Update for Windows Live Essentials Mail 2012 (KB3093594) kills WLM 2012

Sound advice

Better still, IF you have a 3rd party backup package from the likes of likes of Acronis of Aomei or other reputable sources, backup your system before you try the patch. MS Restore is NOT as complete as a dedicated proper Backup/Restore  app.

I had Acronis True Image Home (ATIH) for years thought several versions but these days of greed they seem to build in obsolescence into their versions and do not bring out free updates so what you have paid for will work with some later versions of Windows. In my case my ATIH that worked with Win 7 would not work with Win 10. I was fed up buying new versions so I looked around and found Aomei Backupper Standard (ABS) which is a 100% FREE version.

It is ideal for Home Users who do NOT wish to schedule backups and do NOT wish to make incremental backups (The paid version has these options).

I have always made full backup (vs incremental) of my C and Data drives and never used scheduling.  I have reasonable Hard Drive storage space to keep up to 10 backups at any one time and then I start deleting the oldest.

OK the bottom line on my experiences to date with ABS  (4 months)

Is it easy to use/understand? YES

Is it reliable making backups: YES

Do restores from the backup work perfectly: YES

Have I tested it over a period YES (since August when I installed windows 10)

Have I made various backups and restores?  YES 28 Backups (all due to so many Win 10 first release Windows Event errors and other issue so I made backups after each new big solution etc.. Normally I backup 1 to 2 week intervals (unless I have made major important changes)

Have I tried making many restores YES. I'd say around 10-15 so far (ALL restored and worked perfectly afterwards).

Would I consider going back to making a paid upgrade of ATIH ( I believe "Home" has been dropped from the current version )?  NO, why would I, ABS does all I ever did/used, is easier to use, is more reliable on it opening. (ATIH had a habit of sometimes not opening but backup and restores were always 100% OK) and is FREE. When I asked a question on the Aomei Support forum I got an answer within day from Aomei itself even though I had the free version.

FINALLY

Have I any vested interest in Aomei?  NO I found it myself searching for alternatives, read good reviews and and tried it. For my needs I have no reason to change from it. I personally never use Windows Restore points as I consider these apps more complete and backup Everything.  

Hope this is informative and of help to others who may be interested

Thanks Lexx for this useful information :)  The advice on the TZPush addon very valuable to many. 

May I ask, as the last thing I want is to synchronize my contacts with Outlook.com or anybody online. If I migrate to Thunderbird and do NOT add the TZPush addon, would Thunderbird work perfectly synchronizing Outlook.com email folders and without that addon, would that mean it is impossible for my LOCAL contacts to be uploaded (synced) with Outlook.com or any other email provider via Thunderbird. 

I ask because like WLM 2012 as am used to it as I was with Outlook Express before MS killed that off. I find WLM 2012 reliable and easy to use but IF it ceases working due the announced MS changes  or becomes unreliable it IS my intention to install Thunderbird and ditch WLM 2012

I do not trust the Win 10 Mail app and do not want local contacts auto loaded online and am unsure if that can be blocked with the Mail App. MS (and other) seem **** bent on forcing everybody on to the Cloud.

Cloud storage seems to me a dream come true for skilled Hackers and Nations Security Organizations with All that data in a few baskets (relatively speaking). CLOUD IS NOT FOR ME.  

Is there anything else you feel anybody IF forced or wanting to migrate to Thunderbird would need to do or need to know (assuming 100% new to Thunderbird)?

Many thanks

Stick with the instructions I provided. You'll feel right at home in no time at all with Thunderbird. I'm a new Thunderbird user now, it wasn't easy to break away from WLM, but with all the hullabaloo going on, I had no choice. The Thunderbird features were quite welcoming, familiar & easy to get used to. Make the jump, you'll be glad you did.  

1.) Please feel free to download Thunderbird at https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/

2.) Make sure you install the TZPush addon so that all your contacts synchronize between Thunderbird & Outlook.com or nearly any other email provider. 

3.) You may use this web-site to help you accomplish your goal. (If needed copy & paste)

http://www.itechtics.com/how-to-synchronize-outlook-com-contacts-with-thunderbird-addressbook/

God bless.

Lexx

Smallville

Hi, I am also running Windows7 SP1 and duly ran the patch as "requested" by Microsoft.

However, I have never used the calendar part, but all of my sub folders/directories have gone!! Grrrrr.

I have not been able to find an old wlm exe file, so it looks as if I shall have no option but to dump Microsoft and consider looking at alternative solutions. A shame.

What are they upto? Do they really want to decimate their following?

Thanks Lexx