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

Contributor Icon Contributed by Rob Rogers  
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).

 

12 Comments -


  1. Rick said on February 21, 2009

    Followed your instructions and it worked perfect. Thank you very much

  2. Name said on September 2, 2009

    Had a message that wouldn’t delete. This fixed my problem 100%. Thanks

  3. Anonymous said on October 30, 2009

    I tried that but then every file now wouldnt delte, so I had to delete the backup wich wiped everything, so thanks stupid spam enail I hope your happy.

  4. Hozefa KB said on December 14, 2009

    Thanks, this solved my problem

    actually, wait it didnt, when i select the messages and click the delete button, these messages disappear. but when i refresh the folder, those messages appear again.
    WTH??

    the messages are still there in my remote email account.
    Thank alot for wasting my time…

  5. s0merand0md00d said on December 31, 2009

    If you are unable to delete a message in Windows Mail (getting “An unknown error has occurred”) mark that message as Read, then try again to delete :)

  6. Hozefa KB said on January 7, 2010

    i am not getting any errors, the email itself is restored back to inbox. even after refreshing and clicking on “send and recieve all”, the message is there. am i missing something?

  7. Sam said on March 10, 2010

    Thanks..It worked like a charm for me..

  8. Bill said on March 11, 2010

    I have Vista. I want to empty my deleted items folder.
    When I right click on DELETED ITEMS and select EMPTY DELETED ITEMS
    FOLDER, I get ARE YOU SURE… and click YES.
    Nothing happens.
    I now have over 3,000 deleted items.
    Help.

  9. Guest said on August 18, 2010

    Nice guy!

  10. Nik_666 said on September 13, 2010

    the removed all my mails,how the hell do i get them back?

  11. carol said on December 20, 2010

    This is what I keep getting when I want to date…I have Vista and my e-mail messages will not delete.. I did this and it did not work..

    The host ‘pop.cental.cox.net’ could not be found. Please verify that you have entered the server name correctly.
    Account: ‘pop.cental.cox.net’, Server: ‘pop.cental.cox.net’, Protocol: POP3, Port: 110, Secure(SSL): No, Socket Error: 11001, Error Number: 0×800CCC0D

  12. Rian said on May 9, 2011

    To restore the mails

    1. open
    Windows Mail – you see the inbox etc are all empty, close again Windows Mail.2. Now open C:Usersyour username/AppData/Local/Microsoft/WindowsMail
    .

    You will see there is a new folder named Local Folder (1) – in my case that is the name..maybe you find similar name.

    3. You must exchange the name, so you change name Local Folder (1) –> Local Folder A ( for example ).. and change Local Folder –> became Local Folder (1)

    4. Open again Windows Mail.. then the windows Mail will restore all the folders and mails within.

    5. After you checked if all correct, you can delete the folder Local Folder A.. which now is unneeded..

    It is worked in my case.. I hope it works also for you.

 

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