Vista - stuck email inbox fix?

I have emails stuck in my inbox. I have tried all of the fixes, and I cannot
get rid of them.
What if I delete the inbox from my Windows Mail folder, and copy/paste the
Windows Mail inbox (which is working perfectly) from my laptop into my
Desktop Windows Mail folder?
Will it fix the problem? Will it create a huge mess?

That won't work. The problem is actually in the database, not the inbox.
Have you tried Steve Cochran's suggested fix?

"The only solution so far is to wipe out the database. So go to
Tools | Options | Maintenance | Advanced | Store Folder to find the message
store location. Then move everything under that Windows Mail directory to
another directory. Then restart WinMail and it will open fresh with nothing
in the database. You can then add your accounts and if they work correctly
then you can use File | Import | Messages and choose WinMail format and
point to the directory to which you moved the files."

Gary VanderMolen

"BearySarah" <BearySarah@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:6B73520C-66E6-4ECF-8182-32144AF89F2E@microsoft.com...
>I have emails stuck in my inbox. I have tried all of the fixes, and I cannot
> get rid of them.
> What if I delete the inbox from my Windows Mail folder, and copy/paste the
> Windows Mail inbox (which is working perfectly) from my laptop into my
> Desktop Windows Mail folder?
> Will it fix the problem? Will it create a huge mess?

Windows Mail has a newer (to them) form of database. Each email is stored

separately.



Do the following:



1) Open Control Panel then select Folder Options.

a) click on the Views tab

b) Select "Show hidden files and folders"

c) Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types"

d) click APPLY then OK.

e) Close Control Panel



2) From Windows Mail

a) Click on the Tools menu

b) click on Options

c) click on the Advanced tab

d) click the Maintenance button

e) click the Store Folders button.

f) make a note of the location of the message stores. It will be

something like:

C:\Users\<account name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail

g) close Windows Mail



3) Open Windows Explorer



When it opens, you will see a small black triangle next to the user account

name. Click it to collapse it.



For the following, the triangle will not appear till you put the mouse over

the element in question.



Move the mouse to the "Computer" line. A triangle will appear, click on it

to expand it.



You should see something like "Local Disk (C"



Click on the triangle to expand it.



Locate "Users" and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.



Locate <username> and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.



Locate "AppData" and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.



Locate "Local" and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.

Locate "Microsoft" and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.



Now, in the right window pane, locate Windows Mail.

Click on it.



In the left window pane, scroll upward till you see "Local Disk (C"



Now, in the right window pane, hold them left mouse button down on the

Windows Mail folder.

Drag it to the "Local Disk (C" and release the mouse button.

Select MOVE Here.......



Now, this may take a bit to get done, depending upon how much mail is there.

Give it time.



Now, when it's done, create a new folder name Windows Mail to replace the

moved one in the

C:\Users\<account name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft folder.



Now start Windows Mail.

It will be empty but that's no biggie.



Create a couple of folders in Windows Mail and name them Old Mail, Old

Sent.

Click on the Old Mail folder to open it.





Resize Windows Mail so you can see both Windows Explorer and Windows Mail.



In the Windows Mail folder you will see a Local Folders folder, click the

triangle to expand it.



Locate the Inbox folder.

In this folder you will see a lot of .eml files. These are the old emails.

Drag and drop ONLY the .eml files to the Old Mail folder in Windows Mail.



Do similar for Sent Items to the Old Sent folder.



Now, see if Windows Mail works for you.





"BearySarah" <BearySarah@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6B73520C-66E6-4ECF-8182-32144AF89F2E@microsoft.com...
>I have emails stuck in my inbox. I have tried all of the fixes, and I
>cannot
> get rid of them.
> What if I delete the inbox from my Windows Mail folder, and copy/paste the
> Windows Mail inbox (which is working perfectly) from my laptop into my
> Desktop Windows Mail folder?
> Will it fix the problem? Will it create a huge mess?

I've been tempted to try Steve's fix, but I have emails going back to 1998,
and a boatload of user made folders. When I did the import from OE to
Windows Mail, it took me 6 hours to get everything straight again. My 16
email friends that are stuck in my inbox don't annoy me that much yet. But,
just in case that changes, I've made a copy of your instructions, and saved
them. It's a shame my idea was a bust.
Thank you for the instructions for the fix.

"Gary VanderMolen" wrote:

> That won't work. The problem is actually in the database, not the inbox.
> Have you tried Steve Cochran's suggested fix?
>
> "The only solution so far is to wipe out the database. So go to
> Tools | Options | Maintenance | Advanced | Store Folder to find the message
> store location. Then move everything under that Windows Mail directory to
> another directory. Then restart WinMail and it will open fresh with nothing
> in the database. You can then add your accounts and if they work correctly
> then you can use File | Import | Messages and choose WinMail format and
> point to the directory to which you moved the files."
>
> Gary VanderMolen
>
> "BearySarah" <BearySarah@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:6B73520C-66E6-4ECF-8182-32144AF89F2E@microsoft.com...
> >I have emails stuck in my inbox. I have tried all of the fixes, and I cannot
> > get rid of them.
> > What if I delete the inbox from my Windows Mail folder, and copy/paste the
> > Windows Mail inbox (which is working perfectly) from my laptop into my
> > Desktop Windows Mail folder?
> > Will it fix the problem? Will it create a huge mess?
>

Thank you Gary and Steve!!!! I decided to do Steve's fix, and just live with
the
"imported folders" folder. It worked like a charm. My inbox is empty! Not
only
that, but, I was able to move all of my user created folders to the main
Folders tree with my mouse. So, now all is right with my email world. Until
the database gets corrupted again. But, that's okay because now I know how
to fix it. The whole thing took 15 minutes. You guys rock. Thank you.

"BearySarah" wrote:

> I've been tempted to try Steve's fix, but I have emails going back to 1998,
> and a boatload of user made folders. When I did the import from OE to
> Windows Mail, it took me 6 hours to get everything straight again. My 16
> email friends that are stuck in my inbox don't annoy me that much yet. But,
> just in case that changes, I've made a copy of your instructions, and saved
> them. It's a shame my idea was a bust.
> Thank you for the instructions for the fix.
>
> "Gary VanderMolen" wrote:
>
> > That won't work. The problem is actually in the database, not the inbox.
> > Have you tried Steve Cochran's suggested fix?
> >
> > "The only solution so far is to wipe out the database. So go to
> > Tools | Options | Maintenance | Advanced | Store Folder to find the message
> > store location. Then move everything under that Windows Mail directory to
> > another directory. Then restart WinMail and it will open fresh with nothing
> > in the database. You can then add your accounts and if they work correctly
> > then you can use File | Import | Messages and choose WinMail format and
> > point to the directory to which you moved the files."
> >
> > Gary VanderMolen
> >
> > "BearySarah" <BearySarah@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:6B73520C-66E6-4ECF-8182-32144AF89F2E@microsoft.com...
> > >I have emails stuck in my inbox. I have tried all of the fixes, and I cannot
> > > get rid of them.
> > > What if I delete the inbox from my Windows Mail folder, and copy/paste the
> > > Windows Mail inbox (which is working perfectly) from my laptop into my
> > > Desktop Windows Mail folder?
> > > Will it fix the problem? Will it create a huge mess?
> >

One last thing I had to do: change my New Mail Notification in Sounds from
"If I could turn back time..." to "tada"! Loved doing it too.

"BearySarah" wrote:

> Thank you Gary and Steve!!!! I decided to do Steve's fix, and just live with
> the
> "imported folders" folder. It worked like a charm. My inbox is empty! Not
> only
> that, but, I was able to move all of my user created folders to the main
> Folders tree with my mouse. So, now all is right with my email world. Until
> the database gets corrupted again. But, that's okay because now I know how
> to fix it. The whole thing took 15 minutes. You guys rock. Thank you.
>
> "BearySarah" wrote:
>
> > I've been tempted to try Steve's fix, but I have emails going back to 1998,
> > and a boatload of user made folders. When I did the import from OE to
> > Windows Mail, it took me 6 hours to get everything straight again. My 16
> > email friends that are stuck in my inbox don't annoy me that much yet. But,
> > just in case that changes, I've made a copy of your instructions, and saved
> > them. It's a shame my idea was a bust.
> > Thank you for the instructions for the fix.
> >
> > "Gary VanderMolen" wrote:
> >
> > > That won't work. The problem is actually in the database, not the inbox.
> > > Have you tried Steve Cochran's suggested fix?
> > >
> > > "The only solution so far is to wipe out the database. So go to
> > > Tools | Options | Maintenance | Advanced | Store Folder to find the message
> > > store location. Then move everything under that Windows Mail directory to
> > > another directory. Then restart WinMail and it will open fresh with nothing
> > > in the database. You can then add your accounts and if they work correctly
> > > then you can use File | Import | Messages and choose WinMail format and
> > > point to the directory to which you moved the files."
> > >
> > > Gary VanderMolen
> > >
> > > "BearySarah" <BearySarah@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:6B73520C-66E6-4ECF-8182-32144AF89F2E@microsoft.com...
> > > >I have emails stuck in my inbox. I have tried all of the fixes, and I cannot
> > > > get rid of them.
> > > > What if I delete the inbox from my Windows Mail folder, and copy/paste the
> > > > Windows Mail inbox (which is working perfectly) from my laptop into my
> > > > Desktop Windows Mail folder?
> > > > Will it fix the problem? Will it create a huge mess?
> > >

Congratulations on your success. It's nice to get feedback
to let us know that a suggested fix is actually working.

Gary VanderMolen

"BearySarah" <BearySarah@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news53160E5-405D-4F3B-B33F-5A1526D2E7B4@microsoft.com...
> Thank you Gary and Steve!!!! I decided to do Steve's fix, and just live with
> the
> "imported folders" folder. It worked like a charm. My inbox is empty! Not
> only
> that, but, I was able to move all of my user created folders to the main
> Folders tree with my mouse. So, now all is right with my email world. Until
> the database gets corrupted again. But, that's okay because now I know how
> to fix it. The whole thing took 15 minutes. You guys rock. Thank you.
>
> "BearySarah" wrote:
>
>> I've been tempted to try Steve's fix, but I have emails going back to 1998,
>> and a boatload of user made folders. When I did the import from OE to
>> Windows Mail, it took me 6 hours to get everything straight again. My 16
>> email friends that are stuck in my inbox don't annoy me that much yet. But,
>> just in case that changes, I've made a copy of your instructions, and saved
>> them. It's a shame my idea was a bust.
>> Thank you for the instructions for the fix.
>>
>> "Gary VanderMolen" wrote:
>>
>> > That won't work. The problem is actually in the database, not the inbox.
>> > Have you tried Steve Cochran's suggested fix?
>> >
>> > "The only solution so far is to wipe out the database. So go to
>> > Tools | Options | Maintenance | Advanced | Store Folder to find the message
>> > store location. Then move everything under that Windows Mail directory to
>> > another directory. Then restart WinMail and it will open fresh with nothing
>> > in the database. You can then add your accounts and if they work correctly
>> > then you can use File | Import | Messages and choose WinMail format and
>> > point to the directory to which you moved the files."
>> >
>> > Gary VanderMolen
>> >
>> > "BearySarah" <BearySarah@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> > news:6B73520C-66E6-4ECF-8182-32144AF89F2E@microsoft.com...
>> > >I have emails stuck in my inbox. I have tried all of the fixes, and I cannot
>> > > get rid of them.
>> > > What if I delete the inbox from my Windows Mail folder, and copy/paste the
>> > > Windows Mail inbox (which is working perfectly) from my laptop into my
>> > > Desktop Windows Mail folder?
>> > > Will it fix the problem? Will it create a huge mess?
>> >

OMG please tell me that Microsoft is trying to fix this problem, i really
need to get work done, not spend half the day trying to fix a problem that
comes back in two weeks. thanks!!!!!!!!!!

"DGuess" wrote:

>
> Windows Mail has a newer (to them) form of database. Each email is stored
>
> separately.
>
>
>
> Do the following:
>
>
>
> 1) Open Control Panel then select Folder Options.
>
> a) click on the Views tab
>
> b) Select "Show hidden files and folders"
>
> c) Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types"
>
> d) click APPLY then OK.
>
> e) Close Control Panel
>
>
>
> 2) From Windows Mail
>
> a) Click on the Tools menu
>
> b) click on Options
>
> c) click on the Advanced tab
>
> d) click the Maintenance button
>
> e) click the Store Folders button.
>
> f) make a note of the location of the message stores. It will be
>
> something like:
>
> C:\Users\<account name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail
>
> g) close Windows Mail
>
>
>
> 3) Open Windows Explorer
>
>
>
> When it opens, you will see a small black triangle next to the user account
>
> name. Click it to collapse it.
>
>
>
> For the following, the triangle will not appear till you put the mouse over
>
> the element in question.
>
>
>
> Move the mouse to the "Computer" line. A triangle will appear, click on it
>
> to expand it.
>
>
>
> You should see something like "Local Disk (C"
>
>
>
> Click on the triangle to expand it.
>
>
>
> Locate "Users" and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.
>
>
>
> Locate <username> and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.
>
>
>
> Locate "AppData" and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.
>
>
>
> Locate "Local" and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.
>
> Locate "Microsoft" and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.
>
>
>
> Now, in the right window pane, locate Windows Mail.
>
> Click on it.
>
>
>
> In the left window pane, scroll upward till you see "Local Disk (C"
>
>
>
> Now, in the right window pane, hold them left mouse button down on the
>
> Windows Mail folder.
>
> Drag it to the "Local Disk (C" and release the mouse button.
>
> Select MOVE Here.......
>
>
>
> Now, this may take a bit to get done, depending upon how much mail is there.
>
> Give it time.
>
>
>
> Now, when it's done, create a new folder name Windows Mail to replace the
>
> moved one in the
>
> C:\Users\<account name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft folder.
>
>
>
> Now start Windows Mail.
>
> It will be empty but that's no biggie.
>
>
>
> Create a couple of folders in Windows Mail and name them Old Mail, Old
>
> Sent.
>
> Click on the Old Mail folder to open it.
>
>
>
>
>
> Resize Windows Mail so you can see both Windows Explorer and Windows Mail.
>
>
>
> In the Windows Mail folder you will see a Local Folders folder, click the
>
> triangle to expand it.
>
>
>
> Locate the Inbox folder.
>
> In this folder you will see a lot of .eml files. These are the old emails.
>
> Drag and drop ONLY the .eml files to the Old Mail folder in Windows Mail.
>
>
>
> Do similar for Sent Items to the Old Sent folder.
>
>
>
> Now, see if Windows Mail works for you.
>
>
>
>
>
> "BearySarah" <BearySarah@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:6B73520C-66E6-4ECF-8182-32144AF89F2E@microsoft.com...
> >I have emails stuck in my inbox. I have tried all of the fixes, and I
> >cannot
> > get rid of them.
> > What if I delete the inbox from my Windows Mail folder, and copy/paste the
> > Windows Mail inbox (which is working perfectly) from my laptop into my
> > Desktop Windows Mail folder?
> > Will it fix the problem? Will it create a huge mess?
>
>

Don't fight it, just switch:
http://morethanmail.spaces.live.com/...9A1!3459.entry

Gary VanderMolen


"page" <page@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:8AC2F2F5-4D95-4FA7-B705-3359208815BD@microsoft.com...
> OMG please tell me that Microsoft is trying to fix this problem, i really
> need to get work done, not spend half the day trying to fix a problem that
> comes back in two weeks. thanks!!!!!!!!!!
>
> "DGuess" wrote:
>
>>
>> Windows Mail has a newer (to them) form of database. Each email is stored
>>
>> separately.
>>
>>
>>
>> Do the following:
>>
>>
>>
>> 1) Open Control Panel then select Folder Options.
>>
>> a) click on the Views tab
>>
>> b) Select "Show hidden files and folders"
>>
>> c) Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types"
>>
>> d) click APPLY then OK.
>>
>> e) Close Control Panel
>>
>>
>>
>> 2) From Windows Mail
>>
>> a) Click on the Tools menu
>>
>> b) click on Options
>>
>> c) click on the Advanced tab
>>
>> d) click the Maintenance button
>>
>> e) click the Store Folders button.
>>
>> f) make a note of the location of the message stores. It will be
>>
>> something like:
>>
>> C:\Users\<account name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail
>>
>> g) close Windows Mail
>>
>>
>>
>> 3) Open Windows Explorer
>>
>>
>>
>> When it opens, you will see a small black triangle next to the user account
>>
>> name. Click it to collapse it.
>>
>>
>>
>> For the following, the triangle will not appear till you put the mouse over
>>
>> the element in question.
>>
>>
>>
>> Move the mouse to the "Computer" line. A triangle will appear, click on it
>>
>> to expand it.
>>
>>
>>
>> You should see something like "Local Disk (C"
>>
>>
>>
>> Click on the triangle to expand it.
>>
>>
>>
>> Locate "Users" and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.
>>
>>
>>
>> Locate <username> and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.
>>
>>
>>
>> Locate "AppData" and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.
>>
>>
>>
>> Locate "Local" and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.
>>
>> Locate "Microsoft" and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.
>>
>>
>>
>> Now, in the right window pane, locate Windows Mail.
>>
>> Click on it.
>>
>>
>>
>> In the left window pane, scroll upward till you see "Local Disk (C"
>>
>>
>>
>> Now, in the right window pane, hold them left mouse button down on the
>>
>> Windows Mail folder.
>>
>> Drag it to the "Local Disk (C" and release the mouse button.
>>
>> Select MOVE Here.......
>>
>>
>>
>> Now, this may take a bit to get done, depending upon how much mail is there.
>>
>> Give it time.
>>
>>
>>
>> Now, when it's done, create a new folder name Windows Mail to replace the
>>
>> moved one in the
>>
>> C:\Users\<account name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft folder.
>>
>>
>>
>> Now start Windows Mail.
>>
>> It will be empty but that's no biggie.
>>
>>
>>
>> Create a couple of folders in Windows Mail and name them Old Mail, Old
>>
>> Sent.
>>
>> Click on the Old Mail folder to open it.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Resize Windows Mail so you can see both Windows Explorer and Windows Mail.
>>
>>
>>
>> In the Windows Mail folder you will see a Local Folders folder, click the
>>
>> triangle to expand it.
>>
>>
>>
>> Locate the Inbox folder.
>>
>> In this folder you will see a lot of .eml files. These are the old emails.
>>
>> Drag and drop ONLY the .eml files to the Old Mail folder in Windows Mail.
>>
>>
>>
>> Do similar for Sent Items to the Old Sent folder.
>>
>>
>>
>> Now, see if Windows Mail works for you.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "BearySarah" <BearySarah@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:6B73520C-66E6-4ECF-8182-32144AF89F2E@microsoft.com...
>> >I have emails stuck in my inbox. I have tried all of the fixes, and I
>> >cannot
>> > get rid of them.
>> > What if I delete the inbox from my Windows Mail folder, and copy/paste the
>> > Windows Mail inbox (which is working perfectly) from my laptop into my
>> > Desktop Windows Mail folder?
>> > Will it fix the problem? Will it create a huge mess?
>>
>>

I doubt that Windows Mail gets fixed, as the new Windows Live Mail beta is
out..

--
Dave
http://get.live.com/betas/maildesktop_betas


"page" <page@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8AC2F2F5-4D95-4FA7-B705-3359208815BD@microsoft.com...
> OMG please tell me that Microsoft is trying to fix this problem, i really
> need to get work done, not spend half the day trying to fix a problem that
> comes back in two weeks. thanks!!!!!!!!!!
>
> "DGuess" wrote:
>
>>
>> Windows Mail has a newer (to them) form of database. Each email is stored
>>
>> separately.
>>
>>
>>
>> Do the following:
>>
>>
>>
>> 1) Open Control Panel then select Folder Options.
>>
>> a) click on the Views tab
>>
>> b) Select "Show hidden files and folders"
>>
>> c) Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types"
>>
>> d) click APPLY then OK.
>>
>> e) Close Control Panel
>>
>>
>>
>> 2) From Windows Mail
>>
>> a) Click on the Tools menu
>>
>> b) click on Options
>>
>> c) click on the Advanced tab
>>
>> d) click the Maintenance button
>>
>> e) click the Store Folders button.
>>
>> f) make a note of the location of the message stores. It will be
>>
>> something like:
>>
>> C:\Users\<account name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail
>>
>> g) close Windows Mail
>>
>>
>>
>> 3) Open Windows Explorer
>>
>>
>>
>> When it opens, you will see a small black triangle next to the user
>> account
>>
>> name. Click it to collapse it.
>>
>>
>>
>> For the following, the triangle will not appear till you put the mouse
>> over
>>
>> the element in question.
>>
>>
>>
>> Move the mouse to the "Computer" line. A triangle will appear, click on
>> it
>>
>> to expand it.
>>
>>
>>
>> You should see something like "Local Disk (C"
>>
>>
>>
>> Click on the triangle to expand it.
>>
>>
>>
>> Locate "Users" and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.
>>
>>
>>
>> Locate <username> and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.
>>
>>
>>
>> Locate "AppData" and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.
>>
>>
>>
>> Locate "Local" and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.
>>
>> Locate "Microsoft" and click on the triangle next to it to expand it.
>>
>>
>>
>> Now, in the right window pane, locate Windows Mail.
>>
>> Click on it.
>>
>>
>>
>> In the left window pane, scroll upward till you see "Local Disk (C"
>>
>>
>>
>> Now, in the right window pane, hold them left mouse button down on the
>>
>> Windows Mail folder.
>>
>> Drag it to the "Local Disk (C" and release the mouse button.
>>
>> Select MOVE Here.......
>>
>>
>>
>> Now, this may take a bit to get done, depending upon how much mail is
>> there.
>>
>> Give it time.
>>
>>
>>
>> Now, when it's done, create a new folder name Windows Mail to replace the
>>
>> moved one in the
>>
>> C:\Users\<account name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft folder.
>>
>>
>>
>> Now start Windows Mail.
>>
>> It will be empty but that's no biggie.
>>
>>
>>
>> Create a couple of folders in Windows Mail and name them Old Mail, Old
>>
>> Sent.
>>
>> Click on the Old Mail folder to open it.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Resize Windows Mail so you can see both Windows Explorer and Windows
>> Mail.
>>
>>
>>
>> In the Windows Mail folder you will see a Local Folders folder, click the
>>
>> triangle to expand it.
>>
>>
>>
>> Locate the Inbox folder.
>>
>> In this folder you will see a lot of .eml files. These are the old
>> emails.
>>
>> Drag and drop ONLY the .eml files to the Old Mail folder in Windows Mail.
>>
>>
>>
>> Do similar for Sent Items to the Old Sent folder.
>>
>>
>>
>> Now, see if Windows Mail works for you.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "BearySarah" <BearySarah@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:6B73520C-66E6-4ECF-8182-32144AF89F2E@microsoft.com...
>> >I have emails stuck in my inbox. I have tried all of the fixes, and I
>> >cannot
>> > get rid of them.
>> > What if I delete the inbox from my Windows Mail folder, and copy/paste
>> > the
>> > Windows Mail inbox (which is working perfectly) from my laptop into my
>> > Desktop Windows Mail folder?
>> > Will it fix the problem? Will it create a huge mess?
>>
>>