Can't add new rules, can't access page to manage rules

Anonymous
2015-12-19T22:59:43+00:00

I started adding a lot of rules to my account on Outlook.com. The rules I have set up are working fine. But now when trying to add any new rules it's failing and when I go to Settings>Manage Rules I go to a blank page with an error message.

Details:

Adding new rule. Right-click on a message>Create Rule. Dialog comes up, I'm able to fill in all fields and click Apply/Okay:

    - I get a message at the top of the screen stating "Sorry, Outlook.com wasn’t able to complete this request." at some point while filling in the fields.

    - When clicking on Apply/Okay I then get red text at the bottom of the dialog stating "Unable to cast object of type ‘Microsoft.Msn.Hotmail.FDCommon.Data.Xfs.XfsException’ to type ‘Microsoft.Msn.Hotmail.InboundMail.MailRules’."

Going to Settings>Manage Rules:

    - I get to the settings page, but none of my rules (The ones that still function normally when receiving mails) are present and there's a message at the top of the screen stating "Something happened at our end. Please refresh your browser or close it and sign in again."

   - When trying to create a new rule within this page, I get the same error as when on the main page stating "Unable to cast object of type ‘Microsoft.Msn.Hotmail.FDCommon.Data.Xfs.XfsException’ to type ‘Microsoft.Msn.Hotmail.InboundMail.MailRules’."

Have I hit some limit on the amount of rules Outlook is able to process? I have created a lot of them, over a page of rules, all of them just moving stuff into folders based on sender name.

Is there a way to clear my rules so I can start again?

Have tried this on the following operating systems and browsers: Windows 7 Professional, OSX 10.11.2, Safari 9.0.2, Internet Explorer 9, Firefox 43.0.1 (and at least one earlier version), adblockers and virus/malware checkers all disabled at some point in case that was an issue.

Also, tried the above steps on my girlfriend's account (which has no rules set up yet) and it works fine. Can create new rules, and access the manage rules page fine.

What can I do?

If I can't access the Mange Rules page to delete some rules that might be causing this, then I need someone from Outlook.com support to do something right?

Cheers.

Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Settings

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-01-08T11:58:32+00:00

    Mine's a Hotmail account created in the 1990's. I have a Gmail, another Hotmail and an Outlook.com email directed to my main Hotmail account. I've only recently (less then 12 months) switched from Gmail back to Microsoft interface, and I heavily use the rules to manage all incoming emails.They have been working great ever since I started using them a few months ago. I'm not sure when Microsoft upgraded the rules functionality, so I'm not sure if I created rules before AND after the change. All I know is I haven't been able to access my rules since around the beginning of December (roughly)

    If Microsoft could only acknowledge that there is a known problem, or communicate with it's users more openly about the issue, it would relieve our frustration. But I suspect it's a policy thing, not to let on, or admit problems/bugs with their systems. It makes sense when you think about it from a marketing perspective - don't ever reveal/talk about/acknowledge faults with your product/s, only emphasize the positives. And default to blaming the users. Sorry, I don't like to rant, that's not usually my way. It's just so frustrating not being able use something you have started to rely so heavily on. Starting to think I should go back to using Gmail.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-01-08T09:48:53+00:00

    I suspect there may be a problem with rules in the old format that we cannot edit.  I've left some of them be, because they have no equivalent in the functionality of the new rules.  Are most of us with the problem long-time users?  I've had my Hotmail account since 1996.

    I don't think that can be the reason as I created my account only after Hotmail migrated to outlook.com. All my rules are under 1 year old.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-01-08T09:44:43+00:00

    My rules are all under three months old.

    Considering this, I believe Microsoft was continuously making changes into Rules management that may have caused the issue to some. (Not sure, Just being critical)

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-01-08T09:43:37+00:00

    I suspect there may be a problem with rules in the old format that we cannot edit.  I've left some of them be, because they have no equivalent in the functionality of the new rules.  Are most of us with the problem long-time users?  I've had my Hotmail account since 1996.

    I am using my account since 1998 probably. and Yes I do have old rules and new rules... I also mentioned the same issue in my first post in this thread. I do believe that it could be a problem. But I remember I was able to use Rules even after the new Rules management was introduced. In fact the new Rules interface had used to prompt me that I can not edit my old rules but I can indeed delete them as those rules were functional. However I didn't delete them as they were alright in function but I continued adding new rules as well. Now stuck with the issue.

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-01-08T09:32:42+00:00

    My rules are all under three months old.

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