Computer Technology Tip

New Email Program from Microsoft         Don Trauger - Kennett

Last month I mentioned that Windows 7 does not have a built-in email program like Outlook Express in Windows XP or Windows Mail in Vista. To rectify that situation insert this link: http://download.live.com/wlmail into Internet Explorer's address field and press the Enter key to download Microsoft's new email program. This new program features, among other things, a spelling checker, an appointment calendar, and a junk mail (Spam) filter. Maybe the best part is that this free program also works in XP and Vista too.

At the download site click Download on the right side of the Web page to download this new email program. Click Save and save it to your Desktop by selecting Save in: - Desktop at the top of the window. Then click Save at lower right of window and then click Close. Also close Internet Explorer. On your Desktop double click the wlsetup-web.exe file to start the installation and click the Run button. You will then be presented with a window to install other Microsoft programs. Review them closely but I would only leave a check next to mail and remove the other checks. Next, click the Install button. In the next window uncheck "Set your search provider" and "Set your home page" and click Continue then Close. You may now delete the Windows Live Mail setup file (wlsetup-web.exe) from your Desktop.

Next, click Start go to All Programs and locate Windows Live and move the mouse to the second Windows Live (at right) and right click it. Move the mouse to Send to, then left click on Desktop (create shortcut). You should now have a new shortcut on your Desktop for Windows Live Mail. Double click it to open the program. If all went well everything including your address book, settings, and messages will be copied over to the new email program from Outlook Express or Windows Mail. There's no fiddling around to get it to work properly.

Windows Live Mail or WLM has some major interface changes from Outlook Express and Windows Mail. First it has a soft color to it and almost a lack of contrast. Actual messages however are clear and easier to read. Major points are the New button at the far left top replaces the Create mail button, the Sync button replaces the Send/Receive button, and the address book is now named Contacts.

So now you have 2 email programs on your computer. How should you handle this scenario? What if you don't like the new one? First, the important issue is which one should handle the incoming email? Open Outlook Express or Windows Mail and click Tools, Accounts, highlight your email account, Click Properties, click the Advanced tab, and under Delivery place a check next to "Leave a copy of messages on server". Click OK and close any open windows. Do the same thing with Windows Live Mail. First, click the button on the left next to the question mark on the top at the far right. Click on "Show menu bar". Then follow the procedure I previously described. Now both programs will be setup to share incoming messages in case something should go wrong. After a period of time when you have decided which program will be your choice you may uncheck the Delivery option so all your email will be downloaded to your program of choice. You may uninstall WLM in Add/Remove programs but you can't uninstall Outlook Express or Windows Mail.

If you are adding this program to Windows 7 it will not have your address book, settings, or messages from your old computer. First, use the export feature of Outlook Express or Windows Mail in your old computer and save the information to a flash drive. To do this open Outlook Express or Windows Mail, click File, move to Export and select Address Book and/or Messages. After saving the information plug the flash drive into your Windows 7 computer, and use the import feature of WLM in Windows 7 to configure it. Open WLM, click File, move to Import, click Messages, and navigate to the flash drive. To add your address book click Contacts on left side in Windows Live Mail, click File in the window, move to Import, click Windows address book (.WAB). Adding your email account in WLM in Windows 7 is partially automated. Click Add e-mail account on left side.

To learn how to export and import, as well as view other options available in this new program, come to our PC Club meetings. We meet the 2nd Tuesday evening of each month at 7:00 PM upstairs in Winfield Hall.

To get answers to your questions about computers, please come to the PC Club meeting. The computer club meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in Winfield Hall.