Windows Live not opening .eml files

I have a recent problem with Windows Live Mail on my Windows 7 Pro/64 bit desktop. The functionality problem is that I cannot open .eml files, and the .eml file icon shown is not an open envelope as it should be.
Also Live Mail is not shown in the list of Default Programs. Other functionality, including mailto: from my web browser is OK.

I think this problem occurred earlier this year after a standard MS software update. The build standard of the desktop has otherwise been unchanged for over five years.

Any advice much appreciated, and I gather some other users have had similar problems. I have a huge number of emails on this machine so radical action would be an issue!

Does this help-

EML File Extension - What is an .eml file and how do I open it?

I'm not on my Win 7 system right now so I can't verify if the options he mentions are there.

Also, you might want to set a system restore point before running the command.

Thanks for that but ideally I would like to fix my system so that it works properly again!

I guess the .eml problem is solved (?) but I don't know what you mean by "fixing my system."

Sorry I was ambiguous. I would like to 'repair' my system so that I didn't have to use a workaround to open .eml files. I have seen references to a 'Repair' function for Live Mail but don't know its ramifications. Losing all my historic mail would be unacceptable!!

As I understand it, you would only need to run that command once. It sounds like something got corrupted, thus the command worked. On the other hand, I failed a bit in not asking you to go to Control Panel, Default Programs, Associate a file............., and check to see if Windows Live Mail is set as the default for .eml files. I don't use it so .eml isn't even listed in the file associations for my system.

Is there some other problem?

The best way to make sure you don't lose your historic e-mail is to back it up somewhere off your main hard drive.

You really need to change your email program as Windows Live is essentially Dead. you will continue to have problems with it. I recommend Thundrbird. It is a desktop email, like Live, as opposed to internet email, like Outlook. My internet provider actually recommended it as the best alternative to Live when Microsoft announced they were no longer supporting it. There are many others, but I have tried them and TB works best.