Switching aid Windows Essentials

As of January 10, 2017, Microsoft will end support for Windows Essentials. After that date, the package can no longer be downloaded. The various programs that are part of the package can still be used as usual. But we don’t recommend this: there will be no more security updates for the programs after January 2017. That makes them vulnerable to attacks. We therefore advise against using these programs.

The full name is Windows Essentials 2012. The package contains free software from Microsoft. The best known and most popular component is Windows Live Mail. In addition, the following programs can be found in the package:

• Photo Gallery
• Movie Maker
• Windows Live Writer
• OneDrive
• messenger

All parts will continue to work after January 10, 2017. But due to the loss of support from Microsoft, the programs no longer receive any security updates. That makes them vulnerable to hackers. We therefore advise against using the programs.

There are good free alternatives for all of the popular components of Windows Essentials. This transfer aid will show you the way. The articles below provide all the information you need to transition to alternative programs with confidence.

Photo Gallery is a program that allows you to view photos and perform minor image edits. Read the article ‘Alternatives to Photo Gallery’ about the free programs you can use instead of Photo Gallery.

Windows 10 comes standard with a free program, the Photos app, with which photos can be managed and edited. About this Photos app you will find a full Online Course (free for members). You can also read more about this app in the article ‘The Photos app in Windows 10’.

Movie Maker is a program that allows you to create movies from your own video material. Find out about the free programs you can use instead of Movie Maker in the “Alternatives to Movie Maker” article.

Writer is a program that allows you to write weblogs. Nowadays there are plenty of free alternatives such as wordpress.

OneDrive is Microsoft’s online storage service. It can be compared to services such as Google Drive and Dropbox. This program is a fixed component in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. So those who use it can continue with it.

If you want to learn how to use OneDrive, you can read the article ‘Working with OneDrive’.

Windows 7 users can install OneDrive separately from Windows Essentials. Read more about this in the article ‘Installing OneDrive on Windows’.

Microsoft Messenger has stopped working for quite some time now. This role has been taken over by Skype, which also belongs to Microsoft.

The Windows Live Mail mail program is by far the most popular part of the Windows Essentials package. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives to Windows Live Mail. But it will probably take some getting used to. To help you on your way, we have fully worked out five options. All options include the following:

• Working with the new program.
• Transfer your current emails to the new program.
• Transfer your current contacts to the new program.
• Set up the email address you received from your provider in the new program.

If you prefer to continue using a program that is installed on the computer, you can choose:

• The Mail app in Windows 10
  In Windows 10, the free Mail app is available by default. You do not need to install anything for this. You can use the program immediately. What you’ll need to make the switch can be found in the “Windows Live Mail: Switch to the Mail app in Windows 10” article.
• Mozilla Thunderbird
  Thunderbird was created by the people behind Internet program Firefox. It is a free package that you download and install on the computer. What you need to make the switch can be found in the article “Windows Live Mail: Switching to Thunderbird”.
• Office Outlook
  The Microsoft Outlook program is also a good alternative. This program is not free. It is part of the Office package that also includes Word and Excel. What you’ll need to make the switch can be found in the article “Windows Live Mail: Switch to Outlook.”

Another option is to use a service via the Internet. You then use the browser to send e-mails. Gmail from Google and Outlook.com from Microsoft, among others, work like this.

• gmail
  Everything you need to make the switch can be found in the article ‘Windows Live Mail: Switch to Gmail’.
• Outlook.com
  Everything you need to make the switch can be found in the article ‘Windows Live Mail: Switch to Outlook.com’.