Vista: What To Do When You Cannot Delete a Message in Windows Mail

Contributor Icon Contributed by shamanstears Date Icon April 10, 2007  
Tag Icon Tagged: Microsoft Vista

A number of users are experiencing problems with Windows Mail and deleting messages from the Inbox and Outbox. The message will first become unviewable in the reading pane and will then generate an error when you try to delete it. This is usually caused by a corrupt mailstore. To rebuild the mailstore (WindowsMail.MSMessageStore), follow these steps:


1. Back up the email you wish to keep. While rebuilding the mailstore shouldn’t result in any loss of email, it is always better to be safe.

2. Close Windows Mail.

3. Click the Start Button and select Computer.

4. Navigate to C:\Users\your username/AppData/Local/Microsoft/WindowsMail.

5. Delete WindowsMail.MSMessageStore.

6. Open the Backup directory.

7. Open the new directory.

8. Delete WindowsMail.MSMessageStore.

9. Open Windows Mail to rebuild the mailstore database.

You should now be able to view and delete the problematic message(s).

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  • Anonymous
    I followed the steps but when Vista mail couldn't locate the Backup folder I had to select it in the explorer window. Now I have a duplicate of all the master folders within the Backup folder and that is where the new MSMessageStore is located.
    I guess I overcooked this recipe! Oops, there goes the firealarm......maybe if I throw this Vista computer on it it will put it out???
  • Anonymous
    I had an email that just would not delete. However, after much fumbling around I managed to delete it, here's how, hope it works for you:

    In Windows Mail
    Click on 'tools', then 'options. then 'advanced', then 'maintenance' then
    'clean up now', then 'remove messages', then it asks if you're sure you should delete them, say 'yes' and it worked, it says ' calculating message totals', then close all the remaining dialog boxes down and it should have gone from your email box - AT LAST!!!.
  • Anonymous
    How do you navigate to C:Usersyour username/AppData/Local/Microsoft/WindowsMail?

    I can't get to AppData after clicking my username folder. Please help! Thank you.
  • Rick
    Followed your instructions and it worked perfect. Thank you very much
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