Cannot view downloaded emails

[Sam Hobbs]

My comment is a reply to your comment "the most likely cause of all your
problems". It might be the cause, but I still don't see justification for
saying it is the most likely cause.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

Also, if the problem is caused by the failure to update the registry as
occurred in setups of previous versions of IE, then someone could perform a
couple of installs and compare the registry settings between the two
installations. If you have sufficient evidence that there is a problem, then
I hope the vendor does the tests and fixes the problem.

If you know what the specific registry keys(s) is (are) that are not
updated, then that would certainly be direct evidence.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

=> Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting the requested logs
in an appropriate forum.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=4075
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

**Chances are you will need to seek expert assistance in
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5,
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup,
http://www.bluetack.co.uk/forums/index.php,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30 or other appropriate forums as well.**

If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.

=> Backup your personal data, then do a format & clean install of Windows.
Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT fix this!

After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so
take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
the machine to the internet or a network and before using a USB key that
isn't brand-new or hasn't been freshly formatted:

5 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/advanced/xppc.mspx

 

[Mantari]

I found an explanation. I ran Spybot's main program. It told me that I had
over 67,000 temporary files, and asked me if I wanted to clean them up. So I
did. (It didn't say the actual path of the temp directory.) After that,
Windows Mail worked without problem.

I do highly suspect, though, that Windows Mail had a hand in creating all of
these temporary files in the first place, then started to choke and
eventually was unable to read messages at all.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

You can't be sure the problem is solved until you have used the system for a
few days at least with successful opening of attachments without
encountering the problem.

 

[Mantari]

Technically, your statement is true. However, I'm pretty confident that since
the problem cleared immediately after removing 67,000 files, that the two
items are related (even without rigorous scientific levels of proof). And it
also gives a plausable failure case: > 65,535 temporary files.

Still, I'll report back later with some more findings. Would you happen to
know what directory or directories that Windows Mail would use to store temp
files used in displaying emails?

♦

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Just like OE (the program on which Windows Mail is based), Windows Mail
creates a 0-byte file TEMP file for every message & attachment you open,
every time you open it. These files can really add up for heavy Windows
Mail users so if IE8 is installed, you'll need to delete the contents of
that TEMP folder manually from time to time (or run Disk Cleanup) after a
reboot. (Windows won't allow you to delete files needed during the current
boot.)

With IE8 installed, the files end up in C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local
Settings\Temp <=this folder.

When IE7 is installed, those files are found in a hidden subfolder of
C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
<=this folder. As such, your "Disk space to use" setting (IE Tools |
Internet Options | Browsing history | Settings) controls the accumulated
files and deletes them automatically on a FIFO (first in, first out) basis.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

The problem will return. Rainald reported here several months ago that
clearing out temporary files results in a temporary reprieve from the
attachments issue.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

PS: As Gary notes, I don't expect that you be a permanent fix.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

See the System applet in the Control Panel. In the default tab (General)
click on the Settings button under Browsing history, then in that properties
page click on View Files. I think that will get you there.

 

[Mantari]

I believe we've got a bug. I'll start a new thread.

 

[Rainald Taesler]

The problem will return. Rainald reported here several months ago that
clearing out temporary files results in a temporary reprieve from the
attachments issue.

Unfortunately I have to confirm this a couple if months later and after
a clean new install if Vista from scratch ...

Rainald

 

[Rainald Taesler]

cf.

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...er.general/browse_frm/thread/a17d79493eac253d

Sorry, this reference does not help at all.
Meanwhile the OP of this thread did inform us that the problem is back.

So the one and only case supporting your AV theories has collapsed.

Rainald

 

[Rainald Taesler]

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...er.general/browse_frm/thread/a17d79493eac253d


My comment is a reply to your comment "the most likely cause of all
your problems". It might be the cause, but I still don't see
justification for saying it is the most likely cause.

As to my experience AV issues are not a part of the game.
And in the case PA bear is referring to meanwhile it turned out that the
problem is back.

So there still is no evidence at all that AV issues might cause the
attachment problems known as "IE8-WinMail" bug.

Rainald

 

[Frank]

I have a similar problem.

It started two days ago. Windows Mail no longer display emails in the
preview pane. When you select one, there is a short pause and then just a
blank where the message is.

I tried upgrading to Windows Live Mail, but it has the identical problem.

Thinking it might be something with my messages, as I recently moved a bunch
of email folders around, I created a new Windows Mail folder (renaming the
old one), and I indeed get a new blank set of email folders, but the same
problem.

I tried uninstalling IE 8 but that did not help. I reinstalled it as well,
which did not help.

Running Windows Mail as administrator didn’t help either.

I also followed online instructions about deleting all IE temporary files
(other than cookies) and the contents of c:\windows\temp. That did not help.

Something about the connection between Windows Mail / Windows Live Mail and
IE may be the problem. If I check the box to have all email read as plain
text, I get odder behavior. When I then select a plain text email, after it
fails to show, it has an attachment with the subject line of the message and
a .txt extension. If you click on that, a message box appears saying
“Windows cannot find ‘xxxxx.txt’. Make sure you typed the name correctly,
and then try again.’ The xxxxx is again the subject line of the email. It's
like Windows Mail is trying to get IE to display a formatted version of the
email but putting the message in a temporary file somewhere IE can’t get to,
or the temporary file never actually got written out.

The behavior is somewhat different for an HTML email. After not opening, it
has two attachments, such as ATT0046.txt and ATT0049.htm (note the numbers
differ). Clicking on the text file gives the same message as above.
Clicking on the htm file brings up a message box asking if I want to open
ATT0050.htm (note again that they differ). Saying yes gets me an IE window
with the HTML message in it.

The above is based on the plain text email box being checked. With it
unchecked, the attachments don’t appear at all.

Does anyone know where Windows Mail puts temporary files for IE to display?
Maybe that’s where the problem is.

Thanks.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

If you want the best help and the most help, create a new thread for new
problems. Your problem is "similar" so it should be a separate thread.

Your problem is likely not even similar, since it is likely caused by you
having "moved a bunch of email folders around". You likely broke something
and if so then you need to do something to fix it. Perhaps someone can help
you with that but the people that are most likely to help would prefer that
the question be in a new thread.

So I suppose you can leave this here for now. If you don't get help soon
then create a new thread and post a message here so people know will know to
go to the new thread.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

How did you "move the email folders around"?
If you did it within the WM user interface, that should be fine.
If you did it with the Windows Explorer file manager, that can cause
corruption problems.

If you send yourself a new test message, does the problem happen
when that message is received, or does it only occur with existing
messages?

Try running the various repair functions in the WMUtil program:
http://www.oehelp.com/WMUtil

Temporary files are usually saved here:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp
but I don't think it has any bearing on your issue.

 

[Frank]

Thank you very much for your suggestions. I decided to follow this one first:

Temporary files are usually saved here:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp
but I don't think it has any bearing on your issue.

I found over 64K files in the directory. In a DOS window opened with
administrator privileges, I ran "DEL *.*", which deleted all files that
weren't in use. That totally solved the problem. Hooray!

In answer to your other question, I used the Windows Mail UI to move the
folders around. I didn't think that was the likely cause because when I
tried a brand new Windows Mail directory, the same problem arose.

Thanks again - what a relief.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Thanks for reporting back.
Interesting that you had so many temporary files. I think something is
supposed to purge those periodically, but I'm not sure how that works.
In retrospect, it makes sense that in order for the preview pane to show
the message, WM needs to open a temporary file.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

In answer to your other question, I used the Windows Mail UI to move the
folders around. I didn't think that was the likely cause because when I
tried a brand new Windows Mail directory, the same problem arose.

Good. I am happy that you figured it out. I apologize for assuming it was
not done that way.