On or about December 12, 2016, shortly after doing a windows update, I started getting the following message window,

"Windows Live Mail has stopped working" and  "A problem caused the programs to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available. [  Close program  ]"

I was using WLM 2011 on that date on Windows 10 1511 (upgraded from Windows 7 46-bit). There were two events during the update which were abnormal, but not unusual:

1. Had to use the standalone installer to install the updates. (Not unusual for me and many other windows upgrade users).
   
2. MS Malicious Software Removal Tool found 4 items and removed them. (Unusual as I am running MalwareBytes Pro and Windows Defender and am cautious user. )

Searching for solutions to the error, I have found many others, including posts in this forum, with the same problem. I have tried:

• Restoring to an earlier time
  • Restore operation was successful.
    
  • This did not resolve the problem.
  • I was not able to undo the restore.

• Repairing Window Live Essentials 2011.

  • I was not able to run the repair from Programs and Features.
• Installed Windows Live Essential 2012.
  • Installation was uneventful.
  • Did not resolve the problem. "Windows Live Mail has stopped working"
  • Repaired Windows Live Essentials 2012. Did not resolve the problem. "Windows Live Mail has stopped working"
• De-fragmented Hard-drive overriding this drive does not need to be defragmented message. Did not resolve problem.
• Ran SFC /scannow to repair missing or corrupted files. 1 .DLL was unable to be copied
• Contacted Microsoft Support and spent 4 hours plus on telephone and remote control with Microsoft Representative.
  • Briefed representative about manual updates and MS Malicious Software Removal Tool found 4 items and removed them, and my running SFC /scannow with one error, prior to stopping of WLM proper functioning.
    • Representative indicated that problem was probably due to a virus.
      
    • Representative told me I should not have used standalone installer for updates as I may have installed the incorrect update which might be causing the problem.
  • Representative and elevated support unable to resolve problem.
  • Representative told me the program is corrupted and cannot be fixed or recovered. I asked,' Are you telling me that a Microsoft Software Program is broken and it cannot be fixed? He replied, "yes".

I have not removed my data files for Windows live Mail seek to recover Windows Live Mail, messages, and especially my Contacts. It seems the proper way for me to do this is by exporting from Windows Live Mail which I cannot start.

There are numerous links citing Microsoft saying that WLM will not be supported after Jan 10, 2012. I get the feeling they stopped support a long time ago.