SOLVED Windows Live Mail

[davidhk129]

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1, IE10
Windows Live Mail ver : 16.4.3508.0205

Every now and then my WLM shows generic picture above my name. Then a few hours later (and I do mean a few hours later), it will show the correct avatar.
Is there any reason for that ?
See my screenshot........

 

[clifford_cooley]

The only thing I can think of is a possible issue with Microsoft servers. If for some reason the connection can't be maintained, a default icon might be used. And if you are using another service for your avatar such as Gravitar, it could explain why the avatar is only effected. Otherwise, beats me!

 

[davidhk129]

The avatar is just a picture of a cat from my Pictures folder.

 

[clifford_cooley]

But the avatar is not loading from your pictures folder. It is loading from a website, where you uploaded the picture for a Microsoft Account (also know in the past as Windows Live ID). If you were not logged in, there would never be a picture showing at all. In fact the text where your name is would be asking you to "Sign in".

Wish I could say for sure what the issue is, but unfortunately all I can do is speculate a server glitch. Say for instance loading a website and everything loads except for one or two images.

 

[davehc]

It happens, sometimes, to me, whenever I restore an image. I think the path to the picture is losts in the transition, Shouldn't happen, but it does.

What I do
Left click the picture icon.
select "View my Profile"

This take me to the MS profile page, which shows my picture (correctly?)
I selct the option underneath to change the picture, and then direct it to my HD stored picture - in your case, your cat.
For me -done

Just came back to add. I have filed this as a bug with MS, and discussed it on TechNet. It seems that it is not all who suffer, but Microsoft seem to be uable to recognise it as a problem.

 

[davehc]

Just a follow up. The thread inspire me to chase this problem again. Best offer from a Microsoft rep is that it is a combination of a slow server and a fast HD. I am not too satisfied, but this makes a bit of sense to me. My problem really started after I had installed an SSD. My server is an appalling 2mbs/sec.

 

[davidhk129]

OK. Next time it happens again, I'll go check my profile picture.
Thank you.

 

[clifford_cooley]

Software also has timeout code and will stop trying to load specific items if they don't load quickly enough. I have a feeling that is what is taking place here, as the refresh/update seems to be a couple hours later.

What I don't understand is why the image is apparently not placed in cache until a refresh/update can be established.

 

[davehc]

Exactly my point, Cliff.

Surely MS have enough experienced coders, that they could load the image from the Users computer, rather than going down the longer road - User profile - back to the computer, for the picture. It isn't an astronomic problem, surely.

 

[davidhk129]

It happens, sometimes, to me, whenever I restore an image. I think the path to the picture is losts in the transition, Shouldn't happen, but it does.

What I do
Left click the picture icon.
select "View my Profile"

This take me to the MS profile page, which shows my picture (correctly?)
I selct the option underneath to change the picture, and then direct it to my HD stored picture - in your case, your cat.
For me -done

Just came back to add. I have filed this as a bug with MS, and discussed it on TechNet. It seems that it is not all who suffer, but Microsoft seem to be uable to recognise it as a problem.

It happens again. Generic picture above my name.
Your method of ....... View profile > Change Picture > browse to my Pictures folder > select the same picture (cat) > Open ......... does not work.

 

[davidhk129]

Never mind.
It's back to normal.

 

[davehc]

Mine comes and goes also, David. I just ignore it now.
Anyway, you have marked this as solved so we will see if anything develops.