Windows Contacts fails when calling windows Mail

When I try to use the Windows Contacts button (email) to call Windows Mail, it fails and gives the following message:
"An error occurred when attempting to access the default email program". If I click ok, I get the message "Windows host process (Rundll32) has stopped working. A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available." The default mail program is set to Windows Mail.

When I go to Event Viewer>Windows Logs>Applications, I find that the following two error messages have been added:
Error 5/28/2008 2:13:49 PM Application Error 1000 (100)
Information 5/28/2008 2:13:57 PM Windows Error Reporting 1001 None

My first question is "Am I the only one that is having this problem or is it a standard problem in Vista?

Secondly, assuming that it is my problem, does anybody have any ideas of how to fix it? Windows Mail runs fine and references contacts in Windows Contacts. I have previously installed MS Office 97 on Vista and the programs I use (Word, Powerpoint, Excel) run fine. Access and Outlook 97 don't run. I am suspicious that when I installed Office 97 that Outlook somehow messed things up--like a registry entry. When I tried to uninstall Outlook, it wouldn't uninstall. So I deleted all the program files with Outlook in their name and ran a registry cleaner. I hoped that the registry cleaner would see the missing Outlook files and clear any associated registry problems. It didn't work. I don't know anything about the registry so I don't know where to even look for a registry problem, let alone fix it. If anybody knows how to find my (supposed) registry problem and fix it, please respond.

The only thing I know to do at this point is load the CD that came with the computer (Toshiba Satellite A215-S4697) and set Vista back to the delivered state and then re-customize and reload all programs and files--a sizable task for a dummy like me.

This may be all in vain. The reason I want to use the Contacts email button is so I can split up my contacts into sub-folders within the Contacts folder. I hope to be able to select a contact in a sub-folder, click the "email" button and have an empty message window come up addressed to the contact I had selected. If this doesn't work, it is on to plan B. I understand there is a Mosilla Thunderbird email progam. Would it let me divide my contacts into sub-folders and send emails to those contacts.

Thanks for any help
Ralph

Hi Ralph,

Welcome to the forums.

Have you checked to see that WM is the default mail program. Control Panel(classic view)/Default Programs.

Also, so long as WM is looking up email addresses in your contacts folder when you type a name in the To: line, it will look up addresses in the subfolders so long as you right click & choose customize this folder then select contacts from the dropdown. If you have nested folders, tick the apply to subfolders box.

Hopefully helpful.
Gary

Gary

Thank you for your help. Your suggestions didn't fix the error when pressing the email button in Window Contacts, but your suggestions gave me a workaround. Now I have one more question. Is there any way to import a .csv file directly into a Contacts sub-folder? Whenever I do it, the contacts all go into the main Contacts folder. I have to sort through and move them to the sub-folder. We have a large club membership list that is frequently updated and distributed to members as a .csv file. It would be nice to just import it directly into the correct sub-folder.

Thanks

Ralph

Hi Ralph,

Unfortunately, I have not found a way to import into a subfolder. I can only offer the workaround of having the members in the main folder and placing your personal contacts in the subfolder.

Also, you might try running 'sfc /scannow' in an administrative command prompt to see if it helps with the rundll32 error. Info here if needed: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html

Hope this helps.
Gary