How2Change ''Open Message'' Default (from 1st to latest)

[2privatus]

PRIOR SITUATION: For as long as I've had/used MS Mail, whenever I opened a folder containing mail, the program's defaulted to opening the e-mail that was most recently received in that folder.

(IOW, a blue bar would highlight the most recently received e-mail on the list, and the text of that e-mail would appear in the relevant window).

CURRENT SITUATION: Quite recently, this default was changed -- for reasons which are mysterious to me. Now, whenever I open a folder in MS Mail, the first e-mail that is opened was the first e-mail that was composed within that folder. Since I organize my e-mails from first to most recent, this means I have to scroll down the list of all my e-mails to the bottom in order to see the e-mails I'm most interested in -- the one(s) in the folder I've most recently received.

PROBLEM: Needless to say, the Current Situation is a hassle. I'd like to change the default back to my Prior Situation -- MS Mail's original default setting. I've looked through the various settings for the program, but haven't been able to identify which one(s) will change things back to the default setting. And so I inquire...

QUESTIONS:

1. Where/How do I find the setting to change the "Open Message" default back to opening the most recent e-mail received in the folder (i.e., the original default setting)?

2. Since I didn't change this setting myself -- even unintentionally -- I'm concerned about this having been done by some form of malware. Is this paranoia, or legitimate fear? Are there any malware(s) that you know of responsible for such minor mayhem?

Thanks in advance to all who can render assistance in correcting this annoyance.

2privatus

 

[richc46]

Welcome
It would be my position that your problem has nothing to do with virus or malware.
To be sure run full antivirus scan
Download and run malwarebytes to make sure it is not malware.

I posted a few articles about your specific problem but found them not to work. I will post any new findings.

 

[Lorien]

Hi 2privatus,

Welcome to Vista Forums!

I hesitate to post this as you almost certainly have already tried it, but just in case, I will do so.

Open WM and go to each of the folders (and sub-folders if applicable) in each listed account. In each case, click on either the Sent Date or Received Date column title to sort the column in the order you want (most recent at the top). Once you've done this for all the folders, close the program and then re-open it. It should now list each folder in the order you specified when you last closed the program. I just tried this on my WM - in both directions - and it worked like a charm.

If this does not work, you may want to consider upgrading to Windows Live Mail 2011 where I feel certain the problem will be resolved (and you'll have a better program as well). You can get it as part of Windows Essentials 2011 Windows Live Essentials 2011 - Download free Microsoft programs and need download only the programs you want. Keep in mind that some 2011 programs don't "play well" with prior versions of other programs (like Windows Live Mail with Windows Live Messenger), so in some cases it may be best if using both programs to upgrade both programs - but that's entirely up to you. If you have a problem, you can always download the other program update later only if necessary if you prefer to keep your current version.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

 

[2privatus]

Thanks to both ''richc46'' and ''Lorien'' for your efforts to assist me...

** The ''malware'' issue -- It is agreed that the probability that this is the source of the problem is very low. I have run both an anti-virus scan and an anti-malware (using the free version of Malwarebytes). One problematic item -- a variant of the Win32/Adware.HotBar.H application (whatever that is ???) -- was I.D.ed and quarantined. But even _if_ this malware did cause the problem (???), the issue remains -- how do I correct the problem?

** Changing the order in which the emails themselves are displayed (by clicking on the Sent or Receive column). You're correct -- I have tried this, and it is irrelevant to nature of the problem.

Here's why:

CLARIFICATION: It's _not_ the order of priority in which the e-mails themselves are arranged which is the nature of the problem. Rather, it's the default for (what I've perhaps awkwardly termed as) the ''open message'' setting -- the e-mail which is automatically opened whenever you click on a given folder (and which is highlighted by a blue bar on the associated listing of emails resident in that folder.

Up until a few days ago, that default "open message" setting was the most recent message in that folder. No problem. _Now_ its the earliest message in that folder. This is a problem -- it means that I have to manually scroll down (or, if the order of priority in which the e-mails are listed was reversed, scroll up) the list of emails to get at the most recent e-mail -- which is, naturally, the one I -- or anyone else -- would want to read first.

OBJECTIVE: What I'd like to do is change the current ''open message'' setting back to its prior (default) setting -- where the most recent message is the one that is opened/highlighted in blue. Having it at this setting means I don't have to scroll down (or up) manually to get at the latest message in my folders.

Somehow something happened very recently which caused this to be changed for _all_ the folders in my MS Mail. I did not change it intentionally (otherwise, I'd had known how it changed, and would have changed it back). Leaving aside the aforementioned malware issue, I probably inadvertently clicked on something I shouldn't have and -- by the time I returned to the program to notice this problem -- didn't know what I've done.

But whatever caused it, I really do need to change this ''open message'' setting back to its default. As currently configured, reading e-mails has become a real hassle.

Hopefully someone out there can help with this small -- but very annoying -- problem.

Thanks again -- now and going forward -- to all those who try to assist me.

2privatus

 

[2privatus]

Per the "Recommendation" Header Appearing at the top of this thread (as of Dec 7 '10)

I did go to the considerable trouble of installing the RegisteryBooster software (which involved having to uninstall and -- later -- re-install my anti-virus program).

Here's what I found...

No registry errors referencing Microsoft Mail.

That program did ID numerous other _supposed_ registry errors (???). However, since I lack the knowledge to be able to judge the accuracy of this program's work, or the effects on my system from removing these "errors", no other action was taken.

I'm _hoping_ this isn't the final judgement on how to deal with the problem explained (and re-explained) above.

Thanks,

2privatus

 

[Lorien]

Hi 2privatus,

When I click on a folder on the left, it opens the listing of messages on the right and highlights the one at the top. Since the one at the top is the most recent one (because the columns are sorted that way), that's the one that's highlighted. That's why I assumed the order of the columns would be important. Are you saying they are in reverse order with the oldest at the top and changing the order doesn't "stick' whcn you close WM? Or are you saying it highlights the email at the very bottom of the listing where the oldest should be if the column is sorted properly with the most recent at the top? Other than explained above, i have no idea how to adjust this as I know of no setting to change it from choosing the email at the top of the listing (and if sorted properly, that should be the most recent email).

Since this just occurred recently, let's try a different approach to see if we can get things back to the way they were by going back to when it was working properly instead of trying to change how it works now.

Do you know when this problem began? Try a System Restore to a point in time BEFORE the problem began. Here's the procedure: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html. Be sure to check the box to show more than 5 days of restore points. If the first attempt fails, then try an earlier point or two. NOTE: You will have to re-install any software and updates you installed between now and the restore point, but you can use Windows Update for the updates.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!