Vista - Windows Live Mail Desktop - Can't create or edit contacts or send topeople in contacts list

I have this problem, which I have been back and forth with Microsoft
Support with.
I have the latest Windows Live Desktop Mail Version installed on XP
SP2, and I installed IE8
Around that time, I have problems sending emails.
I worked out it was only to people that were in my contact list.
It syncs the contacts from my hotmail account.

I uninstalled IE8, uninstalled IE7, reinstalled IE8, Uninstalled WDM
twice, repaired.
Deleted contacts folder so it is recreated.
Done everything I can think of, and so far MS support can think of.

Outlook Express works fine, though doesn't sync contacts.

IE WDM contacts, I can't export, I can delete, but if I try to create
a new contact it crashes, or if I try and edit a contact.

I have Avast personal AV installed, Windows Firewall., pretty basic
machine, some music software which is incompatible with SP3, so I
uninstalled SP3 a few months ago

Anyone else had this issue and fixed it ?

Chris

Is WDM = WLM = Windows Live Mail (the desktop name was dropped about 2 yrs ago).

Compact WLM, set the counter to 1, File/Work Offline, then File/Exit.
Leave WLM closed(if in the Notfication area end WLM and WLMsgr)
Logon to account.live.com and verify you can access your Live ID account.
Navigate to contacts.live.com or people.live.com (they go to the same place..the online contacts)

Can you create new contacts ?
If so are they present in WLM the next time you sync and use that same Live ID to logon to Windows Live when using WLM.

OE uses an address book. WLM uses a contact database that syncs with the web. They are not related.



--
...winston
ms-mvp mail

"christopherboothoz" <christopherboothoz@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:42eeb7fe-bea1-4ee4-91a0-80420d8f5d1f@xxxxxx

On Jul 15, 2:38*pm, "...winston" <winston...@xxxxxx> wrote:Hi Winston

How do I ?
Compact WLM, set the counter to 1 ?
I don't use WLmessenger

I can create new contacts online, will see if they are available in
WLM later on tonight

WLM does use the contact database, but the export as csv function
didn't export anything.

Chris

"christopherboothoz" <christopherboothoz@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:a41feb6f-14a5-475a-bca1-d10323d9b32b@xxxxxx
WLM is Windows Live Mail
WLMsgr(to me and many others to avoid confusion in this forum) is Windows Live Messenger

Configure compaction at an interval of 1 in WLM is found on the menu under Tools
- tools/options/advanced/maintenance
Ensure you also exit (File/Work Offline, File/Exit)

Are you using the same Live ID to logon to Windows Live when opening WLM as you used in the web interface(online) ?

Are you certain you deleted the correct contacts folder in Windows Live Mail ?
This registry key shows the numerical folder names for each Live ID(two for each Live ID a primary and shadow) and the Default
folder(no Live ID in use).
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts\Database

--
...winston
ms-mvp mail

"christopherboothoz" <christopherboothoz@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:a41feb6f-14a5-475a-bca1-d10323d9b32b@xxxxxxAlt + T, Options, Advanced, ....
Close WLM, reopen and close WLM, answer yes to compact.

WLM will use different Contacts if you are not logged in to Windows Live.
Do you always login?
--
Ron Sommer

I will try compaction, I don't use messynger

I have logged on with two different live ids

I use WLM successfully on another Windows XP computer with SP3 and on
a Vista PC using the same Windows Live IDs not a problem
Just on this one PC

I removed the contacts by renaming the Windows Live Contacts folder
(as instructed by MS Support Engineers)
"I checked the log file that you sent and it seems your contacts are
downloading perfectly in Windows Live Mail. Another troubleshooting
step to try is to rename the contact folder so that Windows Live Mail
creates a new one when you launch it. Basically, we will be forcing
Windows Live Mail to create a new contact directory. For Windows XP
you should find the contacts folder on the path below:

C:\Documents and Settings\<USER_NAME>\Local Settings\Application Data
\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts

You may rename the folder to Windows Live Contacts.old. Please make
sure that Windows Live Mail is closed when you do this."

I just deleted all entries in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts\Database

I have done the compaction, and set it to 1

Now I have no contacts showing up in WLM

Aargh

Chris

The compacting won't create the contacts..but it will rule out WLM having issues interfering with synchronization.

How many contacts are present in the web interface(contacts.live.com) when using that same Live ID that has no contacts in WLM ?


Is WLMsgr installed ?
- I'm not suggesting you use it..but if it is installed..it would be nice to know if WLMsgr is syncing with the web contacts you
created in the online interface.


--
...winston
ms-mvp mail

"christopherboothoz" <christopherboothoz@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:7e2c71e0-9c2c-45ed-b70c-90ba2453184a@xxxxxx

Hi Chris.

The obvious suspect here is a corrupt Windows Live Contacts Database, but since you have already forced a replacement of this database, then it appears that we can rule that out, unless something keeps corrupting it.

First, some questions:

Do you have this problem when you are signed into Windows Live within WLMail with a different Live ID?
What about when you are not signed in at all (Tools->Options...->Connection [tab]->Connecting to Windows Live Services [section]->Stop Signing in [button])?
Did you upgrade from a 12x (2008) or earlier version of WLMail.

There may be other Windows Live/WLMail Contact Stores on your computer that are worth deleting (renaming) in case they are interfering somehow:

Rename [to "Contacts (old)"] the following folder if it exists:

C:\Documents and Settings\[UserName]\Contacts

Rename [to "Contacts (old)"] the following folder, within your WLMail Message Store*, if it exists:

C:\Documents and Settings\[UserName]\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail\Contacts

*WLMail's Message Store is a directory named 'Windows Live Mail'. The path to the Message Store, in its default location involves a hidden folder, so ensure that "Show hidden files and folders" is checked under Folder Options in Windows Explorer. To find the location of your Message Store, go to Tools->Options...->Advanced [tab]->Maintenance->Store Folder.

The default Message Store location in XP is:

%userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail
(C:\Documents and Settings\[UserName]\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail)

If that fails to help, I think that the next step is a Complete Uninstall/Reinstall of WLMail as described at http://liveunplugged.spaces.live.com...90CA!226.entry

By all means rename [to "Windows Live Mail (old)"] WLMail's main Registry Key (HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail), mentioned in the Blog, rather than delete it.

--
Cheers,
Peter.R
(Windows Vista Home Premium SP2 with IE7 & Windows Live Mail 2009 14.0.8064.0206)
"There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." - Shakespeare

"christopherboothoz" <christopherboothoz@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:42eeb7fe-bea1-4ee4-91a0-80420d8f5d1f@xxxxxx