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Vista Tutorial - Windows Mail Slow

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Windows Mail Slow

How to Fix a Slow Windows Mail
Published by Brink
06-10-2007

How to Fix a Slow Windows Mail
Information
  This will show you how to fix four different causes for Windows Mail being slow.
NOTE
  Check for each of these causes and follow the steps below for how to fix the issue for each of these.

Known Causes Description
 
Antivirus Program
You have the email scanning options turned on in your antivirus program or your antivirus program is not compatible with Vista or Windows Mail.
 
Restricted Sites List
Some programs (ex:anti-Spyware) may add a large number of entries to the Internet Explorer restricted sites list. This can cause a severe performance problem in Windows Mail after installing the KB931768 Windows update before SP1 is installed. The slowness comes from Windows Mail having some kind of conflict with the update and the spy program making it read through the long list of restricted sites first.
 
To Many Contacts
For each 100 contact files in your Contact folder (name and email address totaling 2KB) there is a 0.25 second delay imposed by Vista for when you Create, Reply, Forward, or AutoFill a message. (EX: A 2 to 3 second delay for every 1000 contacts) The timing delay will vary due to processor speed and size of contact file.
 
To Many Messages
If you store or have a ton of messages in a mailbox folder (EX: Inbox), it can cause a delay while opening it.
 
Large Attachment
If you try to attach or receive a large file size attachment, then this can cause a slow receive or send depending on your internet speed.
 
Database Issues
The Windows Mail database may need to be compacted and repaired.





Tip
  A Workaround:
  • Open Windows Calendar from within Windows Mail. (Tools -> Windows Calendar)
  • Close Windows Calendar after a minute.
RELATED LINK:

CAUSE ONE:
How to Fix the Antivirus Program Issue
1. For how, see the section titled FIRST in Problem One of this link below:

Windows Mail problems


CAUSE TWO:
How to Fix the Restricted Sites Issue
1. To Fix the Restricted Sites Issue -
A) Click the download button below to download SlowWinmail_Fix.reg (Below), and save to your desktop.

B) Go to step 3.
2. To Undo the Restricted Sites Fix -
A) Click the download button below to download Undo_SlowWinmail_Fix.reg (Below), and save to your desktop.

3. Right click on the .reg file (on desktop), and click on Merge.

4. Click on the Run button in the Security Warning pop-up.

5. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.

6. Click Yes for the pop-up window.

7. Click OK for the pop-up window.
NOTE
  This will add or remove the winmail.exe value in the registry location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MAIN\FeatureControl\FEATURE_MIME_SNIFFING
Click the image to open in full size.



CAUSE THREE:
How to Fix the To Many Contacts Issue
NOTE: This is more of a workaround than a fix, but it works.
1. Simply go the Contacts folder and reduce how many you have. You can either delete or relocate these contacts to a different or new personal folder. (EX: C:\Users\(your username)\Contacts2)
NOTE: The default Contacts folder is located here: C:\Users\(your username)\Contacts

2. You can then just simply browse to this new location when you click on Tools and Windows Contacts in Windows Mail to navigate to and select your other contacts.

CAUSE FOUR:
How to Fix the To Many Messages Issue
1. Simply delete the messages when done with them.

OR

2. If you want to store messages, then use Windows Mail Import and Export Messages feature to save the messages in a separate new folder on the desktop or in a personal user folder.
NOTE: For how, see: Windows Mail - Messages

CAUSE FIVE:
How to Fix the Large Attachment Issue
1. For Sending -
A) Make the attachment smaller by putting it in a ZIP file.

B) Break the attachment up and send it in separate messages.
2. For Receiving -
A) Ask the sender to do step 1.

CAUSE SIX:
How to Fix the Database Issue
1. If open, close Windows Mail.

2. Open Task Manager, and End Proccess any instance of winmail.exe if listed.
NOTE: You will use OPTION TWO at that link.

3. Do the Compact Database and Repair Database with the free program WMUtil.
NOTE: Be sure to follow all directions for the program at that website.
That's it,
Shawn

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Tutorial Tools

Applies to
All Vista Versions
64 Bit & 32 Bit

Old 06-22-2007  
Brink
Administrator


Join Date: Apr 2007
Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64
 
 

Re: Windows Mail Slow

Updated.

Thank you GTS for your post with the answer for this problem.

http://www.vistax64.com/vista-mail/72653-windows-mail-fix-slowness-due-large-restricted-site-list.html

Regards,
Shawn

My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 07-18-2007  
niall
Newbie


Join Date: Jul 2007
vista home prem 32x
 
 

Re: Windows Mail Slow

I had this problem of very slow windows mail and notice that i got an update at the same time as the problem occurred after someone else told me.
The updated was KB905866 for junk mail i have since deleted it and now the mail is ok.
Hope this is usefull my os is 32xvista home prem.
Please can someone tell me if the above advice about "regedit" can be used on my system if needed or only on the 64xbit OS
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 07-18-2007  
Brink
Administrator


Join Date: Apr 2007
Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64
 
 

Re: Windows Mail Slow

Hi Niall,

Yes it can be used on the 32 bit Vista to. All of these slowness problems seem to fall back to the "restricted sites list".

Shawn
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 07-19-2007  
TeMerc
Newbie


Join Date: Jul 2007
Windows XP\Vista Ultimate
 
 

Re: Windows Mail Slow

This tip got my mail fixed up, great forum, loads of excellent tips. Thanks!
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 07-19-2007  
Brink
Administrator


Join Date: Apr 2007
Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64
 
 

Re: Windows Mail Slow

TeMerc,

Welcome to the forum.

I am glad that it has helped you.

Shawn
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 08-06-2007  
Brink
Administrator


Join Date: Apr 2007
Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64
 
 

Re: Windows Mail Slow

Updated to include another solution for a Slow Windows Mail by Eddie Miller (AKA member name: Lanscomm) for To Many Contacts.

http://netorator.com/

Shawn
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 08-06-2007  
Lanscomm
Digitally Clairvoyant


Join Date: Aug 2007
Vista
 
 

Re: Windows Mail Slow

Hello Shawn:

In your Path Example above the Default Windows System Contact Folder is located at the following:

In most default cases:
C:\Users\$LoginUserName$\Desktop\Contacts

Please note that you must substitute YOUR actual Vista Login Credential Name in the above path without the "$" Dollar Signs.


The Desktop Folder is missing in your example.


Thanks,
Eddie Miller
eddie@SPUBOL.com
Mail Delay Workaround: http://NetOrator.com
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 08-06-2007  
Brink
Administrator


Join Date: Apr 2007
Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64
 
 

Re: Windows Mail Slow

Hi Lanscomm,

I'm sorry, but my default location has always been C:\Users\(your username)\Contacts. I have done several reinstalls and such and this has always been the case for me. Have you created a new Contact folder in the Desktop folder by chance when you were applying your solution?

Shawn
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 08-08-2007  
z3r010
I’m a PC


Join Date: Oct 2005
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
 
 

Re: Windows Mail Slow

Just checked mine and it's located C:\Users\John\Contacts
My System SpecsSystem Spec
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