windows live mail can not attach a attachment

I am having a problem when I start a new email message. The attachment paper clip is there and when I click it the blue circle appears as if it is searching. It does not stop searching and if I try to close the message all of live mail locks-up and shows "not responding" at the top of the new message window. Then the box opens that allows to look for a solution or close program. I have more than one hard drive and they are SSD.