"

*Note: If it will not allow the paste, take full control of the Win7 "msoe.dll" manually as per "Footnote 2" below, and then paste.

Right click: WinMail.exe ==> Send to desktop as a shortcut.

*Note: If email .eml files still cannot be opened on the desktop, it may be necessary to manually edit the registry as per "Footnote 3".

5. To enable Windows Calendar in Windows Mail.

Import Windows Calendar as per the following post here.

Download and run "WinCalEdit.reg" from the attachments below.

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Footnotes.

1. Manually show hidden files and folders.​

Open any folder ==> Top Task ==> Click: Tools ==> Folder Option ==> View.​

- Dot: Show hidden folders, files and drives.​

- Untick: Hide empty drives... Hide extensions... Hide protected operating systems ==> Apply ==> OK.​

Note: After finishing the above procedure, restore View options to default.​

2. Manually take full control of files.​

Right click the file "msoe.dll" ==> Properties ==> Security Tab ==> Advanced ==> Owner Tab ==> Edit ==> Highlight User Name ==> Apply ==> OK ==> OK

Under "Security Tab" click: Edit ==> Under "Group or user names", the first entry is highlighted. Under "Permissions for System", tick: "Full Control" ==> Apply ==> Do the same for every entry ==> OK ==> Close.

Note: If the option to edit the entries under "Group or user names" is grayed out, take the following steps:

Under "Security" tab click: "Advanced" ==> "Change Permissions" ==> Untick: "Include inheritable permissions from this objects parents" ==> Click: "Add" in the pop-up window ==> Apply ==> OK. Then return to the security tab and edit to grant full control as shown above.

3. Manually edit the following registry key if it is installed.

Start Menu ==> All Programs ==> Accessories ==> Run ==> Type: regedit ==> OK

Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER ==> Software ==> Classes ==> eml_auto_file ==> shell ==> open ==> command

Double click: Default in right pane ==> Value Data ==> Completely replace by copying and pasting the following:

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

4. Picture showing location of Program Files & Program Files(x86).