Get Shaw email on Windows 7 – Windows Live Mail

I had Outlook Express installed on my old system and used the Shaw email with it. Now I have a new Windows 7 laptop. How can I get Shaw email on this computer? I don’t see any email program that I can use and desperately need to check the account for some important messages.
Michael Dickerson

Though Outlook Express is missing on Windows 7 operating system, a nicer and better, as some may opine, alternative is available in Windows Live Mail. However, this new email client differs significantly from Outlook Express in the way it organizes email accounts and messages.

For instance, there is no common inbox because each account that’s added in the program gets its own set of five folders – “Inbox“, “Drafts“, “Sent items“, “Junk e-mail” and “Deleted items“. So if you have 3 Shaw email accounts, you’ll end up with a 3 inboxes and 15 folders!

Anyway, Windows Live Mail should come as the default email program on Windows 7 and you will find it listed in the program list. You can also get Windows Live Mail for free from the Live.com web site; the installation takes just a few minutes.

By the way, people who have been using Outlook Express (Windows XP) or Windows Mail (Vista) might take a day or two to adjust to the new interface and the different way the messages are segregated in Windows Live Mail. But it’s worth the trouble as this program is probably the best free email client for Windows 7.

Set up Shaw email on Windows Live Mail (Windows 7)

Below are the instructions to set up your Shaw email account in Windows Live Mail program on Windows 7. However, if you already have it on Outlook Express (XP) or Windows Mail (Vista), you don’t need to do this manually because you can use the import and export functionality of the two email clients to transfer email from old computer to another, the new one. Both email account settings and messages can be copied and moved- refer links at the end of this post.

1. Locate Windows Live Mail from the Programs list and open it. Close any window that pops up so that we can begin on a clean slate – [Slide 1].
2. If using the email client for the first time, the top menu bar will be hidden. We have to ‘unhide’ it. Click the small “Menus” icon near the top-left or use the Alt-M key combination to get a drop down. Select “Show menu bar” option – [Slide 2].
3. You now get the Windows Live Mail toolbar – [Slide 3].
4. Click “Tools” from the menu bar and select “Accounts” from the list – [Slide 4].
5. The Internet accounts pop up opens. Hit the “Add” button – [Slide 5].
6. Another pop-up is shown. Double click “Email Account” – [Slide 6].
7. Type in your full Shaw email address, the account password and enter a display name (typically, your name) – [Slide 7]. Click “Next” to proceed.
8. You now need to enter the Shaw email pop incoming and outgoing server addresses. Do not forget to double-check the login ID – [Slide 8]. Move to the next screen.
9. Shaw email setup on Windows Live Mail is almost complete. Simply click the “Finish” button – [Slide 9]. The program will connect to the server and begin to download email messages.

You can now get the Shaw email on Windows 7 through the Windows Live Mail program. The messages will be downloaded and stored on your local computer. If you want to access the account through Shaw email login (webmail) too, please change the settings of the newly configured account so that a copy of the email message is left on the server.

• Copy Outlook Express email account settings to Windows Live Mail
• Copy email from Outlook Express to Windows 7 with the help of Windows Live Mail

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