Disappearing Windows Mail Messages

[Pam]

I have a Toshiba Satellite laptop running Vista and using Windows Mail. I
have McAfee Security Center virus program. In my recent online searches I
see reports of McAfee being problematic with WM, but I haven't had any big
problems, until -

Jan31 I noticed I can no longer find messages that are more than 6 mos old.
The oldest message is exactly 6 mo old (8/1/2007). Last time I know I could
see messages older than that was mid Jan, when I could see messages from
Jul2007. At first I thought that this may be an AutoArchive thing, but can't
find any *.eml files or references to auto archiving in WM. It is quite
distressing to think that all these messages are gone!

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Guest]

I have a Toshiba Satellite laptop running Vista and using Windows Mail. I
have McAfee Security Center virus program. In my recent online searches I
see reports of McAfee being problematic with WM, but I haven't had any big
problems, until -

Jan31 I noticed I can no longer find messages that are more than 6 mos
old.
The oldest message is exactly 6 mo old (8/1/2007). Last time I know I
could
see messages older than that was mid Jan, when I could see messages from
Jul2007. At first I thought that this may be an AutoArchive thing, but
can't
find any *.eml files or references to auto archiving in WM. It is quite
distressing to think that all these messages are gone!

Any help would be appreciated.

I think Toshiba is the company that often includes a program with SMS
in it's name on their computers, even though it causes problems with
Windows Mail. Check if your computer has such a program installed,
and if so, whether it does anything you want more than to get Window
Mail working. You could always uninstall it.

McAfee, Norton, and recently Trend make the antivirus programs that
interfere with Windows Mail, but seldom do it immediately. They need
to be uninstalled, not just disabled, to stop them from causing problems.
You should also run this program for more cleanup:

<http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=107083&lc=4105&partner=McAfee&type=TS&ia=1>

Sometimes you also have to remove the email account under Windows
Mail, then create again, for yet more cleanup.

You may also want to check if outgoing messages are piling up in your
Outbox instead of going out, and if so, whether you can move the oldest
such message to your Drafts folder or delete it. Then restart Windows
Mail.

If this solves your problems, you may want a replacement antivirus
program. I recommend either avast! or AVG, either one with a custom
install that tells it to leave out the part that scans email.

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/us/frt/0?prd=aff

Also, are you using the IMAP method of connecting for mail, which
often leaves copies of the mail on your email provider's server? If so,
your provider may be deleting the old messages, not anything on your
machine.

 

[Dave]

Email or newsgroup messages?
If email, POP or IMAP account?

I know of no auto archive or deletion for email messages..
You can delete newsgroup messages after a certain time period.

Emails are normally stored in
C:\Users\(youraccount)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail
can you look in this location and see if there are messages going back more
than 6 months?

I installed Vista a year ago, today. I have emails going back to that time.
Also been using McAfee the whole time.

 

[Pam]

Thanks for your response.

To clarify: these are e-mail messages in a sub-folder I created under Inbox.
The e-mail protocol is POP3.

The oldest file in the
"C:\Users\(youraccount)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\Local
Folders\Inbox\Stuff To Keep" folder is "winmail.fol" from 7/30/2007. The
oldest *.eml file is from 8/2/2007.

I know that a couple of weeks ago I referenced an old e-mail from ~7/15/2007
in this same (Windows Mail) folder.

 

[Pam]

Thanks for your reply.

I can't immediately find any programs (or services) that are running, with
SMS in their name.

Regarding McAfee causing problems: I've seen that mentioned, but am curious
what type of problems? Other than suddenly not having any messages >6 mo
old, my e-mail works fine (e.g. no accumulation in the Outbox).

My e-mail connection method is POP3.

 

[Guest]

The usual problem caused by Norton or McAfee is problems with
being able to delete a message, move it to another folder, or even
view it. If this occurs in the Outbox folder, it also causes problems
with being able to send messages.

 

[Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM]

My guess is that McAfee has decided to remove them.