DOCUMENT:Q122062 31-OCT-1999 [win3x] TITLE :Err Msg: This Version of Mail Is Too Old... PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows 3.x Retail Product PROD/VER:WINDOWS:3.11 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== After you install version 3.0 or later of the retail version of Microsoft Mail or the version of Microsoft Mail that ships with Windows for Workgroups version 3.11 over the older version of Mail shipped with Windows for Workgroups 3.1, you receive the following error message: This version of Mail is too old to access your message file. NOTE: Choosing OK closes Mail. CAUSE ===== NOTE: This information applies to both Microsoft DoubleSpace and Microsoft DriveSpace. For MS-DOS 6.22, use DRVSPACE in place of DBLSPACE for commands and filenames. In Windows for Workgroups version 3.11, you can use two different types of compression on the Mail message file (.MMF): DoubleSpace Security or Highest Security. The difference between these is the encryption method employed. The DoubleSpace option is less heavily encrypted and allows DoubleSpace to compress the file on a DoubleSpace volume. The aforementioned error message can occur when you are using Windows for Workgroups version 3.11 if DoubleSpace Security is enabled rather than Highest Security. Windows for Workgroups Mail 3.1 and the retail version of Microsoft Mail cannot read the Windows for Workgroups 3.11 .MMF because they cannot read the DoubleSpace encryption method. To use Windows for Workgroups Mail version 3.1 or the retail version of Microsoft Mail, you must use the Highest Security method. RESOLUTION ========== To change the encryption method, do the following: 1. Rename the current MSMAIL.EXE to MSMAIL.SAV. This file is usually found in the Windows directory although it is possible for it to be located in another directory. 2. Expand the file MSMAIL.EX_ from your original Windows for Workgroups version 3.11 disks. At an MS-DOS command prompt, change to your Windows directory, and type the following command expand :\msmail.ex_ :\windows\msmail.exe where is the floppy disk drive containing your original Windows for Workgroups disk and is the drive containing Windows. NOTE: This file is located on Disk 2 of the 1.2-MB 5.25-inch disk set and Disk 3 of the 1.44-MB 3.5-inch disk set. 3. Start MSMAIL.EXE from the Windows directory. 4. From the Mail menu, choose Options. Change DoubleSpace Security to Highest Security. 5. From the File menu, choose Exit And Sign Out. 6. Delete the MSMAIL.EXE file that you expanded in step 2--it is no longer required. 7. Rename the saved copy of the mail executable MSMAIL.SAV to MSMAIL.EXE. 8. Restart Mail. If the compression options listed are missing, check to see if the MSMAIL.EXE file being used was in the Windows directory. If MSMAIL.EXE was being called from a different location, run Mail from the Windows directory and repeat the above steps. NOTE: The physical size of the .MMF does not change as a result of changing the encryption method; however, a progress bar is displayed at the bottom of the Mail screen during the conversion process. This conversion process takes approximately 10 to 15 seconds per megabyte of .MMF size. If Microsoft Mail cannot convert the .MMF to Highest Security but still functions when you are using Windows for Workgroups version 3.11, proceed as follows: 1. Run Microsoft Mail, and choose Export Folder from the File menu. 2. Export all folders to another file (for example, EXPORT.MMF). 3. Rename the MSMAIL.MMF file to MSMAIL.OLD. 4. Run the retail version of Microsoft Mail or Windows for Workgroups version 3.10 Mail. 5. When prompted for the location of the .MMF, select the exported file (for example, EXPORT.MMF). A message informing you that this is a backup message file should appear. Choose OK to convert this exported .MMF to the active .MMF for Mail. 6. Mail should then function normally. Additional query words: error message err msg ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbAudDeveloper kbWFWSearch kbWFW311 Version : WINDOWS:3.11 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1999.