Windows Mail & 7

[Hagarthehorrible]

OK.. this should be a quick & simple problem for anyone who has made the jump to Windows 7 to answer, but I need to ask it anyway.

When in the initial phase of my 7 upgrade I was greeted with the following message.

Windows Mail is no longer included in Windows; however your e-mail files and settings will still be available after the upgrade. To send and receive e-mail you will need to install a new e-mail program. You can get e-mail programs from other software manufacturers or from the Microsoft website.

Does this mean that Windows mail will no longer be available after I do the upgrade? ( I can hear the chorus of "well duuuhhhs! now.) Or will my existing copy of Windows Mail be there unscathed?

I can live with an alternative client like Thunderbird, but certain female residents of my home may not be overly thrilled about any change. And as any married guy will testify - if the missus aint't happy - ain't nobody happy!

[Platypus]

I can't say for sure, as my Windows 7 is a clean install, not an upgrade.

But it's intended that Windows Live Mail (http://download.live.com/wlmail) will supersede Mail for all Windows versions.

[MobilePCPhysician]

Windows 7 has not been released to the general public yet. Any version you have, should be considered a beta. That means you should not use it as your primary means of computer usage. Dual boot??

Make the female people in your house use the previous version of Windows. that would keep them happy for awhile longer.

[NooNoo]

Either download WLM or install Thunderbird. What the message means is that if you use WLM, WLM will read the settings file and storage files and convert them into WLM. There is not much difference between WM and WLM for my money.

Sound advice Mobile, however, I have to say that W7 is pretty damn stable and the beta testers are encouraged to use it as their primary computer - just back up often!

[Hagarthehorrible]

Thanks for the advice guys. Definitely wise words.

I'm an eight year MS Beta guinea pig and "7" seems to be their best offering yet. I dual booted Vista when it was still Longhorn but decided to pass on the DB option when a friend with the exact same PC did a clean install without issue. He just did it without Windows Mail.

My impression is that the OS is stable enough to use it full time. The last time I was this optimistic was when I got my mitts on the beta of XP back in spring 2001.

I know that 7 doesn't come with its own email service but when the install takes place does Windows Mail get uninstalled during the upgrade?

[slgrieb]

For my money, I'd keep 7 as a dual boot, because my understanding is that MS doesn't plan to offer an "upgrade" option from the Beta, so the release version will require a clean install.

[Hagarthehorrible]

Thanks for the info. Doing a clean install of Windows has never been an issue here. I usually do that every spring. Am I unusual in doing this or am I just a glutton for punishment?;)

Wait a minute - I'm married - I guess that answers the question!

[slgrieb]

No doubt about it, a fresh installation can keep your system running at peak. I just balk at the various software reinstallations and configuration changes involved in getting your system running the way you want it. At about the 2 year mark, I'm thinking about wiping the drive and doing a fresh installation of Vista Business, but I'm still willing to put up with a minor annoyance or two. Vista has been very, very good to me.