Resolved Future Windows 7 user.

When I learned that Windows XP support was going to end in 2014 I started looking at Windows 7. I use Windows XP in the Classic mode as far as the Start Menu and page views are concerned and I also use Outlook Express to handle my POP3 & SMTP mail from my ISP, Time Warner Cable. I also have a lot of programs that I use on my XP and I just can not afford to buy new ones. I rely heavily on Microsoft Office 2000 programs such as Front Page, Excel and Photodraw.

An acquaintance of mine told me that as a Christmas gift she will get me a new Windows 7 Home Premium computer. I also have found a site where I can get an Anytime Upgrade key to upgrade this to Home Professional because of the XP Mode feature.

The first thing that concerns me is the email. I learned that Windows 7 does not come with an email program and all the sites recommend Windows Live Mail. I tried it out for a while and I really do not like it. I have been working with Outlook Express so long and I have become very comfortable with it. As a last resort, not one I look forward to, I could make an investment in the Outlook program.

The second is the Classic look. I have gotten so used to the Classic look I am sure that somewhere out there there is software that someone has used that can bring that Classic look to Windows 7.

I would appreciate it if some of you more experienced Windows 7 users would suggest a good email program and a good program that would enable the view and menu operation to closely resemble the XP.

Any input would be graciously accepted.

Thank you

 

I have used both OE and WLM in XP, and I can't really see that much difference in the two except that WLM gives you a few more bells & whistles. And then there's Thunderbird from Mozilla, which is free, too, but it has been so long ago since I used it that I can't comment on how well it functions.

If you don't like WLM or Thunderbird, I suggest going with MS Outlook. You could probably find the 2007 MS Office suite online for a decent price compared to just the Outlook program itself. Outlook is the best email program out there in my opinion.


There is one other option if you want to keep using Outlook Express on your new machine...

How to use OE in Windows 7​

I didn't take the time to read all of the OE install alternatives for Windows 7, but it sounds like you may need the upgrade option to make this work.

May I suggest Classic Shell (free program) that can make Windows 7 look a lot like XP.

I think Windows 7 is a great operating system. I made the switch back in June, and I like it very much - not to mention the pleasure of working with new hardware to boot! I hope this helps. Maybe some of the others can offer some suggestions here too.

 

I think these are the important points to note from your Post James.
2. Use "XP Mode" in Windows 7 Professional (or more advanced versions)

If you have a computer with Windows 7 Professional (or more advanced versions -- not Windows 7 Home version-- see http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/compare/default.aspx), then you can add a feature known as "XP Mode" (see http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/features/windows-xp-mode.aspx. To upgrade your version of Windows 7, see here, http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/windows-anytime-upgrade). This Windows 7 add-on gives the user the capability of running Windows XP as a virtual operating system window on the the user's Desktop, so the user experiences a "computer-within-a-computer" type of system. Within the virtual Windows XP operating system the user can run Outlook Express and use all of its functions as one can in a "regular" computer. Users with compatible computers can download the "XP Mode" add-on here, http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx.

You cannot fix Outlook Express

Users must keep in mind that the same issues that are currently problematic in Outlook Express will continue to be problematic. Microsoft will not fix Outlook Express, so the user will need to take the usual precautions. Particularly they must make frequent backups of the messages within their virtual XP systems as they will be susceptible to the known fragility and instability of the dbx file system used to hold the OE messages.

In addition, they should continue to maintain their virtual XP systems via Windows Update to keep their systems up to date with security patches. Microsoft will continue to provide security updates for XP (SP3) until 2014 (see http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3223).

Otherwise a very good suggestion. Neil.

 

Thanks, Neil.

I guess the best bet would be to purchase Outlook, or get used to an OE alternative - such as your Thunderbird.

 

Thanks for the input. I have already located the site for the Anytime Upgrade key to upgrade the Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional and it's only $21.00.

Maybe I understood this wrong but are you saying that running in XP mode would make it possible to run Outlook Express? I wouldn't think that would be possible because Outlook Express is not a separate downloadable program, at least I didn't think it was, but part of the Windows XP Operating System.

I did find a site that offers MS Outlook 2010 at a pretty reasonable price.

Again thanks for the input.

 

Yes, Outlook Express Version 6 comes with XP oS.
I have Microsoft Office 2003 which has Outlook 2003 in it. I think if you read the link that James Posted, you will find that you can just use your existing XP system complete as a VM in W7 Pro. Neil.

 

......So you're saying that I can have dual operating systems on Windows 7 Profession using the XP mode. That sounds good but considering how fragile Outlook Express is and how obstinate Microsoft is in not fixing it, I would be better off getting the MS Outlook which is close enough to Outlook Express to be comfortable to work with.

Thanks for a lot of very interesting ideas.

 

I wouldn't say that. Outlook is very different than Outlook Express. There is quite a bit of a learning curve associated with it, but the curve is well worth it.

 

No you can't run OE in any mode or version of Win 7 or Win 8.
There really isn't that much difference between OE and WLM. Like was mentioned by James Martin.

 

Don't hit the panic button but your XP is 32bit. What is your choice in the new comp with Windows 7 Home Premium 32 or 64 bit???
It would require further research to ascertain whether XP 32 bit will run in the VM state in the W7 if it's 64 bit.
You said you can get a key for $21.00 for W7 Pro. Please sort out what bit # will be on the comp first as you can't mix things. Neil.

 

if you like outlook express, you should look at Windows live mail 2012. Free from MS and it works like outlook express. runs on Win 7.

Sven

 

Sal ...

Since the early days when I used the Netscape suite, I've never used any email program other than Thunderbird, so I can't speak about the pros and cons of any of the other programs. I CAN say that I've been very happy with Thunderbird, and have never felt a need to change.

I have always used the Windows Classic look for Windows Explorer and the Start menu (a la Windows 9x), in both XP Pro and Win7 Pro. As James mentioned in his first post, the Classic Shell comes close to duplicating XP's Classic look in Win7. It's slightly different in appearance but I found that, after using it for a while, I liked it better.

64-bit Win7 Pro will allow you to run XP Pro SP3 in virtual mode on the Win7 Desktop. This is useful mainly for running legacy programs that will not run on a 64-bit system. Once XP is open, you can switch back and forth between OSs with a click of the mouse.

 

Sal,

I have used Thunderbird for several years and am quite happy with it. I switched from OE - I had used it for years.

Mozilla is shifting focus more to portable apps but they maintain that they will continue to support the safety and stability of Thunderbird for the near future. Guess that means no new innovations to speak of but I am happy with TBird the way it is.

I think the search feature is much better than what OE offers. Also, there is a free app called MozBak (an independent effort - not from Mozilla) that allows you to back up all of your Mozilla programs - Thunderbird, Firefox, and the phone app. Very handy and I have had occasion a couple of times to restore Thunderbird to another computer and it worked very well.

Added Note - I have tried to use Windows Live Mail a couple of times and abandoned it. I had a hard time reading it - everything looked white or shades of white. Possibly some way to fix that but I didn't see enough potential there to cause me to pursue it.

 

First off I thank everyone for their input.

I have tried Windows Live mail for a month on my XP and even tho it is good I really wasn't comfortable with it. So I think I I'll just go with the MS Outlook.

Now when I looked into the Windows 7, it was 64-bit but I was also told it was downward compatible for 32-bit XP programs if they were installed in XP-Mode.

I understand that with the Windows 7 release Microsoft made it possible to upgrade Starter to Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate - Home Basic to Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate - Home Premium to Professional or Ultimate - Professional to Ultimate with an Anytime Upgrade Key.

Since I am getting a Home Premium version of Windows 7 and XP Mode requires either Professional or Ultimate version I just need the key to the Professional level. I looked at what the Ultimate offer that Professional does not and I am not going to need that much.

I really don't think I need to run XP in virtual mode so I think that I'll just try that Classic Shell. I have Microsoft Office 2000 programs such as Excel 2000, Front Page 2000 and Photodraw 2000. The Photodraw isn't even available any more and I like it.

The suggestions are all great and it gives me time to make sure that I put together something that I can use.

Thanks

 

You could take your XP HD and add it to your new PC. Then when you need to use your Office stuff, you could just boot into XP instead of the other version of Windows that you go with. That or download one of the FREE office Programs like Open Office or one of the others right on Win 7 or 8.

 

I guess you are referring to making my Windows 7 a dual boot system. That seems a bit complicated to me. I have all the installation programs and disks of all the XP programs I want to use on my Windows 7 and I was led to believe that I could do this by installing them in XP Mode. Now what you are saying is that I would be able to boot into XP while in my Windows 7. Since the support for Windows XP ends in April 2014 wouldn't that mean those people who look for vulnerabilities in the operating system software will have an easier time. Since the Windows 7 will have the Windows XP also imbedded in it wouldn't that also put the Windows 7 at risk?

I was thinking that if I can not find a satisfactory way to run my XP programs on Windows 7 I can just use the XP to run these programs and not have it connected to the internet so even without security updates it still would be safe.

 

Great question.

It would make for a great sticky thread in the XP forum.

 

Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree, but if you don't connect the virtual XP to the internet, I don't see how the parent Win7 OS would be at risk if it's properly protected.

 

If Windows 7 is connected to the web, wouldn't XP be connected also? Then again, maybe one could disable the LAN in virtual XP, but I am just guessing, as I have never had a virtual operating system before.

 

I think maybe you're right, and I was barking up the wrong tree.

I didn't think my virtual XP was online, but the OS updated itself this morning, and it couldn't have done that if it wasn't connected. I'll have to see if there's a way to prevent that.

UPDATE: I disabled the ethernet adapter in virtual XP, and now the various programs that need to have access to the internet, such as IE, MSE, and Windows Update, are unable to get online. I'd think that if nothing can get out, nothing can get in.