NOTE: This article is updated whenever a new version of Windows Essentials is released. So keep checking this page regularly.
Finally Microsoft has released the much awaited "Windows Essentials 2012" (Wave 5) (formerly known as Windows Live Essentials) to public.
Windows Essentials 2012 includes new SkyDrive for Windows app as well as Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Family Safety, Windows Live Writer, Windows Live Messenger, Outlook Connector Pack, Windows Photo Gallery and Windows Movie Maker.
According to Microsoft, Windows Essentials 2012 comes with new versions of Movie Maker and Photo Gallery for Windows 7 and Windows 8. Windows Live team has added a few new capabilities while also taking advantage of some advances in Windows 8.
You can download the new updated version using following links:
Direct Download Link (Online Installer)
Direct Download Link (Offline Installer) (131 MB)
Direct Download Links of Offline Installers for Other Languages
Windows Essentials is a suite of free programs from Microsoft to help you stay in touch with the people you care about most and do more with Windows on your PC. You can edit and share photos and personal videos, manage your email and calendar, publish to your blog, access your files on multiple computers, and help keep your kids safer online. It's all in one download, and it's all free.
Windows Essentials 2012 requires Windows 7 or Windows 8, and is available in 48 languages including English, French, Dutch, Japanese, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, German and Russian. Windows XP and Windows Vista are no longer supported.
Thanks to our reader "jusil164" for the update...
Posted by: Vishal Gupta | Categories: Emails & Messengers, Software
NZero
Windows Live Essentials is very good and have beautiful interface.
I can found alternative for almost all of the programs in the Essential package.
Windows Live Messenger = Pingin, Trillian (proprietary), Meebo, Miranda Messenger, aMSN, Digsby, etc.
Windows Live Mail = Thunderbird, Microsoft Office Outlook (commercial), etc.
Windows Live Photo Gallery = Google Picasa, XnView (free for personal use), etc.
Windows Live Movie Maker = Avidemux, Lightworks, AviSynth (controlled entirely by scripting (without a GUI)), etc.
Windows Live Family Safety = K9 Web Protection (free for home use), etc.
Windows Live Writer = Zoundry Raven, ScribeFire (browser based), BlogJet, Qumana, Thingamablog, etc
Windows Live Mesh = LogMeIn (service-based remote connectivity, free with limited functionality), etc.
Bing Bar = Google Toolbar (?)
All except: Windows Live Messenger Companion, Windows Live Sign-in Assistant, Microsoft Outlook Hotmail Connector, Microsoft Silverlight.
VG
^^ Nice list. Also check out:
http://www.askvg.com/ultimate-collection-of-best-free-video-editors-and-alternatives-to-windows-movie-maker/
http://www.askvg.com/ultimate-collection-of-best-free-alternatives-to-microsoft-outlook-email-client/
darkprop
for offline installer on another language, only change en for es (spanish, for exaple)
english: g.live.com/1rewlive5-all/en/wlsetup-all.exe
spanish: g.live.com/1rewlive5-all/es/wlsetup-all.exe
french: g.live.com/1rewlive5-all/fr/wlsetup-all.exe
CloudBomb
Hi Askvg,
Why does online installer doesn't work, I download it many times, and the time I will install it, it would get an error.
Amiel
i thought the windows live brand was scrapped?
macpro622776
It's called Windows Essentials now. It's weird because the Windows Live Essentials page still gives you the old Wave 4 download but without Messenger which is now standalone.
ankit
0x8000c0008. I got the error when I install them,
Any guess what happened !.
maxdamage
Can the older version for win xp be download still?
maxdamage
Sorry for the double post.Can the xp version of Live messenger still access the live messenger network to chat,etc..?
VG
^^ You can find it on software websites such softpedia, etc and it'll work fine.
maxdamage
thanks!
Ruben Fernandes
Hey Vishal....always have a keen word of appreciation for ya posts....this time I need ya help as im receiving certain errors while installin win essentials>>>firewall error<<< but my firewall is on and enabled....inspite of which I still get the same error....any solution/fix?
VG
^^ Please provide the full error message details. If its about firewall, you should try to disable firewall. May be your firewall is blocking the installer to download required setup files.
Ruben Fernandes
windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-live/essentials-error-0x80070643-or-0x800706d9-enable-windows-firewall <<<<this is the error which I get while tryin to install win essentials......
VG
^^ Do you also use any 3rd party security suite which also contains firewall?
Ruben Fernandes
Nope Vishal....all I use is Defender(MSE which is the built in defender in win 8) and nothing else besides it...no other security softwares besides CCleaner(which shouldn't be of any concern to the error(I assume)...(by the way i'm usin win 8 pro...genuine version....................so....thing is I still get that error.... :(
VG
^^ Are you using online installer? If yes, try to use the offline installer instead.
Ruben Fernandes
Ive tried both...same error :(