Windows Mail Problem With Windows 7 Upgrade

If you use Outlook Express (Windows XP) or Windows Mail (Vista) there’s something you should know about Windows 7 – there’s no bundled email client.

The problem is, I don’t know what will happen to your email if you upgrade to Windows 7 before moving your email to a third-party email client. Is it still somewhere on your computer? If you add a new email client after upgrading to Windows 7 will it still import your email and settings? Microsoft doesn’t say.

Which means you should migrate to a new email client before you upgrade.

I don’t know how many people still actually use Microsoft’s built in email client. I’m doing a survey now of all of our clients to see if any of them still use Outlook Express or Windows Mail.

There are plenty of third-party email clients out there. The one we use is Mozilla’s Thunderbird. I’ve also added the Lightning calendar add-on, and there are lots of other add-ons you can use.

You can also try migrating to a web-based email client like Gmail, Windows Live Mail or a ton of others. I have always used a local email client (installed on my computer that downloads my email) to control backups and have better search capabilities.

But, here’s my recommendation. Download and install Thunderbird. When it installs it will ask you if you want to import email and settings from your current email client, whether that’s Outlook Express or Windows Live (or any other  installed email client for that matter). Click Yes.

Once you have Thunderbird installed use it for a few days to make sure everything is working properly, then do your upgrade to Windows 7.

This may also be a good idea if you are buying a new computer with Windows 7 and want to move your email from your old computer. It’s easier to move your Thunderbird email onto your new computer than OE or WM.

Just install Thunderbird on your new computer and move your profile over. Your data is located at C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\xxxx.default

The xxxx is a randomly generated name. Delete the profile  installed on your new computer and replace it with the profile off your old computer.