Windows Mail can compact the messages store

Like the original poster, I use Windows Live Mail with Vista Home Premium and
get the following message every five minutes or so:

"Windows Mail can compact the message store. This may take up to a few
minutes."

I click OK, and a compacting database dialog appears for a few seconds
before I get this dialog:

"The folder is currently in use by Windows Mail or by another application."

I click OK and 5 minutes later the process repeats. (So, as you might
imagine, we try to keep Windows Live Mail closed at all times.)

So I went to "Start >> Default Programs >> Set your default programs" and
set all defaults for Windows Live Mail and Windows Live Mail (News).

The problem persists...

The Windows Contacts entry has 4 out of 5 defaults since Windows Live Mail
has the *.vcf Windows Live Mail Contact File.

I'm running AVG version 8.5.409 anti-virus.

So, I clicked the "Get help from communities" link on the last dialog
message and found this thread after searching on the error message (which
turned up no other helpful results via Google).

Thanks for any ideas!!


"Dave Critchley" wrote:

> His problem is that when he opens Windows Live Mail it prompts him to compact
> his emails. When he clicks OK, another box pops up and says The folder is
> currently in use by Windows Mail. Here is the problem, not only are your
> email messages associated with Windows Mail but your News lists are also
> associated with Windows Mail. So what Mike needs to do is go into your Set
> Program Defaults (If you are running Vista go to Control Panel, click
> Programs, click Set Default Programs, select Windows List Mail (News) and
> check all the boxes, then select Windows Live Mail and check all the boxes
> there as well. This should potentially solve your problem.
>
> "Gary VanderMolen" wrote:
>
> > Mike, I don't see a problem statement from you in this thread.
> > Both Windows Mail and Windows Live Mail are mentioned in this
> > thread, so it isn't even clear which email program you are concerned
> > about. Please post back with more details.
> >
> > --
> > Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)
> >
> >
> > "Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:55A9C5E4-21DF-42C2-829C-73B9ACCB2973@microsoft.com...
> > > That does not fix it for me.
> > >
> > > its a stupid bug that should be fixed.
> > >
> > > Its annoying..
> > >
> > > "Gary VanderMolen" wrote:
> > >
> > >> If you are using WLM, then Windows Mail should not begin running.
> > >> Make sure WLM is the default email program:
> > >> Open the Default Programs applet, which you can access either from
> > >> the Start menu or via the Control Panel, then click the first item:
> > >> "Set your default programs."
> > >> After a few seconds, a list of programs comes up. Click on "Windows
> > >> Live Mail". If it doesn't respond with "This program has all its defaults"
> > >> then fix it by clicking on the option indicated by the first green arrow.
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> "jdc43" <jdc43@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:19BE9F2C-DECD-451B-8ED7-505471C736F8@microsoft.com...
> > >> >I get the "Windows Mail can compact the messages store" message every time I
> > >> > start up.
> > >> > When I click okay it starts up, then a new box with "The folder is currently
> > >> > in use by Windows Mail or by another application".
> > >> > I click okay, but this just goes on and on and on and I go round in circles.
> > >> > What can I do to stop this as no other programmes are running and I use
> > >> > Windows Live Mail.
> > >> >
> > >> > --
> > >> > jdc43
> > >>
> >

First, double check or triple check what is happening and what you are
doing. You are getting error messages from Windows Mail yet you are trying
to fix Windows Live Mail. They are totally different.

Then, I would suggest that it is better to create a new thread instead of
using an old thread. It is good that you searched for previous answers and
it will be impressive if you create a new thread and then provide links to
the previous threads such as the one you are replying to.

Under the circumstances, if you simply reply here and clarify which software
you are using and confirm you are not as confused as it appears to be the
case (the names are confusing; Microsoft intentionally confuses us) then
hopefully the experts will have some help.


"Jason B" <Jason B@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:92DAE412-DED2-4DA4-A5A3-C8B4129B57E3@microsoft.com...
> Like the original poster, I use Windows Live Mail with Vista Home Premium
> and
> get the following message every five minutes or so:
>
> "Windows Mail can compact the message store. This may take up to a few
> minutes."
>
> I click OK, and a compacting database dialog appears for a few seconds
> before I get this dialog:
>
> "The folder is currently in use by Windows Mail or by another
> application."
>
> I click OK and 5 minutes later the process repeats. (So, as you might
> imagine, we try to keep Windows Live Mail closed at all times.)
>
> So I went to "Start >> Default Programs >> Set your default programs" and
> set all defaults for Windows Live Mail and Windows Live Mail (News).
>
> The problem persists...
>
> The Windows Contacts entry has 4 out of 5 defaults since Windows Live Mail
> has the *.vcf Windows Live Mail Contact File.
>
> I'm running AVG version 8.5.409 anti-virus.
>
> So, I clicked the "Get help from communities" link on the last dialog
> message and found this thread after searching on the error message (which
> turned up no other helpful results via Google).
>
> Thanks for any ideas!!
>
>
> "Dave Critchley" wrote:
>
>> His problem is that when he opens Windows Live Mail it prompts him to
>> compact
>> his emails. When he clicks OK, another box pops up and says The folder is
>> currently in use by Windows Mail. Here is the problem, not only are your
>> email messages associated with Windows Mail but your News lists are also
>> associated with Windows Mail. So what Mike needs to do is go into your
>> Set
>> Program Defaults (If you are running Vista go to Control Panel, click
>> Programs, click Set Default Programs, select Windows List Mail (News) and
>> check all the boxes, then select Windows Live Mail and check all the
>> boxes
>> there as well. This should potentially solve your problem.
>>
>> "Gary VanderMolen" wrote:
>>
>> > Mike, I don't see a problem statement from you in this thread.
>> > Both Windows Mail and Windows Live Mail are mentioned in this
>> > thread, so it isn't even clear which email program you are concerned
>> > about. Please post back with more details.
>> >
>> > --
>> > Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)
>> >
>> >
>> > "Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> > news:55A9C5E4-21DF-42C2-829C-73B9ACCB2973@microsoft.com...
>> > > That does not fix it for me.
>> > >
>> > > its a stupid bug that should be fixed.
>> > >
>> > > Its annoying..
>> > >
>> > > "Gary VanderMolen" wrote:
>> > >
>> > >> If you are using WLM, then Windows Mail should not begin running.
>> > >> Make sure WLM is the default email program:
>> > >> Open the Default Programs applet, which you can access either from
>> > >> the Start menu or via the Control Panel, then click the first item:
>> > >> "Set your default programs."
>> > >> After a few seconds, a list of programs comes up. Click on "Windows
>> > >> Live Mail". If it doesn't respond with "This program has all its
>> > >> defaults"
>> > >> then fix it by clicking on the option indicated by the first green
>> > >> arrow.
>> > >>
>> > >> --
>> > >> Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >> "jdc43" <jdc43@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> > >> news:19BE9F2C-DECD-451B-8ED7-505471C736F8@microsoft.com...
>> > >> >I get the "Windows Mail can compact the messages store" message
>> > >> >every time I
>> > >> > start up.
>> > >> > When I click okay it starts up, then a new box with "The folder is
>> > >> > currently
>> > >> > in use by Windows Mail or by another application".
>> > >> > I click okay, but this just goes on and on and on and I go round
>> > >> > in circles.
>> > >> > What can I do to stop this as no other programmes are running and
>> > >> > I use
>> > >> > Windows Live Mail.
>> > >> >
>> > >> > --
>> > >> > jdc43
>> > >>
>> >