Adding Windows Live Mail created endless problems

Win 7 Pro/64 has been perfect since new. I have used Hotmail forever. No problems. The other day, I clicked on a news site to send mail and a menu appeared stating that Windows Live [hotmail] was not my default mail, so would I like to update that.

I clicked yes, and it proceeded with no problems. Everything worked. I hibernated the laptop that night, and beginning the next morning, nothing but problems.

In the LR screen corner, I get endless messages about files [the names change as it goes down the list] It says this or that file is corrupt and unreadable

located at

C:\program files\ common files\Microsoft shared\windows live

However, I cannot access that folder. It gives me the same msg: corrupt and unreadable

I went to the MS site and downloaded Windows Live. The install runs on and on, and at the 99% point, it stops and says the folder is corrupt and unreadable.

Since I cannot access the folder, I tried to UNinstall Live in Control Panel. There were four entries for Windows Live, and three uninstalled. The forth was denied, stating that I do not have "Permission".

Booted to safemode with same results. It will not let me uninstall Windows Live.

Ran chkdsk and scannow over and over. No help.

Ran virus scan. Nothing. Ran Malware scan.Nothing

Bottom line: it will not let me install or uninstall, but continues to give me errors.

The latest error is a corrupt LogonUI.exe, which is a Windows file. ?????

The odd thing is everything works fine. I can reboot and click by the annoying warning messages that files and folders are corrupt and unreadable, and then things work fine.

My other Win 7 laptop does not even HAVE such a folder, so this is strickly a Windows Live problem.

I suspect that I will make restore point, even copy the registry, and then use regedit to delete all reference to Windows Live that appear in any of the Run strings.

Any other ideas?

thanks--sorry for the long post

Are you able to do a system restore pre-dating the issues? There are 2 methods here:

System Restore

James

Thanks. I follow the RP menus and pick a date. It does not matter if I choose yesterday or last month. It proceeds and says there is a file problem and I need to run CHKDSK. I click to schedule it and reboot.

Chkdsk does not run, and I get the error message that files are corrupt and to run chkdsk

Robert,

If you have tried both methods of System Restore with the same result, I would then try a Startup Repair . Take note that a start up repair may require multiple 'runs': Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

If that doesn't resolve your issues, the next step would be a Repair Install .

These seem like they may be your only option, although some one may come along with a different solution.

I know this doesn't help much now, but for future reference, using an imaging program such as Acronis True Image can save one's 'bacon' in times like these. Keeping multiple and rotating images is not difficult and can have you up and running in 30 mins, bringing your system back to a time pre-dating the problems. The image would overwrite corrupt system files as well, and even the MBR, if deemed necessary.

Let us know how it goes.

James

Have you done a virus scan?
Was the message you clicked on to accept the Mail upgrade a legit site?

Sounds like the symptoms of an infection