Windows Live Mail Problem

[tearinghair]

I'm unable to send emails this evening. Message 'Windows Live Mail has stopped working'. No problem earlier in the day, and no problem with Internet (Google Chrome). The computer (desktop) did crash earlier, but was restarted with no apparent difficulty. I run Malwarebytes every couple of weeks - last time was two days ago, nothing detected.
Any advice, please?

[Buenchico]

Go to 'Programs and features'.
Select 'Windows Live Essentials' and then click on 'Uninstall/Change'.
Choose the 'Repair' option.

If that doesn't work, run System Restore.

[tearinghair]

Thanks buenchico. I ran repair as you suggested, getting the message 'Windows live essentials was repaired successfully'. But still can't send emails. I'm nervous about System Restore: is it straightforward, and will i lose data? How far back should i go?

[Buenchico]

System Restore is easy to use. Simply use the most recent date offered that's before the problem started. You won't lose any data.

[tearinghair]

Thank you. I think I might leave it until tomorrow morning when I'm feeling braver. Have attempted to send one email via BT Yahoo instead; it says it's been sent, so I'm hoping for the best.

The computer has crashed several times in the last few weeks. I wonder whether it's coincidence that this corresponds more or less to the time I downloaded a game. Maybe I should uninstall it.

[tearinghair]

I've just run System Restore, but it hasn't solved the problem. However, I've realised that the restore point suggested was actually after the problem started, so I need to go back to an earlier point. Is it OK to run another Restore so soon?

[Buenchico]

No problem at all.

[tearinghair]

Right....I've tried everything I can think of. Ran a full system scan by Norton (4 hours!), tried a second System Restore - Windows found C disk corrupted and then fixed it before it would let me do the restore - still the same result; I can receive emails but can't reply to them or send new ones via Windows Live mail. ('A problem occurred while trying to open this. Windows Live mail has stopped working.') Son in USA said they had a similar problem but couldn't send or receive; fixed apparently by opening IE, turning off 'working online' then on again. Tried that, same result. Fortunately it's OK via Yahoo, but it's really annoying me now.
Any further suggestions, please, or do I have to learn to live with BT Yahoo?
And thanks for your patience.

[Buenchico]

All that's left is to completely uninstall, and then reinstall, Windows Live Mail. (You'll need to export all of your mail and contacts lists first, the recreate your email account and import everything back again):
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/938275

>>>. . . or do I have to learn to live with BT Yahoo?
Thunderbird (which comes from the same source as Firefox) is a very popular email client:
http://www.mozilla.org/en-GB/thunderbird/

[tearinghair]

Thanks Buenchico. To be honest the complete reinstall would scare me rigid; son has done all the difficult stuff for me in the past, but he has only recently been over in the UK and probably won't come again for a couple of years. I think I'll cope as it is for the moment, unless things get any worse. Do you have any idea what might have caused it?

[tearinghair]

I've run all sorts of checks,with son's help by remote access, without any improvement in the Live Mail situation. Have discovered that lots of Windows updates have failed since 14th August (the date on which the problem started). It's now telling me that updates have never been installed, and (until 5 minutes ago) I had never checked for updates which is clearly untrue as I did it this morning.... the latest check also showed 'some files corrupted, did not repair'. Should I be worried?

[Old_Geezer]

You certainly want to fix it. Updates aren't issued without reason. They are usually to fix flaws that have been found. In your shoes I think I'd be considering a reinstall of Windows, But let's see what others have to suggest.

[tearinghair]

Windows 7, desktop. No overheating, it's only a couple of years old. It was Path of Hercules from Gamehouse; I'd had it for several weeks, but I did notice in the new programs an item linked to it which I didn't remember downloading, on 14th August again. Have since uninstalled it.
Have also noticed that some of the updates - not all - that had previously failed have now been successful.
Where is the Windows event viewer? have never come across it.

[tearinghair]

I've just had a close look at the updates history, and all the failed ones have eventually been installed except for the one ending 849, which is 'update for Microsoft office 2007 suites' and which has failed about a dozen times. All the security ones are OK.

[tearinghair]

...and the most recent check seems to have fixed the email problem at last.
Fingers crossed.... thanks for all the advice, everyone.

[tearinghair]

Thanks Methyl. For the moment I think I'll leave well alone as it seems to hae righted itself finally, but will make a note of your link and run if it plays up again.