Windows Live Mail Won't Open Saved .eml Files in Windows 8

Anonymous
2013-07-17T06:07:00+00:00

Running on Windows 8 with Windows Live Mail.  If you save an email to a file it is saved with an .eml file extension.  These files can then be saved anywhere (i.e. your desktop).

Then when double clicking the file the mail client (Windows Live Mail) would open with the email in the Inbox.  Old Outlook clients worked the same way.  I've had this working AOK with Windows 7 for some time.

With the same scenario under Windows 8 the Windows Live Mail client opens but the email is no where to be found.

The file association is AOK:  .eml = Windows Live Mail  (from File "Set Associations" screen).

Even just saving the email to a file from the client (Windows Live Mail) and then immediately trying to select it again does not work (after deleting the original email from the client).

Windows for home | Other | Email and communications

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Anonymous
2013-07-17T11:54:16+00:00

 Then when double clicking the file the mail client (Windows Live Mail) would open with the email in the Inbox.  Old Outlook clients worked the same way.  I've had this working AOK with Windows 7 for some time.

 

With the same scenario under Windows 8 the Windows Live Mail client opens but the email is no where to be found.

 

The file association is AOK:  .eml = Windows Live Mail  (from File "Set Associations" screen).

 

Even just saving the email to a file from the client (Windows Live Mail) and then immediately trying to select it again does not work (after deleting the original email from the client).

Double clicking the file will open the file.  It will not be in the Inbox.

Windows Live Mail will be partially running.  Access to Windows Live Mail will require starting Windows Live Mail with the shortcut.

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Anonymous
2013-07-28T20:21:18+00:00

I've no idea of the significance of the hash key. I'm fairly sure you don't need it, and it will be entered automatically by the program that does need it when necessary. 

Right-click on the .eml key that's causing problems and select Permissions. Use the Advanced options to give your user account full control of the key. Then try changing the Progid again. If you're still barred, use the advanced options to take ownership of the key.

Ensure also that WindowsLiveMail.Email.1 is listed under OpenWithProgids (with zero-value binary data).

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-07-28T02:33:42+00:00

    My Windows 7 & 8 HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts.eml\UserChoice Progid key shows WindowsLiveMail.Email.1

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-07-28T07:25:46+00:00

    Thanks for confirming that.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-07-28T19:35:42+00:00

    Ok for a summary here's where we're at (as I understand it). 

    Ron & Firedog have this working and found a 3rd registry entry that is different than mine (on my Windows 8 system).

    The registry entry that they have that match is:

    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts.eml\UserChoice:   Progid key shows WindowsLiveMail.Email.1

    On my Windows 8 system my entry is:

    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts.eml\UserChoice:   Progid key shows Applications\wlmail.exe

    As a test I also have a 64 bit Windows Pro 7 system and it also matches Ron & Firedog's settings and is working AOK:

    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts.eml\UserChoice:   Progid key shows WindowsLiveMail.Email.1

    However, there is still one difference I see between my Win 8 system and my Win 7 system under that same registry key.  My Win 8 system also has this entry whereas my Win 7 system does not:

    Hash key shows IT7K45eOnAU=

    This entry is not on the Win 7 system.

    Now the odd thing.  I cannot edit the registry on the Win 8 system to change Applications\wlmail.exe to WindowsLiveMail.Email.1

    I get this error message when just trying to change the value via Regedit (and Regedt32):

    When trying to use the "import" function to insert the whole .eml key I get this error message:

    Here's the .eml registry fragment I was importing (note the "Hash" value under UserChoice that is on the Win 8 system but not on the Win 7 system (this might be meaningless)):

    Yes, I was running RegEdit as "Administrator".

    I also even tried booting the Win 8 system into Safe mode to try editing this section of the Registry with the same results as above as to access.

    Maybe a clue forward but still a step back.... :)

    I'd sure like to get this 3rd entry changed that Ron and Firedog have now identified to test this out...

    Thanks again all for all your attention,

    Jess

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