Mail Problem

I am using RC1, and suddenly, Mail is giving me a "recovering the
Windows Mail database" message, which closes, and nothing happens.
If I try to launch it again, I get a "Mail couldn't be started because
another instance is still running. Log off and restart.".
Which (of course) doesn't help.

Is there a"Repair" function for Mail? I would hate to have to re-install
Vista just for this error,or re-install Mail, and have to go through the
agony of importing all my messages, folders, IAFs, etc., again.
I am running this test system in parallel with my production system so
that I can detect errors and/or bugs that would appear in a working
environment.

Thanks,

Dave

P.S. to email me, remove YOURSHORTS

Hi,

I ran into a number of problems similar to that with the RC1 and earlier
versions, but not with RC2 and up, nor with RTM. The only solution I could
find was to shut down Windows Mail, rename the mail store, then refire it.
Of course, you lose existing messages and news, but you can recover them
using import. The store should be under:
C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail, you may find that you
will need to change permissions in order to access it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"FiOS-Dave" <Dave@YOURSHORTSdomino-biz.com> wrote in message
news:ORcRfHRFHHA.3976@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>I am using RC1, and suddenly, Mail is giving me a "recovering the Windows
>Mail database" message, which closes, and nothing happens.
> If I try to launch it again, I get a "Mail couldn't be started because
> another instance is still running. Log off and restart.".
> Which (of course) doesn't help.
>
> Is there a"Repair" function for Mail? I would hate to have to re-install
> Vista just for this error,or re-install Mail, and have to go through the
> agony of importing all my messages, folders, IAFs, etc., again.
> I am running this test system in parallel with my production system so
> that I can detect errors and/or bugs that would appear in a working
> environment.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dave
>
> P.S. to email me, remove YOURSHORTS

You can try what Rick says (rename the database folder) and it will
reinitialize and you can then drag the messages back into the various
folders. Or you can try just deleting the database files themselves in the
root of the message store directory.

If it says another instance is running, then either endtask the other
instance or reboot.

Also make sure you don't have any antivirus software set to scan email or
any antispyware.

steve

"FiOS-Dave" <Dave@YOURSHORTSdomino-biz.com> wrote in message
news:ORcRfHRFHHA.3976@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>I am using RC1, and suddenly, Mail is giving me a "recovering the Windows
>Mail database" message, which closes, and nothing happens.
> If I try to launch it again, I get a "Mail couldn't be started because
> another instance is still running. Log off and restart.".
> Which (of course) doesn't help.
>
> Is there a"Repair" function for Mail? I would hate to have to re-install
> Vista just for this error,or re-install Mail, and have to go through the
> agony of importing all my messages, folders, IAFs, etc., again.
> I am running this test system in parallel with my production system so
> that I can detect errors and/or bugs that would appear in a working
> environment.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dave
>
> P.S. to email me, remove YOURSHORTS

Hi Rick,

I was able to delete the Message Store, and let Vista rebuild from the
backup folder. It worked very well, with only a few glitches in the
names of some of the local folder names. I did have to move messages
from the recovered area to their original folders, however. (I guess I
could have left them, but It just didn't "look right..."

Dave


Rick Rogers wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I ran into a number of problems similar to that with the RC1 and earlier
> versions, but not with RC2 and up, nor with RTM. The only solution I
> could find was to shut down Windows Mail, rename the mail store, then
> refire it. Of course, you lose existing messages and news, but you can
> recover them using import. The store should be under:
> C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail, you may find that
> you will need to change permissions in order to access it.
>