Solved Windows Mail will not launch

[gallicbear]

Hi there. For the last couple of days I have not been able to launch Windows Mail.
I've had Windows Mail for 2 years now running on Windows 7, and it never gave me a problem. But now it won't come up. No error message, nothing. When I call up the Task Manager, I see it as part of the 'Processes', but nothing shows up on the screen.
Is it some Windows update that made this to happen? My wife uses it, and does not want Windows *Live* Mail. It has too many extra things. Would appreciate your help. Thanks.

 

[koolkat77]

start with the system file checker http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html. also try uninstalling and reinstalling/repairing windows live mail. you may also want to apply an upgrade to the latest version of windows live mail Windows Live Essentials: Other Programs. try the above and keep us posted.

 

[Anak]

It seems a Critical Update (KB978542) can cause problems with Windows Mail (WM) in Windows 7: http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/84655-windows-mail-crippled-kb978542.html The update is applicable to both XP, and 7.

gallicbear, it would be helpful if you could tell us:

• If your win 7 is 32 or 64bit.
• Are XP, and 7 set up as dual booting systems on one machine or do you have two separate machines, and WM is causing problems on one or the other or both.
• When you get time this will help in seeing, and filling out your System Specs: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

If it is dual I suspect the Windows Live Mail (WLM) program that is shipped with 7 is in conflict with the legacy WM program, and if koolkat's SFC suggestion does not help I have seen where uninstalling WLM from the 7OS can help.

My wife uses it, and does not want Windows *Live* Mail.

How do I uninstall Windows Live Mail? - Uninstall Windows Live Mail
I would restart your machine after the uninstall.


If that does not help I found some interesting thoughts here, including manually patching a certain .dll file, and a registry fix. If you would like to explore these further, but are unsure how to proceed please post back: How to enable Windows Mail app in Windows 7 - TechSpot Tutorials


As to why this just started to happen after you had it running for two years, and after a possible two year old update is difficult to fathom. Something changed or was added, possibly Windows Updates.

There is also some feedback concerning the Calendar feature becoming corrupt.

You may want to take a look in the Event Viewer Specifically; Event Viewer >Windows Logs >Application see if there are ESENT errors that indicate access denied: ESENT event IDs 1000, 1202, 412, and 454 are logged repeatedly in the Application log If any pertain to WM or WLM please copy and paste error report in your reply.

More:
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletin/MS10-030
Windows Mail Quit Opening

 

[gallicbear]

Thanks, Anak and koolkat77. I have played around with all your suggestions and I came up with a solution. Fact is, if I deleted the entire contents of the storage folder in AppData, it rebuilt the entire database and still didn't load. What made me suspicious is that I am using 3 PCs running Windows 7 64 bit and each one behaved the same way, with not being able to launch WM. (1 at work, 2 at home). In the end, I got a hold of a new msoe.dll file from one of the links in Anak's post. Even though it was the same number of bytes, it must have been corrupted. The moment I replaced the msoe.dll file, it worked like a charm. Thanks again for your help.

 

[koolkat77]

good to see you have a fix

 

[Anak]

Your welcome gallicbear, always happy to hear about advice that works, and to help keep peace in the family!

It is interesting to note that this only happens to 64bit systems, but I would not hesitate to try it on 32bit systems: How to enable Windows Mail app in Windows 7 - TechSpot Tutorials Comments #10

Here is some further advice if this should happen again let's say, after a system restore or you run a new Image. Creating a new Image with the new .dill file installed would be a good idea: How to enable Windows Mail app in Windows 7 - TechSpot Tutorials Comments #12

Posts #24, and 26 are helpful also.