windows live mail stopped working

January 4, 2014 10:29 AM

My windows live mail stopped working two days ago. When I start the program the message says "windows live mail has stopped working and will search the web for a solution." I have searched the web to find a solution and have tried what I found was suggested: going to the windows live essentials file and repairing it. I tried this three times and it still won't work. I am running what I assume is the latest version of explorer and windows live essentials 2011. Everything was fine until two days ago. For what it is worth the latest windows update version is KB2913152 as of 12-12-13. But everything worked until the 1st of January. Assuming I could download an updated version of the essentials, and assuming it would fix the problem, I am concerned about losing my contact list, as I can't get to them at the moment.
posted by jtexman1 to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

Can you log in on live.com?
posted by SuperSquirrel at 11:18 AM on January 4, 2014

Response by poster: No. I have never had an account there. The mail is linked to my local ISP provider.
posted by jtexman1 at 11:30 AM on January 4, 2014

Have you tried downloading and re-running the installer? Maybe try uninstalling first if that doesn't work? I don't know if that will do anything to your contacts, but since it's not working at all for you, it might be worth a shot.

Just so you know, MS has basically stopped doing any development on Windows Live Mail, so you're unlikely to see much future support happening there. I'd recommend looking at other alternatives for desktop mail clients. If you move to Thunderbird, there is an extension that imports from Windows Live Mail (some instructions here). I'm unfamiliar with other clients and whether they'd be able to import anything or not.
posted by Aleyn at 9:24 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]