Slipstick Systems Outlook and Exchange Solutions Center



Click here to subscribe
to our biweekly
EMO newsletter
EMO back issues








Installing Windows Messaging and Microsoft Fax under Windows 98

Windows Messaging and Microsoft Fax are not installed as part of Windows 98. Instead, they are "unsupported" programs located elsewhere on the Windows 98 CD, specifically in the  \Tools\Oldwin95\Message folder, in the \Intl or \Us subfolder (as appropriate for U.S. or International English).

The Intl and Us subfolders contain a Wms-fax.txt document that indicates that these programs are provided solely for repair of existing Windows Messaging and Microsoft Fax installations of machines upgraded to Windows 98 from Windows 95. This is mainly Microsoft's way of saying these programs are no longer supported. Don't worry about it. You can install them on new Windows 98 systems.

Installing Windows Messaging | Installing Microsoft Fax | Internet Mail | Notes | More Information

Installing Windows Messaging

To install Windows Messaging, look in the \Tools\Oldwin95\Message folder, in the \Intl or \Us subfolder (as appropriate), for the file Wms.exe. Run this program.

Wms.exe installs these components:

  • The basic Windows Messaging program that launches from the Inbox icon on the Desktop
  • The Microsoft Mail service for connection to legacy workgroup postoffices and Microsoft Mail servers
  • The Microsoft Mail Postoffice Manager applet for Control Panel, to allow you to manage a workgroup postoffice (Wgpocpl.cpl)
  • If you do not see the Microsoft Mail available to add to a profile when you use Control Panel | Mail, try running Wms.exe a second time.

    If you are using Microsoft Outlook 97/98 and running Wms.exe only to get workgroup postoffice management, I don't know whether the order in which you install matters. The safest course would be to install Wms.exe first, then Outlook.

    Back to Top

    Installing Microsoft Fax

    To install Windows Messaging or Microsoft Fax For shared fax, look in the \Tools\Oldwin95\Message folder, in the \Intl or \Us subfolder (as appropriate), for the file Awfax.exe. Run this program to install the Microsoft Fax components, but follow the suggested installation order for your mail client as follows.

    For Windows Messaging:

    1. Install Windows Messaging, as described above.
    2. Install Microsoft Fax.

    For Microsoft Outlook 97:

    1. Install Windows Messaging, as described above.
    2. Install Microsoft Fax and test to make sure it is operating correctly before proceeding.
    3. Install Outlook 97.

    For Microsoft Outlook 98:

    1. Install Outlook 98 in Corporate/Workgroup mode. See Choosing a Mode.
    2. Install Microsoft Fax.
    3. Install the Fax Update for Corporate or Workgroup E-mail Service. See Microsoft Fax.

    For Microsoft Outlook 2000:

    1. Install Microsoft Fax.
    2. Install Outlook in Corporate/Workgroup mode. See Choosing a Mode.
    3. If you reverse the above order (installing Microsoft Fax after Outlook 2000), you'll need to run Help | Detect and Repair to update some components of Outlook.

    If Microsoft Fax does not work in Outlook 2000 after the above steps, follow the instructions in the MSKB article OL2000 (CW) Microsoft Fax Compatibility Issues with Outlook 2000 to find and run the Fixmapi.exe utility.

    Back to Top

    Internet Mail

    Wms.exe does not include a service for connecting to Internet mail servers. To send and receive Internet messages, you must download and install either the Internet Mail service from Microsoft or a third-party Internet transport. Some people have also had satisfactory results installing the entire Windows Messaging Update from Microsoft. Note, however, that this does not include the component needed to manage a workgroup postoffice.

    If you download Microsoft's Internet Mail service, you may need to update the Mapisvc.inf file on your system before you can add it to a mail profile. Use Start | Find to locate Mapisvc.inf, make a backup, then open Mapisvc.inf and add the following lines and sections if they're missing:

    [Services]
    IMAIL=Internet Mail
    
    [IMAIL]
    PR_DISPLAY_NAME=Internet Mail
    PR_SERVICE_DLL_NAME=MINET.DLL
    PR_SERVICE_ENTRY_NAME=MailServiceEntry
    Providers=INETAB, TXP
    PR_SERVICE_SUPPORT_FILES=MINET.DLL
    PR_RESOURCE_FLAGS=SERVICE_SINGLE_COPY
    WIZARD_ENTRY_NAME=WizardEntry
    
    [INETAB]
    PR_PROVIDER_DLL_NAME=INETAB.DLL
    PR_RESOURCE_TYPE=MAPI_AB_PROVIDER
    PR_DISPLAY_NAME=Internet Address Template
    PR_PROVIDER_DISPLAY=Internet Address Template
    
    [TXP]
    PR_PROVIDER_DLL_NAME=MINET.DLL
    PR_RESOURCE_TYPE=MAPI_TRANSPORT_PROVIDER
    PR_RESOURCE_FLAGS=STATUS_PRIMARY_IDENTITY
    PR_PROVIDER_DISPLAY=Internet Mail
    Back to Top

    Notes

    If you try to open a received fax and get an error message that there is no program associated with the .awd file, you need to install the Imaging component through Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Windows Setup.

    When you run Windows Messaging, the splash screen will say Windows Messaging for Windows 95.

    To make Windows Messaging your default e-mail program, see To change the default e-mail program.

    The Microsoft Mail Postoffice manager applet from the Windows 98 CD apparently does not include a function to compact Microsoft Mail shared folders.

    You cannot use Microsoft Fax if you have set Outlook Express to be your Simple MAPI client. Use Tools | Options in OE to change this setting.

    Back to Top

    More Information

  • What you need to know about Windows 98
  • Upgrading to Outlook under Windows 98
  • Updated Apr 09 2008

    Copyright Slipstick Systems. All rights reserved.
    Send comments using our Feedback page

    Home | What's New | Exchange Server | Outlook | Utilities | Bookstore
    About Slipstick | Feedback | Privacy Policy | Site Map | Archived Pages | Link to Us | Advertise