Many users are facing a problem where a message composed and sent using Windows Live Mail's photo email feature stalls in the sending, usually on 'Publishing photo n of n'. This is so far as we know because something changed at OneDrive to break the feature.

How to clear the error

There is no universal panacea that will suit everybody. The solution depends on
(a) whether Windows Live Mail was running before composing and sending the message;
(b) whether a third-party browser like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is installed.

(c) what steps the user has already taken to try and remedy the situation.

The unsent message is stuck in the outbox, below the account folders in the folder pane. To clear the error, then, we have to
(a)   Stop the program from trying to send the message, and
(b)   Remove the message from the outbox so that the program doesn't try to send it again, because it won't go. 

Case A: Windows Live Mail is running and no third-party browser is installed

In many cases, the program will not stop trying to send the message while working online. To be on the safe side, then, start working offline before trying to clear this error.
  1. Click once on Working online on the status bar at the bottom of the window. The status message should change to Working Offline. If the status bar isn't visible, click the button on the View tab.
      
  2. Click Stop in the send/receive progress window, then close the window.
  3. Open the outbox and remove any unsent messages.
  4. Compose a new test message with a unique subject and send it to yourself to confirm that you can now send messages again.
Case B: Windows Live Mail is running and a third-party browser is installed
  1. Disconnect from the Internet, e.g. by disabling Wi-Fi or unplugging the Ethernet cable.
    1. If the Stop button in the send/receive progress window is active, click it to stop the send process, then close the window. Remove any unsent message from the outbox.
    2. If the Stop button isn't active, remove any unsent messages from the outbox. It should now be possible to click Stop and close the window.
        
  2. Compose a new test message with a unique subject and send it to yourself to confirm that you can now send messages again.
Case C: Windows Live Mail was not running before the stalled message was composed

    This will often be the case if the process is started by using a sendmail function, like Send to > Mail recipient in Explorer, or Email in some photo applications like Picasa. The program is then running in a 'light' edition, with only the message compose window or the send/receive progress window visible. The rest of the program interface is not loaded, so the outbox is not accessible.

    Open the program interface
      

    In some cases, it will be possible to right-click on the program icon in the notification area ('system tray') and select Windows Live Mail. This should open the program interface, and when it's fully loaded, enable you to clear the outbox and stop the sending process.

    Force the program to close
    If the option to open Windows Live Mail is not available, I know of no other way than forcing the program to close. This is very much the last resort. Start Task Manager (e.g. by pressing Ctrl-Shift-Escape), then on the Processes tab right-click on wlmail.exe and select End process. You will be warned about the consequences, but you have no choice. It's not certain that bad things will happen as a result.


    After waiting a few moments, disconnect from the Internet, then re-launch the program by clicking on the program shortcut on the desktop, the taskbar or on the start menu. When it's fully loaded, clear the outbox and stop the sending process.

    Compose a new test message with a unique subject and send it to yourself to confirm that you can now send messages again.


    There should be no need to reboot the computer, repair the program, uninstall and re-install the program or use a different mail client because of this fault.

                    

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