FIX: An Unknown Error Has Occurred on Windows Live Mail

Windows Live Mail, the successor of Microsoft Outlook in XP and predecessor of Windows Mail in Vista, is a desktop email application for your Windows operating system. Despite being included in the Microsoft Office suite, Microsoft Outlook can still present errors. In Windows Live Mail, the most common error is “an unknown error has occurred,” usually accompanied by an error code. Although this suggests an undocumentated, infrequent error, many users encounter it when trying to delete or move their email conversations.”

This page explains why this error occurs and offers solutions. Note that a similar error can occur when attempting to send an email over WLM.

Since I’ve encountered this issue before, you should check the guide on error 0x800CCC67.

In Windows Live Mail (WLM), deletion merely shifts your mail to the deleted folder. People experiencing this issue usually need to delete or relocate several messages or whole folders. The error emerges since WLM falsely believes the message exists, but it cannot be found in the Windows email folders saved on your hard drive. Although the message no longer exists, WLM still displays it in its own folders, preventing regular deletion procedures.

This issue likely stems from Windows Live Mail syncing. The last account sync may have failed, possibly leaving ‘ghost’ emails in your folders, creating the illusion that non-existent messages are present.

Method 1: Pretend to forward multiple messages to unlock the stubborn ones

You can manually move non-existent or unwanted emails to the ‘Deleted Items’ folder, but this can be tedious when dealing with multiple conversations or an entire folder. Simulating the forwarding of multiple messages can help unlock stubborn emails, enabling you to delete or relocate them with ease.

1. Select multiple emails by clicking on one and then holding SHIFT to select multiple consecutive messages. Continue this process across screens by scrolling up or down. Once the FORWARD button turns grey, stop; this indicates that an email is resistant to being forwarded.
2. Press and hold the SHIFT key, then click the messages until you identify the problematic one. It’s likely just outside your selection, identifiable when the Forward button becomes active.
3. Select and concatenate numerous messages, then click the ‘Forward’ button. You may encounter an error message stating, ‘One or more messages could not be attached. Select OK to continue creating the note.’ Proceed by clicking ‘Cancel.’
4. Now, something has unblocked those messages. With the selection on, you can either delete them by clicking the Red X button or move them.
5. The message that greyed out the Forward button can now be deleted.
6. Continue this process until you have deleted all the messages that caused the initial error.

Method 2: Delete Individual Messages

This method provides a jump start to correct the erroneous email.

1. First, right-click the message and select “open”; you will receive the same error message.
2. Right-click the message and select ‘delete.’ This time, it will be deleted successfully.

Method 3: Move messages to a single folder and delete it

This will compile all your error-inducing emails into a temporary folder for easy deletion.

1. Create a folder and name it as desired, for example, ‘Bad Files’.
2. Drag each message to that folder.
3. You can now delete the folder containing all the messages you’ve moved.”

Remember, right-clicking and moving each message can cause an error. Instead, drag the messages to the ‘Bad Files’ folder or your preferred folder.

Method 4: Repairing Windows Live Essentials

Repairing Windows Live Essentials, the engine behind Windows Live Mail, will fix any corrupted or unreadable data in the latter.

1. Press the Windows/Start key and ‘R’ simultaneously to open Run.
2. Enter ‘appwiz.cpl’ into the run textbox and press enter to access the Programs and Features window.
3. Search for Windows Live Essentials and then double-click it.
4. Repair all Windows Live programs.
5. Please try moving or deleting your messages again.

Method 5: Delete emails via your web browser

Windows Live Mail syncs to receive your mail; therefore, any emails deleted online will also be deleted from your application, and vice versa. Here’s how to do it from the MSN page.

1. Log into the MSN homepage with your email address and password.
2. Click on ‘Outlook Mail’. Your emails will appear identical to those in Windows Live Mail.
3. Remove the problematic emails, then empty the delete box.
4. Log out of the MSN account.
5. Log into your application and everything will have disappeared.