For almost three years since the writing of the guide for reanimation of the Windows Mail client under Windows 7 operating system, it was found out that the theme is still in great demand, and users still don't like Windows Live Mail. Also since then Windows 8 came out, and got even upgraded to 8.1. I have been continuing to use Seven, yet not seeing for myself any clear reasons for moving to 8. My customers to whom I had been restoring WinMail during this period, have also been using Windows 7 by the moment. However, given that OEM-computers have been already coming with the Eight aboard throughout a long time, and the system shows good results, then sooner or later the question posed in the title of this article would have to be attended. It was found in the Web a solution to the issue, which I tested, corrected, supplemented, and am now introducing to the public.

The result has been tested on Windows 8 and 8.1, 32 and 64 bits. The sequence of actions for different bit depths is the same, but the files that are replacing the inactive ones in the Eight are different. If in doubt about the bitness your system - click: How to determine whether my PC is running Windows 8 of 32 bit or 64 bit.

If you have 32-bit operating system - download the following archive:

EnableWinMailWin8x86.zip.zip
2013-12-06   Windows  2.72 MB  2035	Download

Owners of the 64-bit OS should download the different one:

EnableWinMailWin8x64.zip.zip
2013-12-06   Windows  2.95 MB  3512	Download

1. Unlock the folder containing the WinMail files. To do this:

a) Run Add_Take_Ownership.reg, thereby activating the Take Ownership service. The package also contains Remove_Take_Ownership.reg for deactivating of the service.)

b) Open folder Program Files in Windows Explorer. To do this, press the keyboard shortcut Win+R, and in the input line Open of the appeared dialog Run enter or copy-paste the string %ProgramFiles%, then click OK. Find there a subfolder Windows Mail.

Same way as for the Seven, regardless of the OS bitness, work with the Program Files folder (not Program Files (x86) for 64-bit, which also has the Windows Mail subfolder).

c) Right click on the Windows Mail folder. Select Take Ownership in the pop-up menu.

2. Copy the content of the Windows Mail folder from the downloaded archive to the mail client's folder. Once you got the permission for the folder, the system allows you to replace the existing content of the folder with the new one.

3. Run the command file unhide.cmd with administrator rights (right click - Run as Administrator). This will remove the "hidden" and "system" attributes off the file WinMail.exe.

4. Unlike in the Seven, the library msidcrl30.dll, which is necessary for the functionality of Windows Mail, is missing in Windows 8 and 8.1. Each archive contains the version of this library corresponding to its bit capacity. Copy the file to the System32 subfolder of the system folder. You can open it also using the Win+R and input line Open of the dialog Run, typing there %SystemRoot%\system32, and finally clicking the OK button.

Thus, the long-suffering Windows Mail has been recovered in another version of Windows. Wonder when Microsoft will finally decide about it - one way or another?

After installing of some system updates, and especially service packs, Windows Mail may return to its disabled state. In this case, simply repeat the procedure. Mail accounts, letters, and settings will stay intact.

UPD: Those who use the interface other than English, should also replace the content of the language subfolder in Windows Mail - two localization files - with the same, but from Windows 7. Bitness of the operating system does not matter for language files.

UPD 2: For Windows 10 after Fall Creators Update (v.1709): Implementation of Windows Mail into Windows 10 version 1709.

UPD 3: Windows 10 after v.1709 - now MAPI is also back to work!!: Implementation of Windows Mail into Windows 10 version 1709. MAPI restored!.