WLM contacts on desktop after Win update

arnnad · 19 Apr 2014

After an auto Win 7 update on 4/17 all the contacts in WinLiveMail appeared on my desktop. When I went back to the previous day, no problem. Thinking I should manually install the updates,the contacts reappeared several minutes later. Ran a complete Malwares scan with no results.

Once again, I did system restore but today noted the updates auto installed and again, after a delay of an hr. or so the contacts reappeared on the desktop.

I looked at the system log and saw a number of event errors, i.e #36888 and #36874, source schannel.

Can I supply any additional info. to help resolve the problem?

Thanks

andrew129260 · 21 Apr 2014

That is strange, I have not experienced that issue. Have you tried reverting back to the old version, backing up your contacts to a file in windows live mail, deleting the contacts and then reimporting them into the new version?

arnnad · 22 Apr 2014

Andrew, thanks for responding. Since the WLM contacts copy to my desktop occurred contemporaneously with the update and since it cleared briefly after I restored back a couple of days, prior to an unexpected auto install I concluded that the update was the culprit. I subsequently learned how to "hide" the update to prevent its installation, restored again but now the icons were still all over the desktop.

I thought maybe Windows Live mail might be corrupted and contemplated what you suggested. However, after reading about the possibility of repairing the WLM program, and after being thoroughly confused because it's not listed in the Control>Programs and features list I wondered if it was part of Windows Essentials.

Windows went through the motions of a repair, I rebooted and still saw the icons, which I then manually had to remove. After rebooting again, and crossing my fingers, the issue was resolved. Why MSFT obscures the fact that WLM is within Win. Essentials is another mystery.

Thanks

Slartybart · 23 Apr 2014

No mystery - The eMail client that used to be called Windows Live Mail is now (since mid 2012) called Windows Essentials Mail.

Technically the eMail client used to be called Outlook Express (OE), Windows Mail (WinMail), Windows Live Mail (WLM). The GUI and features have been updated, but the engine is still OE.

Even MS doesn't know how to get people to accept this change. Here's a Google search for Windows Essentials Mail

WLM contacts on desktop after Win update-_aaaa.png

What version of Windows Live / Essentials Mail are you running?

2011 / 2012?

arnnad · 24 Apr 2014

Slartybart, thanks for your reply. My WinLive Mail is only called this and no where in the program is it labeled as Win Essentials . MSFT may consider it as such but it'd be nice to pass this along to it's non-techie clients. If the program were iron clad, never requiring service and/or reinstalling it would be a moot consideration. However, since they're in the communication business................

To confirm my lack of expertise I'm not sure which WLM version I have but probably 2012

Slartybart · 24 Apr 2014

Thanks arnnad,

Good points made...

Check the about window to determine the version (left top blue menu button, about)

There is no such thing as iron clad software

MS is in the software business (OSes, Office Suite) - they give away the communication software (eMail client, broswer, and Skype).

I agree that this transition is a pain to end users ( a 2 year pain!) and MS really should clear things up (especially on what is displayed to the user), but they don't make any money on it so it takes resouirces away from fixing their revenue generating software (OS, Office Suite). I really am with you on this even though it might sound different on your side of the monitor.

The only place MS is clear on the brand name change is in publications and on the site you download the software. I don't expect the average user to unravel software, let alone poorly managed brand transitions. Interestingly, it looks as though one of the past two updates changed the startup WLM/WEMail flash screen or the about window (I know it said Essentials at one point). Sheesh!

Here's a tidbit: SkyDrive (which was originally called something else), one of the other apps inside Essentials, has been rebranded as OneDrive, but there are still many references to SkyDrive. Go figure - you'd think an editor's "change all" would do the trick - but noooooo that means weeks of testing!

Don't sweat your level of computer expertise - some people excel (pun intended) at painting, others are great mechanics.....

I'm glad the issue is resolved, but don't have a clue why it happened. So that is the mystery

that will remain unsolved.

Bill
.