Where is Windows Mail, or Outlook Express, in Windows 7?

http://www.microsoft.com/library/media/1033/windows/images/windows-vista/features/screenshot_Windows_Mail.jpg

Where is Windows Mail, or Outlook Express, in Windows 7?

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.

"The official replacements are all now part of Windows Live."Microsoft has an 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:

Outlook Express -> Windows Live Mail

Windows Address Book -> Windows Live Mail

Windows Calendar -> Windows Live Mail

Windows Contacts -> Windows Live Mail

Windows Mail -> Windows Live Mail

Windows Messenger -> Windows Live Messenger

Windows Movie Maker -> Windows Live Movie Maker

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.

Download:
http://download.live.com/wlmail