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

Anonymous

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).

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Anonymous

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

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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43 additional answers

Anonymous

2013-07-20T01:42:48+00:00

Eugene,

I uninstalled Windows Live Mail via the clean uninstall procedure you provided. It had no effect, I still cannot open saved .eml files just as before.

Jess
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Anonymous

2013-07-20T00:32:40+00:00
Hi JAO_9999,

Thank you for the information that you've provided.

To help you sort out your problem, I recommend that you uninstall Windows Live Mail. For instructions, please refer to this link:

**One or more Windows Live programs didn't install. What went wrong?**

In step 2, select Live Mail as the program you want to uninstall. Before uninstalling Live Mail, I suggest that you back all important files especially if you have an account set up in Live Mail. To do this, click this link for directions:

**How do I import and export email, contacts, and calendars with Windows Live Mail?**

Once you successfully uninstalled Windows Live Mail, please follow these steps to perform clean removal:
1. Go to Computer.
2. Click on Local Disk (C:) and then go to Program Files.
3. Delete Windows Live folder by pressing and holding Shift + Delete button on your keyboard. To reinstall latest version of Live Mail, please click this **link**.
If the issue still persists, don't hesitate to inform us and we'll be happy to assist you.

Thanks!
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Anonymous

2013-07-19T21:27:55+00:00

Hi Richard,

I copied some saved .eml files over to a Vista machine and they opened just fine. I also had a Windows 7 machine up until a few days ago and it opened them up just fine as well.

So, the only major difference is that in this case where it's failing we're running Windows 8.

Per your request I also created a new user on the Windows 8 machine and it behaves just the same when trying to open any .eml saved email files as my original user. The Windows Live Mail client opens, but then the saved .eml file does not.

Thanks,

Jess
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