Hotmail error on Windows 7 - 'Your Message Cannot Be Displayed Right Now'

2797 Views 41 Replies 3 Participants Last post by spunk.funk, Nov 22, 2021

skullchrist

Discussion Starter · Nov 9, 2021

Hello!

Everything was working fine a day ago and then all of sudden I keep getting this error:

'Your Message Cannot Be Displayed Right Now'

It is intermittent, sometimes I can view my emails sometimes not. This is happening to all three of my hotmail accounts. I thought Microsoft was having server issues at first. I looked up the error and I didn't find any fixes that would work me. One says to 'verify' your account. Not really sure what it means and have not found a way to do that in hotmail.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

21 - 40 of 42 Posts

skullchrist

Discussion Starter · #21 · Nov 10, 2021

Update:

They are aware of the issue. Here is a Mircosoft link to a fix for this issue:

Fixes or workarounds for recent issues on Outlook.com - Microsoft Support

support.microsoft.com

This fix is to clear the cache. I've done that and it works for a bit but when I log out and into another account it happens again.

Thanks for the continued help!

spunk.funk

· #22 · Nov 10, 2021

Corday said:
Update to outlook.com. You'll still have your Hotmail, but you'll be able to verify. See these links.

Verify
Update From Hotmail

Once your account is Verified, then use Outlook.com only and it will work.

skullchrist

Discussion Starter · #23 · Nov 10, 2021

spunk.funk said:
Once your account is Verified, then use Outlook.com only and it will work.

Did that yesterday but did it again just in case:

Tested two of the accounts
Looked good
Happened on the third login

BTW, I tried calling Microsoft and they refer you to online support but that is not that helpful, gotta say. Is there a human at Microsoft I can talk to? Already tried:

877-696-7786
800-936-5700

Thanks!

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spunk.funk

· #24 · Nov 10, 2021

Windows 7 is no longer supported by Microsoft. They will only suggest you upgrade to Windows 10 or 11.

Corday

· #25 · Nov 10, 2021

(800) 642 7676

skullchrist

Discussion Starter · #26 · Nov 10, 2021

Corday said:
(800) 642 7676

Tried that one too.

skullchrist

Discussion Starter · #27 · Nov 10, 2021

spunk.funk said:
Windows 7 is no longer supported by Microsoft. They will only suggest you upgrade to Windows 10 or 11.

Yep, sounds about right. Hopefully there will be a fix or will make the hard decision to switch to google after having these accounts for over 20 years.

Corday

· #28 · Nov 10, 2021

Upgrade to 10 is free so if your hardware can't take 11, why not go for it?

spunk.funk

· #29 · Nov 11, 2021

I would not rely on Microsoft offering a Fix for a non supported version of Windows.

skullchrist

Discussion Starter · #30 · Nov 11, 2021

Okay, but here's the million dollar question, and I really don't know the answer to this...if it's an Outook/hotmail issue, how will upgrading the OS fix it? Since hotmail is on the net how will upgrading help? Unless it does somehow. 🤷‍♂️ Like I said, I don't know the answer to this.

Thanks.

spunk.funk

· #31 · Nov 11, 2021

We don't know the answer, that is why we are deflecting the question to Microsoft.
I am just letting you know that Microsoft won't help you because your OS is no longer supported by MS and they won't start to help you until you upgrade to Windows 10. That may or may not solve the problem, but if you Upgrade to Windows 10, you can get through to MS support easier.
Here are some other suggestions Fixes or workarounds for recent issues on Outlook.com

skullchrist

Discussion Starter · #32 · Nov 11, 2021 (Edited)

spunk.funk said:
We don't know the answer, that is why we are deflecting the question to Microsoft.
I am just letting you know that Microsoft won't help you because your OS is no longer supported by MS and they won't start to help you until you upgrade to Windows 10. That may or may not solve the problem, but if you Upgrade to Windows 10, you can get through to MS support easier.
Here are some other suggestions Fixes or workarounds for recent issues on Outlook.com

Yep, was a Support Engineer for 15 years so know that dance.

Some one calling in on unsupported software was always the easiest call to get, ha.

I tried that main workaround with the same error. Unfortunately it only works for a short while and then you have to do it again. The one thing that is missing in that workaround...the explanation as to why it's happening and why it started happening just a few days ago. I don't have automatic updates so it's something that they pushed out to Outlook/hotmail without telling people and now it screwed things up.

Theory time:

I'm not the only person that's having this problem
Some high profile person, ie a**hole, will have this issue and they will be pissed
They will pull some strings
It will get fixed

I guess I'll just hobble along until it gets fixed.

Thanks for the help everyone!

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spunk.funk

· #33 · Nov 11, 2021

If you believe it is due to a Windows Update, you can go to the Windows Updates and check Update History. Find the date closes to when the problem started, then Uninstall that Update. Or you can do a System Restore to the time before that update. And you can block that update from being downloaded.

And as mentioned on this forum and every other Forum ad nauseum , if you had an Image file created with Macirum Reflect or your favorite imaging software, of your computer when it was running well, you could have restored your computer with that image in a few minute instead of days or weeks and be back in business.

skullchrist

Discussion Starter · #34 · Nov 11, 2021

spunk.funk said:
If you believe it is due to a Windows Update, you can go to the Windows Updates and check Update History. Find the date closes to when the problem started, then Uninstall that Update. Or you can do a System Restore to the time before that update. And you can block that update from being downloaded.

And as mentioned on this forum and every other Forum ad nauseum , if you had an Image file created with Macirum Reflect or your favorite imaging software, of your computer when it was running well, you could have restored your computer with that image in a few minute instead of days or weeks and be back in business.

Eureka!

Think you might be onto something with the System Restore! Wasn't even thinking! This has fixed many of my problems in the past.

Thank you my friend! Crossing fingers.

Will keep you posted.

skullchrist

Discussion Starter · #35 · Nov 12, 2021

skullchrist said:
Eureka!

Think you might be onto something with the System Restore! Wasn't even thinking! This has fixed many of my problems in the past.

Thank you my friend! Crossing fingers.

Will keep you posted.

Hey Spunk,

Bad news, didn't work. BUT...I stumbled across a work around. Seems like when the error occurs if I log out and log back into the same account everything works (still testing it but so far seems to be working). Very bizarre, almost like the second log in re-establishes connection. It is not ideal. I really am considering getting everything from those accounts that are irreplaceable, pics etc and switching to gmail. I no longer have any faith in Microsoft or Outlook.

Thanks for all of the help Spunk and Corday.

May the Force be with you! ✨
Live long and prosper! 💫

skullchrist

Discussion Starter · #36 · Nov 12, 2021 (Edited)

Okay, last and final update:

My little work around didn't work...
My work laptop has Windows 10
I tested it just to rule out if it was an OS issue...same thing
I will be getting everything I need from those accounts and switching to gmail after having these accounts for over 20 years
It will be a nightmare, switching accounts in amazon, ebay, paypal etc but f**k them for tying Outlook/hotmail to the OS
Email should NEVER, EVER, EVER be reliant on your OS
THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF EMAIL!!!!
F**k Microsoft for doing that and F**k Bill Gates for letting them (And that's coming from a guy that's been a PC guy his whole life, for over 30 years)

Not a happy camper.

(I've only used this emoticon like three times in my life, ha)

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spunk.funk

· #37 · Nov 12, 2021

Before you give up, I know you tried this before, but not since you did a System Restore, try another browser besides Chrome, Also clear all Browsing Data.
If all fails, I would seriously consider upgrading to Windows 10.

skullchrist

Discussion Starter · #38 · Nov 12, 2021 (Edited)

spunk.funk said:
Before you give up, I know you tried this before, but not since you did a System Restore, try another browser besides Chrome, Also clear all Browsing Data.
If all fails, I would seriously consider upgrading to Windows 10.

Okay:

I did that, followed your steps
I used IE, even though it is insufferably slow
Cleared all browsing data
I log in and out of my three accounts in rapid succession
It looked like it was working
Logged back in...happened again
As mentioned, I tested this on Win 10 on my work laptop...same issue

Unless you have a guaranteed fix/patch from Microsoft, I'm done. This a deal breaker. I do not text and I do not use social media but do rely heavily on email. Will be swapping all of my accounts to gmail. My next laptop will be a Mac.

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spunk.funk

· #39 · Nov 12, 2021

Not sure if you tried this, but start a Command Prompt as Admin. Type
SFC /scannow and press Enter. This should replace any missing system files in Windows 7.

Other then that the Fix/Patch from Microsoft is to Upgrade to Windows 10.

skullchrist

Discussion Starter · #40 · Nov 12, 2021

spunk.funk said:
Not sure if you tried this, but start a Command Prompt as Admin. Type
SFC /scannow and press Enter. This should replace any missing system files in Windows 7.

Other then that the Fix/Patch from Microsoft is to Upgrade to Windows 10.

Never did this before but figured it out. Came up clean:

Computer Rectangle Font Screenshot Software

- What Fix/Patch from Microsoft are you talking about?

- I tested this on my work laptop that has Win 10 with the same result. You might know something I don't but what would be the point of upgrading to Windows 10 if we've already established it's not OS specific?

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