equal signs "=" replacing characters in email?!
sailawaysteve
I recently converted from Outlook Express to WLM.
I am getting emails that are displaying equal signs "=" , usually in place
of the first letter in a word. It seems to happen randomly in the messages.
When I look at the source detail of the message, everything is fine. It seems
to be a bug in WLM that is not displaying things correctly. Many of my
archived emails (converted over from Local Folders in OE) are also having
this display problem.
I googled "equal signs in windows live mail" and came up with these two
things:
http://www.winvistatips.com/wlm-desktop-8-0-1172-equal-sign-mime-formatted-texts-t358774.html
http://www.yuonlamp.com/send_mime_email.html
From the first link, it is clear this WLM bug has been around since 2006!
And it is clear that Microsoft hasn't addressed it as I'm using the latest
2009 build of WLM.
Is there any fix available so WLM will display these messages correctly??
Steve
...winston
What encoding is in use in WLM for reading messages ?
--
...winston
ms-mvp mail
"sailawaysteve" <sailaw...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:650B8866-887F-47D8...@microsoft.com...
Michael Santovec
messages imported from OE. Apparently something went wrong with the
original import from OE and the corresponding EML files did not have the
carriage-return/line-feed combination to terminate each line. Instead
they just had carriage-returns.
Do you still have access to OE? You can use a double drag-and-drop to
move messages in either direction between WLM and Outlook Express (OE).
Create an empty Windows folder. Then in OE select all the messages in a
folder, then drag-and-drop to the Windows folder. Then select all the
messages in the Windows folder and drag-and-drop into an WLM folder of
your choice.
You need to always start the first drag-and-drop into an empty Windows
folder because of the way the EML files are named. So you need to use
either a separate Windows folder for each WLM/OE folder, or after
completing the second drag-and-drop empty the Windows folder and then
reuse it for the next WLM/OE folder to move.
See if the moved messages then display correctly in WLM
As for having the problem with newly received mails, that could happen
with the messages are being processed by an anti-spam or anti-virus
program and it is screwing up the messages. If it's just some incoming
e-mails it could be an issue with the sender or the sender's mail
program. For example, some versions of McAfee SpamKiller have a bug
where they corrupt messages from senders using Lotus Notes.
--
Mike - http://TechHelp.Santovec.us
"sailawaysteve" <sailaw...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:650B8866-887F-47D8...@microsoft.com...
sailawaysteve
European (default) and International is set to use the default, too.
I still have access to my old OE Identities folders but would have to do a
LOT of work (OE and the Identities are on another bootable drive that would
have to be install back in the computer...) I will try the drag-and-drop test
sometime when I get a chance, but I had already put many hours of time and
energy into reorganizing, deleting unwanted emails, etc. in WLM before I
discovered the display problem with some of the archives. So I don't want to
do that all over again as it appears to be a relatively rare occurrence.
In any case, since i just recently received an email with the same display
issue, it is unlikely the problem was caused by a glitch during importing
messages from OE.
In addition, the "message source" detail view of the emails are all correct
without any equal signs. I would think Microsoft could fix the way WLM
displays them. It clearly has something to do with the way WLM works with
certain emails. In the first link I mentioned above, an MS rep acknowledged
this was "a known issue" and was "being addressed". Apparently not, as that
was in 2006.
From the second link (a bit tech for me), I garnered that the coding of the
sender can be the issue. My wife still uses OE, so I used her computer and
sent messages to myself using various combinations of OE coding for "sent
messages" and they all seemed to display properly in WLM.
The message I received with the equal signs was a "reply" she sent to an
email from a friend, quoting the original text in the body and using the
"reply in the same format as received" option. (She sent it to me, as well.)
So I think it may have to do with how WLM deals with the coding used by the
original sender. WLM is not "playing nice" with some coding??
Bottom line: I may fiddle with trying to figure out what causes the display
problem, but since I will soon be transitioning my wife to WLM and it appears
to be an unusual occurrence, it is probably not worth too much time
investment. (Probably Microsoft's thinking, too....)
Steve
sailawaysteve
mail server):
The message in question is in the Sent folder of our Hotmail account on the
web. If I click on it and display it in my wife's Outlook Express, it
displays perfectly! If I click on it and display it in my WLM Desktop, it has
the equal signs in it!!
If OE can display it, what's up with the supposed new technology of WLM?
You'd think MS would figure out how their two products can work together.
Is there anywhere one can report bugs like this to MS?
Steve
Ron Sommer
OE does not have a mail server.
OE has to accessing the Hotmail Sent Items using WebDav.
WLM could be using WebDav or DeltaSync. Which is it?
The server for DeltaSync is
http://mail.services.live.com/DeltaSync_v2.0.0/sync.aspx .
DeltaSync will have to be used after September 1.
OE will need to be switched to pop access. Only the Hotmail Inbox will be
accessed.
--
Ron Sommer
"sailawaysteve" <sailaw...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:D6072351-59A0-405B...@microsoft.com...
sailawaysteve
Thanks. I know the change is coming in September. That's why I switched to
WLM and will be switching my wife's computer, as well.
I'm not up to the technicalities behind email but do know the change-over
has created issues and hassles for me. For example, when I installed WLM it
failed to properly import all my Outlook Express Local Folders and the
messages in them. They were totally garbled. I had to do it all manually,
similar to what Michael Santovec suggested above. That's the nature of the
learning curve, I guess, but I do think MS could have made the transition
more seamless.
Steve
Ron Sommer
Did the account import when you installed WLM?
--
Ron Sommer
"sailawaysteve" <sailaw...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1EC43C92-589D-4E0B...@microsoft.com...
sailawaysteve
Sorry I don't understand the question. I set up my Hotmail accounts years
ago and have accessed them using Outlook Express ever since (Win98 and
WinXP). When I converted to WLM, I simply downloaded and ran the exe file
from Microsoft and had it automatically import my OE accounts. I don't recall
anything about WebDav or DeltaSync (I have no idea what these are...). I'd be
more than willing to answer your question if you can aim me in the right
direction for finding out. Thanks for trying to help.
Steve
Ron Sommer
tab, what is the server url?
Is it http://mail.services.live.com/DeltaSync_v2.0.0/sync.aspx ?
If the server url does not have DeltaSync listed, you will need to reinstall
the Hotmail account or you will lose access to Hotmail on September 1.
OE used WebDav to get the Hotmail email. If WLM imported the OE settings,
it could be using WebDav.
--
Ron Sommer
"sailawaysteve" <sailaw...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:02A8C7AE-E2BE-48A8...@microsoft.com...
sailawaysteve
Hopefully, once I have my wife's pc converted, we won't have the equal signs
anymore.
Steve
Ron Sommer
After you convert your wife's computer to WLM, could you check if DeltaSync
is listed for the Hotmail account?
I need to kwow if WLM is importing the old WebDav url or using DeltaSync.
Thanks
--
Ron Sommer
"sailawaysteve" <sailaw...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A864F2D5-9DAD-420C...@microsoft.com...
Michael Santovec
If so, do a File Save As to an EML file of one of the problem messages.
The look at the EML in the hex viewer. Each line should end in a
carriage-return/Line-feed combo (0D0A).
Or if you would like, you may send me one of the problem messages that
you received and I'll take a look at it. It's best if you zip the
message so that I get an exact copy of it. To do that, do a File, Save
As to an EML file of a problem message. Then Right click the saved EML
file and select Send To, Compressed (zipped) folder. Then e-mail me the
resulting ZIP file. .
e-mail: michael_...@prodigy.net
--
Mike - http://TechHelp.Santovec.us
"sailawaysteve" <sailaw...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:E1EF7E3D-AB3A-40A7...@microsoft.com...
sailawaysteve
Ron,
Just converted my wife's PC to WLM and checked. Both Hotmail accounts show
the following server url:
http://services.msn.com/svcs/httpmail.asp
I recall now that on my computer I installed WLM without Outlook Express
Hotmail Identities on the computer (this was a fresh reinstall of XP), added
the two accounts manually, then afterwards I imported the Local folders from
a backup of my old Identities. Was this why my accounts are DeltaSync while
my wife's are per the above?
Should I go in and change them on her WLM to read the same as mine?
Steve
sailawaysteve
Source and found some interesting things. Rather than reply in two places,
you can look at my message in response to Ron's latest.
(Thanks for the offer to look at the emails, but it contains personal
information and email addresses of dear friends that I wouldn't feel
comfortable having out there.)
Steve
sailawaysteve
Some added info:
The email (still sitting in our Hotmail "sent" folder) appears fine on my
wifes pc but has the equal signs when displayed on mine.
If I change my options to always read as text, the equal signs move to new
locations and replace completely different c haracters.
I took Michael's advice and saved the emails as .eml files and looked at
them with a Hex editor. The one on my computer has no
carriage-return/Line-feed combo (0D0A). The one on my wife's computer has
them in the proper places throughout.
Looking carefully at the Message Sources, they look to be the same except
the one on my pc has the following text at the beginning. I have edited it
for privacy:
Message-ID: <BAY143-DAV1B484AD8...@phx.gbl>
Received: from 24.113.157.181 by BAY143-DAV1.phx.gbl with DAV;
Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:32:29 +0000
X-Originating-IP: [24.113.157.181]
X-Originating-Email: [**********@hotmail.com]
X-Sender: **********@hotmail.com
It appears that the email sent originally from her pc (while still using
OE) that ended up on my pc WLM was sent via DAV, yes?
Steve
...winston
Change it to the DeltaSync2.0 server that you are using..it should be as shown below.
http://mail.services.live.com/DeltaSync_v2.0.0/sync.aspx
Adding the accounts manually will default to the DeltaSync server, migrating or importing will not.
Do not hesitate to due this..on Sept 1, syncing with a non existent server will result in empty folders in the local client until
the account server is changed to DeltaSync or recreated manually.
- Fyi...this issue is déjà vu...having occurred in the past when WebDAV was restricted to Hotmail Plus or grandfathered
accounts in 2004, those without either of those parameters had no messages and only the web interface(at least today, one has
multiple options..switch to pop3, install WLM, or install the Outlook Connector in OL03/07 or use the web).
--
...winston
ms-mvp mail
"sailawaysteve" <sailaw...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:691A3CD1-10F9-49D8...@microsoft.com...
Ron Sommer
http://services.msn.com/svcs/httpmail.asp.
As Winston said you need to change to
http://mail.services.live.com/DeltaSync_v2.0.0/sync.aspx .
'Reply using the format in which the message was sent' just means reply
using plain text if the message was sent using plain text or reply using
html if the message was sent using html. It does not mean use the same
encoding.
I don't see where you answered Michael's question about virus scanning
emails. That is my suggestion too that something is altering the email when
it is downloaded.
I do not believe that WevDav or DeltaSync has anything to do with your
problem.
You could drag a copy of the message on your wife's computer and move it to
your computer.
--
Ron Sommer
"sailawaysteve" <sailaw...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:093AA626-3789-4854...@microsoft.com...
sailawaysteve
I've changed the server url on the wife's pc, moved a copy of the
non-equal-signed email to mine and will keep an eye on things.
As for virus scanning of emails, I have the same firewall and virus software
on both computers, so that wouldn't be it.
Whatever the cause, I hope it's in the past now that we're both using WLM.
Thanks again, all.
Steve
Zareba
server will result in empty folders in the local client until
the account server is changed to DeltaSync or recreated manually.
I imported from OE when I first set up the WLM accounts. On checking I did
have one account showing WebDAV. Deleting it and reinstalling it cured that
issue. Please don't tell me I still don't get it!!!! I did need to change
that account .... right??????????
...Z (still learning after all these years)
- Fyi...this issue is déj� vu...having occurred in the past when
Ron Sommer
have to delete the account.
--
Ron Sommer
"Zareba" <zar...@thetimewarp.com> wrote in message
news:u83bFLEG...@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
...winston
Either is acceptable..since both WebDAV and DeltaSync mirror the folders on the server...changing the server is a lot easier, the
end result is the same...the same folders and messages once completed.
--
...winston
ms-mvp mail
"Zareba" <zar...@thetimewarp.com> wrote in message news:u83bFLEG...@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
...winston
There are numerous reports of an AV running fine for months without issue then interfering(some due to updates, luck, server
timeouts) and in all too many cases the disabling of email scanning has proved to be a successful solution.
--
...winston
ms-mvp mail
"sailawaysteve" <sailaw...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:47B03212-1BE4-42A6...@microsoft.com...
Zareba
...Z
Graham
6 months with no problem, but all of a sudden, many of my messages in the
sent folder have equal signs replacing leading charachters of certain words.
Not just new email, but old ones too. Help
Ron Sommer
What is you server url?
--
Ron Sommer
MVP-Mail
"Graham" <Gra...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:D63DAA5B-95FE-45C1...@microsoft.com...
HawkInOz
14.0.8089.0726) installed. The AV/FW is also the same for me. I came across
this thread looking for a solution, after the latest build did not correct
the problem. I've literally seen it for years, but am forced to use WLM on
my Vista & Windows 7 installations. On XP I've had the luxury of using OE,
but won't for much longer.
The randomness of which leading characters get changed in to "=" is most
frustrating. It isn't restricted to the first word in a line. I have one
example where five words, all within the same character string, have the
first letter changed to "=". It makes no sense. As others have mentioned,
the new emails are as affected as the old ones - and they all continue to
look fine in OE. Go figure. Thanks MS.
cass1964
I have the same problem. And it is in e-mails that are in plain form and
in e-mails in HTML form. I have WLM installed on Vista Ultimate and on
XP Prof. Vista with IE7 and XP with IE6. Same problem on all computers.
E-mails read (still have the accounts on OE and can open them and read
them) perfectly in OE and on Office Outlook 2003 and 2007.
I have used the Ctrl + F3 key to see the codes.....here is what I see
prior to the problem
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_009F_01C51944.F4EE84F0
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
and that is after the message with the = sign
-----=_NextPart_000_009F_01C51944.F4EE84F0
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
I had send this message to myself in OE.
I had started a new thread. Had missed this one here.
This has to be a problem in WLM. And if it has been around since
2006...isn't it time that someone fixes it. I don't like WLM. Often,
when I read an e-mail and it is checking for new mail....I get a message
that WLM has to close and if I want to send a message to microsoft. Then
WLM closes and I have to open it and find the e-mail again. But perhaps
that is because I still have IE6 in XP. I do miss OE.
I have been trying to find a solution for two days now. No luck
--
cass1964