Summary: 

• Latest Version numbers as of Aug 18, 2009

1. Windows Live Installer – 14.0.8089.726
2. Windows Live Mail – 14.0.8089.0726
3. Windows Live Messenger - 14.0.8089.726
4. Windows Live Photo Gallery - 14.0.8081.709
5. Windows Live Writer - 14.0.8089.726
6. Windows Live Movie Maker - 14.0.8091.0730
7. Windows Live Sync - 14.0.8089.0726
8. Windows Live Toolbar - 14.00.8064.0206
9. Windows Live Family Safety - 14.0.8064.0206
10. Microsoft Office Live Add-in - 2.0.2313.0
11. Microsoft Office Outlook Connector - 12.0.6414.1000

Additional Detailed Information:

1. Windows Live Messenger Microsoft  MVP Jonathan Kay’s blog
    Installing/Uninstalling Windows Live 2009 (Wave 3) QFE 2 applications
     http://messengergeek.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E3785B1281BBDA1!3332.entry

2. Windows Live Team Blog
    Windows Live Mail update details
     http://windowslivewire.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!2F7EB29B42641D59!41378.entry

    Windows Live Movie Maker Availability
     http://windowslivewire.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!2F7EB29B42641D59!41357.entry

    Updated version of Family Safety available
     http://windowslivewire.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!2F7EB29B42641D59!41365.entry

    Windows Live Messenger Mandatory Upgrade
     http://windowslivewire.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!2F7EB29B42641D59!41389.entry

Revisions:

April 1, 2008: Original Published Date

May 23, 2008: Windows Live Tags added

Feb 15, 2009: Updated for latest build released Feb 12, 2009

Aug 18, 2009: Updated for latest build released Aug 18, 2009

Summary:

1. Windows Live Essentials programs

• Mail
• Messenger
• Photo Gallery
• Writer
• Movie Maker (only a beta version is available)
• Family Safety
• Toolbar

2. Optional Programs

• Office Outlook Connector
• Office Live Add-in
• Microsoft Silverlight

3.  Links for the Release Notes, System Requirements, English Language Full and Web Installer version(s)and comments/suggestions.

 

Links:

Release Notes  (recommended reading)

• http://g.live.com/1rewlive3sup/en/ReleaseNotes.pdf

System Requirements (recommended reading)

• http://download.live.com/SystemRequirements.aspx

 Full Version Installer (my preference) – English Language version

• http://g.live.com/1rewlive3/en/wlsetup-all.exe

 Web Version Installer – English Language Version

• http://g.live.com/1rewlive3/en/wlsetup-web.exe

Comments/Suggestions:

1. Read the Release Notes

2. Ensure your system meets the System requirements

3. Always Backup your mail, contacts and account settings before installing new/updated software

• How to Backup Windows Live Mail Accounts, Contacts and Messages

4.  ***Use*** the Full Version installer(my preference, yours may differ)

5.  For a non-English Language version visit Download.Live.com and Choose your Language

• To use the Web Installer in your language click Download
• To download the Full Version installer in your language

1. Click ‘Download’
2. A download dialog box/window will appear with 3 options (Run, Save, Cancel), - click Cancel
3. Click ‘Try Again’ to obtain the Full version download Dialog box/window – Click Save
4. Save the file(wlsetup-all.exe) to folder on your hard drive

Additional Information:

Windows Live Essentials Is Ready to Download (published Jan 07, 2009)

 Update to Windows Live Messenger and other Essentials (published Feb 13, 2009)

Revision:

Dec 15, 2008: Original Published Date

Jan 10, 2009:  Beta term removed from title(full release versions as of Jan 7, 2009); Movie Maker still a beta

Feb 15, 2009:  Revised due to update to Live Essential programs and new build numbers released on Feb 12, 2009

July 20, 2009: Corrections for typo and punctuation

MSI Files - What are they ?

An msi file is an installation file that contains all the necessary components to install an application.

A typical msi file contains the application installation package, an information and data stream, internal and external source files, and may also include additional *.cab files required for the installation.

Windows Live Msi Files:

Windows Live applications files are currently not available for direct download but for most Live programs an msi file for the respective Live application is placed on the machine in a hidden folder during installation.  The msi files can be used for installation or reinstallation on the same machine and also copied for use on another machine or saved for archival purposes.

Finding them in Windows:

The following instructions are for Windows Vista (the location is the same for XP)

1. To view hidden folders

   Open Windows Explorer
      - On the Menu bar, click in sequence on Tools/Folder Options/View

   Scroll to these two items and verify that
    -  'Show Hidden Files/Folders' is enabled(i.e. checked; toggled on)
    -  'Hide Protected Operating System Files'  is disabled

2. Use Windows Explorer to navigate to this location

   C:\Program Files\Common Files\WindowsLiveInstaller\MsiSources

3. Upon inspection it obvious the filenames are not exactly descriptive of the application(s).
    - e.g. Windows Live Mail =  Install_{184E7118-0295-43C4-B72C-1D54AA75AAF7}.msi

4. The following table provides the conversion.

5. The msi file after copying to another location for archiving or later use can be renamed(e.g. LiveMail.msi)

Revisions:

Dec 08, 2007: Original Published Date

May 23, 2008: Windows Live Tags Added

Howdy,

• As of Nov. 6th 2007 Windows Live Mail exited beta testing and was released for public use for Vista and Windows XPSP2.
• The content below provides information on Windows Live Mail and other Live applications

What: (Version Numbers for the 2008 released applications  as of Nov-6-2007)

 

Windows Live Application	Released Build Number
Windows Live Mail	12.0.1606
Windows Live Messenger	8.5.1302.1018
Windows Live Photo Gallery	12.0.1308.1023
Windows Live Writer	12.0.1366.1026
Windows Live Sign-In Assistant	4.200.514.2

 

Where: (Hot Links for additional information - Overview. Features, System Requirements, and Download)

1. Windows Live Mail
2. Windows Live Messenger
3. Windows Live Photo Gallery
4. Windows Live Writer
5. Windows Live Sign-In Assistant - included in Windows Live Mail or Live Messenger or the unified installer
6. Get Live - Unified Installer for multiple applications (Get.Live.Com)

• Note: The 'Get Live' link, once loaded, has an option to choose which application(s) to install and will also be the portal for future released Live applications

Additional information:

• Windows Live Team blog on the release and other features included in Windows Live Mail
• Wikipedia's Overview of Windows Live Mail
• Future updates(security and version) for Windows Live Mail and Live Applications will be deployed via Microsoft Updates
  • To configure Vista or XPSP2 for Microsoft Updates see this Microsoft article

Subscribe to this Blog:

• Click on the Tools Icon    located at the top, upper right of this page, then select 'Subscribe to RSS Feed'  or
• Click on an 'RSS Feed' icon in the 'Categories' module(Left, Center) for a specific category topic

Adding Comments:

• To add your input, click on the 'Add a comment' link at the bottom of any blog entry

Coming soon....more Windows Live Unplugged! and MSN articles

    ...winston/msft-mvp

Revisions:

November 22, 2007: Original Published Date

May 23, 2008: Windows Live Tags Added