How to fix Windows Mail when you can’t delete messages

I ran into a problem today with a Windows Vista machine that apparently isn’t unique. This tip only applies to Windows Vista users who use Windows mail.

Problem: Can’t delete any messages in Windows Mail…which also prevents new messages from being read.

Symptom: When you try and delete a message in Windows Mail, you get an “Internal Error” message then have to restart the program.

Solution:

1. Close Windows Mail 
2. Click Start
3. Click Computer
4. Double-click “C” drive (your hard drive)
5. Double-click the Users folder 
6. Double-click the folder with your user name (ex: mine would be Rick)
7. Double-click the AppData folder
8. Double-click the Local folder
9. Double-click the Microsoft folder
10. Double-click the Windows Mail folder
11. Backup all files in this folder to an external hard drive, flash drive, CD, etc
12. After backing up, delete the file named WindowsMail.MSMessageStore
13. Double-click the Backup folder
14. Double-click the New folder 
15. Delete the file named WindowsMail.MSMessageStore
16. Close all open windows
17. Restart Windows Mial and the message database will be rebuilt
18. You should again be able to view and delete files.

Related articles:

1. Deep Cleaning Temporary Files in Windows XP
2. Delete your email twice
3. Fix a slow loading Thunderbird (email) program
4. Flash Memory Drives
5. Add a new entry to the Send To menu

3 Responses to “How to fix Windows Mail when you can’t delete messages”

1. Rene says:

   January 11, 2010 at 8:51 am

   Thanks Rick.
   Much appreciated.
   I was looking for a solution on Google for hours and did not find it until I cam accross this article.

   Thanks again!

   Rene

   Reply
2. Anonymous says:

   April 10, 2008 at 6:00 pm

   Hope this helps/works for others. Tried the steps mentioned above and some others I found on the net-no luck. Somehow I stumbled on to this solution,,at least it worked for me anyway.

   Open Windows Mail, and find the “local folders” list. Expand the list and then right click on the “junk email” folder. The option to empty the folder is shown- then just click on “empty junk email folder” and voila,,message gone!

   Reply
3. Anonymous says:

   August 17, 2008 at 10:56 pm

   brilliant it is am so happy for all your all help brilliant
   sincerely

   Reply