Enabling Windows Mail in Windows 7

[Tom]

I've enabled Windows Mail in Windows 7. Since it isn't enabled by default I assume Microsoft won't be issuing updates for it, how significant is this ?

Don't need to hear about Windows Live Mail, not interested in using that.

 

[Nothinman]

I would say very significant. Most exploits these days are delivered via email or web pages since those are the easiest methods for getting content onto people's PCs. Using a piece of software that downloads, interprets and displays content from untrusted sources and is effectively unsupported or abandoned is just opening yourself up for exploit which seems pretty dumb to me.

 

[Tom]

I would say very significant. Most exploits these days are delivered via email or web pages since those are the easiest methods for getting content onto people's PCs. Using a piece of software that downloads, interprets and displays content from untrusted sources and is effectively unsupported or abandoned is just opening yourself up for exploit which seems pretty dumb to me.

It's pretty unbelievable that MS abandons email in their OS, it's as if the designers look at what users do with their computers and decide oh, lets stop supporting the most basic things.

 

[Nothinman]

It's pretty unbelievable that MS abandons email in their OS, it's as if the designers look at what users do with their computers and decide oh, lets stop supporting the most basic things.

They didn't abandon it, you're intentionally ignoring the mail client they included with Win7.

 

[Tom]

They didn't abandon it, you're intentionally ignoring the mail client they included with Win7.

Ok, maybe you can explain how it's the same. My understanding is in order to use Windows Live Mail, I have to login to windows Live. So since I use 5 gmail accounts for email, I will end up duplicating all the email i have on gmail, on Live. Is that right ?

What I used Outlook Express and Vista windows Mail for, was to get my email from mail servers on to my computer. When Gmail came along I decided that having access to my email on gmail.com too was ok, sometimes even useful.

I don't see anyway that having all my Gmail on Live is in any way beneficial. I don't need a second Web based location for all my email.

And as per usual Microsoft design, Windows Live Mail does a bunch of stuff I don't want. I don't need a new way to send photos via email, the old way works fine. I don't need a new way to sort email into folders, I have always done that using rules. I don't need facebook integration in my Contacts, my Facebook friends aren't the same as my email contacts.

The ribbon interface is incomprehensible to me at first glance. I assume it's possible to find things that used to be in the tool menu for example, but I can't figure out why things are where they are.

The calendar idea is ok, but does it work with Google calendar ? If not it's not useful.

Underlying all this is the knowledge that the old useful Windows Mail actually does come with Windows 7, it's just hidden and disabled. It's so blatantly obvious that MS wants to force people to use Live, not because it's actually useful, but because of the potential revenue stream, either from advertising or subscription based OS..

It would have been fine with me if MS never put an email client in Windows, or a browser, or fax, photo browser, etc. It's really annoying that they just decide to drop things though. Particularly when it's driven by their attempts to coop somebody else's better idea, like Gmail. They aren't content to compete on a level playing field, they have to drag OS functionality in to the fight at the expense of their customers.

 

[Dahak]

Ok, maybe you can explain how it's the same. My understanding is in order to use Windows Live Mail, I have to login to windows Live. So since I use 5 gmail accounts for email, I will end up duplicating all the email i have on gmail, on Live. Is that right ?

You do not need to have a windows live id to use windows live mail, it works like any other 3rd part email program.

 

[Nothinman]

Windows Live Mail, despite the name, is the successor to OE. It's the new low end email client for Windows and should work just fine with Gmail and without a Live account.

If you don't like it, don't use it. It's that simple. There are lots of 3rd party mail clients for Windows.

And if you don't like the path MS is taking you're free to stop using Windows as well. I've been a desktop Linux user at home for over a decade now.

 

[Tom]

I'm also free to bitch about that that I don't like. Thanks for the info about not having to login to Live to use it, if it functions without connecting to live maybe it will work for my purpose.

Although since it has changed quite a bit I suppose switching to Thunderbird might be just as easy since either option is going to take some time to get used too.\

 

[Nothinman]

I'm also free to bitch about that that I don't like. Thanks for the info about not having to login to Live to use it, if it functions without connecting to live maybe it will work for my purpose.

Although since it has changed quite a bit I suppose switching to Thunderbird might be just as easy since either option is going to take some time to get used too.\

True but you're also free to not get any helpful replies when people realize that your bitching is unfounded and pointless.

 

[KeypoX]

windows live mail is awesome, no need to use hotmail or anything. I use mine for gmail and my spam hotmail account. Thunderbird has its advantages, but i like the win live stuff.

 

[spikespiegal]

Um, there's a problem here.

Micrsoft gimped SMTP badly in Win7 and Server 2008. I've already run into scenarios where point of sale software that runs on Server 2003 won't run on 2008 because MS gutted their onboard mail client. MS's tech response was to use a different product.

My opinion is MS should have either gutted Win Mail completely from the platform and just admitted they want people to migrate to Win Live. I've no problem with that.

Frankly I hate software that leeches off Mapi32, Active X from IE, or built in SMTP rather than include their full client. This is perhaps the biggest reason I'm seeing Server 2008 not displace Server 2003 that quickly. Or the fact that 64bit is really a solution in search of a problem in most cases.

 

[Tom]

Thanks for straightening me out people.

I guess I should have known that just becasue it's called Windows Live Mail and that it prompts me to log-in to Live the first time I started it, that it doesn't actually need to use Live.

 

[Nothinman]

Um, there's a problem here.

Micrsoft gimped SMTP badly in Win7 and Server 2008. I've already run into scenarios where point of sale software that runs on Server 2003 won't run on 2008 because MS gutted their onboard mail client. MS's tech response was to use a different product.

My opinion is MS should have either gutted Win Mail completely from the platform and just admitted they want people to migrate to Win Live. I've no problem with that.

Frankly I hate software that leeches off Mapi32, Active X from IE, or built in SMTP rather than include their full client. This is perhaps the biggest reason I'm seeing Server 2008 not displace Server 2003 that quickly. Or the fact that 64bit is really a solution in search of a problem in most cases.

How is SMTP gimped in Win7 and Server 08?

People reimplementing the same protocols, file formats, etc is hugely wasteful and a security nightmare so it shouldn't happen at all. Standard system libraries should be used whenever possible. I absolutely loathe software that comes bundled with it's own copies of everything the OS already provides.

 

[eplebnista]

Thanks for straightening me out people.

I guess I should have known that just because it's called Windows Live Mail and that it prompts me to log-in to Live the first time I started it, that it doesn't actually need to use Live.

No live login for me either and live mail was able to import all of my ISP email info/saved mails from my old xp OE system with no problems.

They did hide a lot of the configuration options in different sub-menus in Live Mail that were fairly easy to get to in OE.

My only gripe with Live Mail is the fact that every account has its own set of folders and unnecessarily bloats the mail sorting process.

 

[tcsenter]

How did you enable Windows Mail in Win7? I have a friend who doesn't like Windows Live Mail at all, prefers Windows Mail in Vista.

BTW, the first time you run Windows Live Mail, it will push a Windows Live account sign-up or login. Just cancel out of it. Then, I think it will give you the option to 'don't show this again'.

Also, in the advanced options/settings for Windows Live mail, I seem to recall a setting for Windows Live Mail account login (automatically log-in to Windows Live, or something like that). You can toggle/uncheck it.

 

[corkyg]

Here's another big negative against using WinMail in 7. Yes, it can be done easily, but everytime you get a critical Win 7 update, it will neutralize the WinMail installation and you have to re-copy it. This is a PITA. Use LiveMail, T-Bird, or even G-Mail itself. I like my good old Eudora Pro because it has the best mail management system around. Makes it really easy to copy mail files and folders from one machine to another.

 

[JackMDS]

Here's another big negative against using WinMail in 7. Yes, it can be done easily, but everytime you get a critical Win 7 update, it will neutralize the WinMail installation and you have to re-copy it. .

+1

As an example if you have hacked Win Mail on your Win 7, it will cease working once you apply Win 7 SP1.

 

[Tom]

Yep. It also seems to stop Win 7 SP1 from installing.. i have 2 laptops, the one with the hacked Win Mail, Sp1 won't install by Windows Update or downloaded.

I think that's the only difference between them and SP1 installs ok on the unhacked one.

Since I'm using Windows Live Mail now, is there a way to customize the ribbon ? I know how to hide it, but is there a way to make it take up less room when it's visible ?

 

[IksokChoy]

Here's another big negative against using WinMail in 7. Yes, it can be done easily, but everytime you get a critical Win 7 update, it will neutralize the WinMail installation and you have to re-copy it. This is a PITA. Use LiveMail, T-Bird, or even G-Mail itself. I like my good old Eudora Pro because it has the best mail management system around. Makes it really easy to copy mail files and folders from one machine to another.

Corgy, I replaced Live Mail w/ The Vista Mail as per your posted instructions before. Does this mean I have to redo that again after the Win 7 Update to bring back the "Vista Mail" ?

 

[Nothinman]

Corgy, I replaced Live Mail w/ The Vista Mail as per your posted instructions before. Does this mean I have to redo that again after the Win 7 Update to bring back the "Vista Mail" ?

That's what he's saying, yes. And it also seems that you may have to undo all that to install SP1 and who knows what other future updates.

 

[Emulex]

install thunderbird and be happy its free

 

[JackMDS]

If email and its management is really important to you get Outlook.

Otherwise, my second choice is the free portable http://www.essentialpim.com/

 

[Nothinman]

If email and its management is really important to you get Outlook.

Otherwise, my second choice is the free portable http://www.essentialpim.com/

Outlook is only the defacto standard because of it's integration with Exchange, not because it's good. There's so much about it that's terrible, two major pieces being it's IMAP support and the black boxes that are PST files.

 

[corkyg]

That's what he's saying, yes. And it also seems that you may have to undo all that to install SP1 and who knows what other future updates.

Yep! And, it is not a barrier to installing SP1, however, that installation will again neutralize WinMail.

 

[WelshBloke]

Why would you want to use an obsolete unsupported MS product over the new one?