I have a question about Windows Live Mail, (WLM). The background is that I have 3 email addresses and I am unwilling, at least in the near future, to give any up. One is Hotmail.com, one is Sky, and the third is Googlemail (gmail). I have therefore used WLM for a year or so. My computer crashed completely recently but I had regularly backed everything up using the Windows backup system, so after a while I was back to normal, except for WLM. Some of the folders were scrambled. All the ‘Sent’ folders had the ‘To’ column showing me rather than the recipient. (I tried displaying the ‘From’ column, but that was me as well!). Annoyed by this I tried the Google system for all my addresses. It could pick up the Sky address, but not Hotmail, (because it is not POP3, apparently). I tried the Sky system but, to my surprise it does not seem to be anything like as good to use as WLM. So, somewhat reluctantly, I am thinking I should stick with WLM. Now for the question! If I uninstall WLM and re-install, will it recover all my old emails that I want to keep? Those emails are still in existence on their individual Hotmail/Sky/Google web sites, so presumably, WLM, if properly setup when re-installed will gather them all up correctly this time. Any advice or hearing of other people’s experience would be welcome. Thanks

As I've never heard of it I don't know about Sky but you gmail and hotmail should re-download automatically if they are still on the server but you might have to force it to redownload. It sounds though that the folder that it puts the emails in got corrupted so after you reinstall you should probably find the folder and delete it before reinstalling. If you look in the settings you should find out where it is configured to put the emails on your computer.

Thanks Townsbg
I have been living with my problem, and been away, and only just seen your post. If you have sky broadband, (provided by BSky B) then they offer you an email service, and your address is something @sky.com I have WINXP professional, version 2002 service pack 3 and IE7

I will try the uninstall re-install routine, after taking suitable precautions, in the near future, and report what happens