windows live mail spinning wheel

windows live mail won't open.  the wheel just keeps spinning endlessly.  I have done a system restore but it did not work.  I reinstalled windows essentials but the problem persists.  do you suggest I uninstall essentials and reinstall essentials?  what about all of the emails I already have in the various accounts?  will I lose them?  I run windows xp.  The only difference is that the other day by accident a pop up box opened and asked me to update some windows programs and I did (I usually don't) but the system restore I performed was prior to this update.  Can you help me?  I can access my email accounts from the actual websites (gmail and Verizon) but I really like windows live mail and want to continue using it.