.Mailhost Error in MSN Hotmail

[Gene]

I have Windows XP Home and use MSN8.5 Messenger v6.0.

When I get an alert about incoming e-mail (Hotmail
account) and click on the small popup MSN Messenger window
(lower right) to read the mail the e-mail won't open but I
get a message "Windows cannot open this file FILE:
MSN125.mailhost To open Windows needs to know what
program created it......."

I received this error message beginning last week and over
the weekend I re-installed my MSN8.5 and also upgraded my
MSN Messenger from 5.0 to 6.0. All was normal until
earlier today when I started getting the error message
again. I am able to get my mail at my Outlook Express
with no difficulty but cannot access my mail thru
Messenger or MSN HomePage without getting the error
message.

Hope someone has the answer,
Gene

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Gene,

It *is* a percent sign -- %programfiles% is a variable that Windows recognizes that
automatically points to your Program Files folder (avoiding having to type drive letters,
etc.). The msncorefiles folder is hidden by default (but if you type it into the Run, it
will automatically bring it up), msncorefiles(2) is *not* what you want.

Anyway, assuming you want to do it your way, go to the Program Files\MSN folder, then click
the Tools menu, then Folder Options, click the View tab, then uncheck the 'Hide protected
operating system files (Recommended)', choose Yes to the warning, then click OK. You should
now see the MSNCoreFiles and can do as in my previous message.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Gene]

Hi Jonathan,

We're making progress! But, not without some side effects.

First of all, I followed your instructions, found the
msncorefiles (there were others files but only one(1)
specifically named msncorefiles). I did the "uncheck Hide
protected" and that's when the other files appeared.

Within the msncorefiles were 13 .DLL's starting
with "mail" and one mail.mar. I deleted all of them.

Now for the side effects. When attempting to open my IE6
I am getting a message "The application failed to start
because MAILAPI.DLL was not found. Reinstall the
application and this may fix the problem. The name of
this message across the top of the window says "SEAL
Synchronization Activity MSN.exe

Of course, all of the deleted files are in the Recycle Bin
and I can activate any of them if necessary. Let me know.

Also, when I started MSN8.5 and I received a notice of
email..I DID NOT get the .mailhost error message this time
but, I did get "The Page Cannot be Displayed Cannot Find
Server" window.

How are we doing so far?

I don't want to second guess here, I'll wait for your next
instructions. I can see in previous postings that a lot
of people have found your advice to be sound and very much
rely on your advice even to the point they put your name
in their Subject.

Hope to hear from you soon,
Gene

-----Original Message-----
Hi Gene,

It *is* a percent sign -- %programfiles% is a variable that Windows recognizes that
automatically points to your Program Files folder

(avoiding having to type drive letters,

etc.). The msncorefiles folder is hidden by default (but

if you type it into the Run, it

will automatically bring it up), msncorefiles(2) is *not* what you want.

Anyway, assuming you want to do it your way, go to the

Program Files\MSN folder, then click

the Tools menu, then Folder Options, click the View tab,

then uncheck the 'Hide protected

operating system files (Recommended)', choose Yes to the

warning, then click OK. You should

 

[Gene \(PST 9:45 a.m.\)]

Hi Jonathon,

No apologies necessary. I appreciate what you are doing
for me.

Ok, after a few hours of sleep I read your message. I
will do the v8.0 reinstall. It took about an hour or so
when I did it over last weekend (Dialup and 56k Modem).
It would not let me install OVER the existing Program, I
had to remove MSN 8 before doing the reinstall. Then I
had to go to MSN for the update to v8.5. (My disk is for
v8.0 not v8.5) I may just do the v8.0 and then contact you
at that time before I download and update to v8.5

Actually, I remember in a Forum post I read somewhere it
was also recommended to do the reinstall after removing
the "mail" files. So, this should work out ok. Please
look for my reply in a couple of hours (now PST 9:45 a.m.)

One question. Somhow I ended up with a Shortcut on my
Desktop...it's a to Data Base File "Thumbs.db"10KB. When
I try to send it to Recycle I get a message "The file
Thumbs.db is a System File. If you remove it one or more
Programs may not work correctly. Are you sure you want to
send it to the Recycle Bin?" I wonder how it got there in
the first place? I sure didn't right click to Create
Shortcut.

I see the Thumbs.db file in MSNCoreFiles. DO YOU THINK IT
IS SAFE TO PUT THE SHORTCUT IN THE RECYCLE BIN? Usually
with a shortcut you simply get a warning that "Removing
the Shortcut will NOT remove the Program" This warning
sounds like removing the shortcut will ALSO remove the
Program. What do you think? The way it's worded makes me
cautious.
(while typing this I frequently get that message regarding
the missing Dynamic Link MAILAPI.DLL).

Ok, see you a little later. I'll look for your reply when
I get back on line after the reinstall.

Thanks much,
Gene

-----Original Message-----
Hi Gene,

I think you might give MSN 8.5 a reinstallation, which

should replace whatever files it needs

without the corrupted mail files from getting in the way

(leave those files in Recycle Bin

for now).

I admit I tested this solution with a slightly newer

version of MSN (compared to 8.5) and

didn't have any issues like you're experiencing, my

apologies for not trying this on the

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Gene,

Just for the future, I think if you call MSN, they should be able to get a MSN 8.5 CD to you
(for free) (800) 386-5550.

You can delete thumbs.db files (and their shortcuts) without a problem. When you go into a
folder in Windows XP in thumbnail view, to speed up viewing of the folder in the future,
these thumbs.db files are created. There's no harm in removing them.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com