"A problem has occurred while trying to open this message."

This happens to almost everyone who tries the defragmentation routine. The problem is this: esentutl makes a copy of the index file (Mail.MSMessageStore) and tries to defragment it. If the process is successful, the defragmented file is copied back to where it originally came from - but its owner has changed, because it was the System user account that created the file while the procedure is being run by administrator. So the normal user account doesn't have permissions to write to this file, which causes the error you're seeing. To correct this,

1. Log on to Windows with an administrator account and ensure that no programs are running.
2. Use Explorer to navigate to your store folder, probably at

C:\Users{user}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mailwhere {user} is the Windows user having the problem.**** 3. Right-click on Mail.MSMessageStore and select Properties. 4. On the Security tab, click Advanced, then open the Owner tab.

If the Current owner box doesn't contain your normal Windows user account, click Edit then *Other users or groups.*Type the name of your normal Windows user account into the Enter the object name... box and click Check names. The official name of the account should appear in the format {computer name}{username}.

Click OK, select this username in the Change owner to box then *OK.*Open the Permissions tab and click Change permissions. 5. Click Add and type the name of your normal Windows user account into the Enter the object name... box and click Check names. The official name of the account should appear in the format {computer name}{username}.

Click OK, select this username in the Permissions box and click Edit.

Select the checkbox labelled Full control in the Allow column. 6. Click OK three times to close all dialogue boxes. 7. Launch Windows Live Mail.

If you get stuck anywhere, Cancel your way out and report back.

I was successfully able to execute the instructions. I am now unable to open WIndows Live. I get the message - "Windows Live Mail could not be started. The application was unable to open Windows Live Mail message store. Your windows Live Mail mailbox data is currently being used by another program, such as Virus scanner. Close the program and wait for it to complete its operation and then open windows Live Mail again (0x800C0155, 2]". Has the mail database crashed? Can you please respond ASAP?

One thing I never tried when I had run across this issue but was suggested to me afterwards was to run Malwarebytes and Superantispyware to see if they find anything in the system.

Various people have found different levels of satisfaction and frustration in this thread so perhaps these two tools might help.

I hope this doesn't happen to my machines again as it may force me back to Apple. Noooooo!

In the last 24hrs I have been unable to open a new email or reply to anything I have received. When I click on  new message, or try to reply to one I get the following from Live drive " A problem has occurred while trying to open this message. A problem has occurred. Please try again."  I am receiving everything perfectly well and the problem? seems to be in my computer not with the server as it won't even let me open anything let alone send anything. Any answers for this one?  I have uninstalled the software and reinstalled it but to no avail! I have run an AV scan and done some maintainence. Everything else seems to be working fine. This has only happened in the last 24 hours.

Bazza.

I tried the two steps mentioned in this thread.  None appeared to work. Try searching for the email. You may find a duplicate with the same subject or from name but it appears in "  "

this worked for me

Hi I have followed the instructions that you gave barry paton, but I still have the problem. What else can I try?