Windows live mail stops working when reply to an email or typing in a new email.

I did try Support but they want 100 bucks and I do not have that money.  I did everything they said including uninstalling and reinstalling, creating a new user and installing, and that made the problem so bad that I lost the internet connection in the app.  When I click work online there is a red X over it.  I go into the options menu Connection and click the Change button and nothing happens.  Help!  It will take a lot of work to switch everything to Gmail but maybe I should.  I have about had it with MS.  Had so many issues with IE I got rid of it.  What do you think?