LONG WLM post. Errors and Junk button

I have had various Windows Live Mail problems for many months which I have previously resisted posting. I have resisted because I am somewhat of a tech-help person's nightmare: I do not remember, exactly, what I have done to try to fix my various issues. Nor can I explain, exactly, what my problems are as these problems seem to change every time I have tried a different "fix."

Nonetheless, I am going to give this a shot as I grow weary of these bothersome WLM issues. I will write the facts to the best of my memory.

I "graduated" about eighteen months ago from my old WinXP computer to a new Win7 one. At first I totally hated Windows Live Mail and so wanted my old Outlook Express back. But WLM did work and, with time, I accepted the fact that OE was gone forever.

About six months ago (and for no known reason) I started getting a lot of WML pop-up error messages. Searching the internet for the meaning of, or a fix for, these various codes proved unhelpful/meaningless for this not-too-computer savvy guy.

I tried various fixes. None fixed the problems but usually just created other ones. Finally I decided to uninstall WLM. But, as I've read others mention on various message boards, WLM would not uninstall. The "uninstall" button on the program was grayed out. Too, WLM (Windows Live Essentials) was nowhere to be found in my Control Panel's Add/Remove list.

I downloaded and reinstalled WLM. (I am not positive but I believe my previous version of WLM was "2010" and my reinstalled one is "2011.") In any event, after the reinstall my issues - although fewer and different - continue.

I have nine email addresses. Seven of them are @AOL.com ones. *All* of my issues are and always have been with my AOL email addresses. I have never had an issue with either my COX or my GMAIL ones.

I have tried refreshing my AOL folders. I have repeatedly deleted and re-added my AOL screen names/email addresses. I have checked and rechecked my settings/properties. If I am overlooking something I do not know what it is.

It's weird because each time I have done *something* to try to fix my issues it has never fixed them but, seemingly, cause the same or different problems to "jump" from one AOL name/address to another.

Since I am currently down to an all-time low of "only" two errors (copied below) I'm not trying any more fixes on my own until I seek professional help!

__________

Unable to send or receive messages for the (one of my AOL email addresses) account. Header download for the 'Deleted Items' folder did not complete. Could not select 'Deleted Items' on the IMAP server. Try updating the folder list and then try again.

Server Response: SELECT failed
Server: 'imap.aol.com'
Windows Live Mail Error ID: 0x800CCCD2
Protocol: IMAP
Port: 143
Secure(SSL): No

__________

At this AOL address I can *send and receive* email but I cannot DELETE any mail.

__________

The connection to the server has failed.

Subject (subject of an email I tried to send from a different AOL account several months ago.)
Server: 'smtp.aol.com'
Windows Live Mail Error ID: 0x800CCC0E
Protocol: SMTP
Port: 25
Secure(SSL): Yes
Socket Error: 10060

__________

At this second AOL address I can *receive* mail but cannot *send* any.

__________


When restarting WLM these error pop-ups continue for some time (about an hour?) and then, finally, quit.

Further, at *none* of my seven AOL addresses can I mark email as JUNK. The JUNK button shows a red circle with a slash through it. This is NOT the case with my COX and GMAIL accounts. Which leads to my second, even more bothersome, issue....

Since reinstalling WLM, none of my previously blocked senders or domains are recognized (and I had a ton of them). Further, I currently can no longer block senders and/or domains. Both options appear in my Spam drop-down list, again, showing a red circle and a red slash through it. Daily I am faced with deleting a ton of spam!

Final question: If I can't fix my issues with WLM what other email programs do you suggest which work well with multiple email addresses?

Sorry to be so wordy in this post. After six months of daily dealing with this I'm frustrated! Give me back my Outlook Express!!

Thanks in advance for any assistance.