Windows Mail breaking (hidden dependency?)

[Gensou]

I've been wracking my brain trying to remove as many Apps without breaking Windows Mail to no avail.
Apparently Windows Mail depends on one of the below windows apps, because I went section by section and removed components on live host until windows mail broke.

3DViewer?
Advertising.XML?
Alarms?
BingWeather?
Calculator?
Camera?
FeedbackHub?
GetHelp?
Maps?
Office.OneNote?
OfficeHub?
OneConnect?
Paint 3D?
Photos?
Print3D?
SkypeApp?
SolitaireCollection?
SoundRecorder?
StickyNotes?
Tips?

I thought it would be possible to use the host refresh feature to re-install the above components one by one until Windows Mail app is working again but I'm not sure how to do that (I get an error attempting host refresh).
Perhaps somebody knows which of these apps are required for Mail to function (it just instantly closes when trying to open).

Thanks.

 

[nuhi]

Thanks for the report.
Will check on it tomorrow.
In the meantime, if you read this before I'm done, when you say Mail is not working - does it open Store for you to reinstall it, or it crashes, do you add an account first?
Also if you could attach the preset which you use to get to that point where those app influence it, it would be great.
I tried quickly to remove all apps (while keeping the Store compatibility and all other components) and it worked (started).

 

[Gensou]

Thanks for the report.
Will check on it tomorrow.
In the meantime, if you read this before I'm done, when you say Mail is not working - does it open Store for you to reinstall it, or it crashes, do you add an account first?
Also if you could attach the preset which you use to get to that point where those app influence it, it would be great.
I tried quickly to remove all apps (while keeping the Store compatibility and all other components) and it worked (started).

Hey, thanks for getting back to me. I am thinking it must have something to do with update KB4346783 that breaks Mail and Calendar if you have something removed. Because, I did a fresh install and paused updates (to not install the Cumulative update) and removed windows apps 1 by 1, checking if it will break mail - It didn't. Then, I went ahead and installed the update and windows mail still worked. But, if I were to install the update first and then start removing windows apps, mail breaks. I also downloaded the KB4346783 package and slipstreamed the update into the ISO with components removed. When I got to desktop, windows mail opened fine and prompted me to log in. I logged in, synced mail, closed the app, opened it again and it instantly crashed. Here's a video of the issue.

and I've attached my preset.

Edit: EventViewer shows an Error in Administrative Events every time I try to open Mail:
"The server microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_16005.10730.20084.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe!microsoft.windowslive.mail did not register with DCOM within the required timeout."

Edit 2: I removed mail app using NTLite and kept Store. Reinstalled Mail using Store and was able to open the app and get to the email sign-in screen. Closed and re-opened the mail app several times without signing in and eventually Mail started crashing again as you see in my video above.

 

[nuhi]

Thanks for the detailed feedback.

In RS5 "Advertising.XML" is only needed from the removed apps.
There are dependencies in the Apps that are currently not shown, will have to improve that.

But for RS4 I am testing now, just found out that it's not the same, it does start after removing the mentioned app.

 

[nuhi]

Aah figured it out, it is the Mail update from the Store that makes it dependable on the Advertising.XML component.
That is why we didn't see the crash always, your tip about the Store reinstalling the App was the key.

Also I recommend to enable the Core Metro Support Compatibility option, you're currently removing one of those. Let me know why.

Thanks, hopefully it is working for you now with the mentioned component kept.

 

[Gensou]

Aah figured it out, it is the Mail update from the Store that makes it dependable on the Advertising.XML component.
That is why we didn't see the crash always, your tip about the Store reinstalling the App was the key.

Also I recommend to enable the Core Metro Support Compatibility option, you're currently removing one of those. Let me know why.

Thanks, hopefully it is working for you now with the mentioned component kept.

Nuhi,

I have left Advertising.XML untouched, reinstalled Windows, updated Mail, and it broke once again. I think there are more dependencies than just Advertising.XML. Something in Mail and Calendar 16005.10730.20084.1000 update is breaking Mail.

As for disabling Core Metro Support compatibility, I disable it to remove XboxIdentityProvider as I have no use for any xbox service.

 

[nuhi]

Hm, I cannot replicate that.
Can you please attach the breaking preset with the Advertising kept. And does it break before or after Store updates?
Don't forget to enable Core Metro Compatibility, you do remove one extra component from the protected list with your previous preset.

Thanks.

 

[Gensou]

Hm, I cannot replicate that.
Can you please attach the breaking preset with the Advertising kept. And does it break before or after Store updates?
Don't forget to enable Core Metro Compatibility, you do remove one extra component from the protected list with your previous preset.

Thanks.

Hi Nuhi,
I was able to reproduce the bug on my thinkpad t450s with the attached preset. OS Build: 17134.254 (KB4346783), Windows Mail and Calendar 16005.10730.20084.1000.

With the attached preset I was unable to log into gmail before mail update (
we're sorry but we weren't able to do that. error code 0x8000000b). After updating Mail, it began crashing like in the video I previously linked.

 

[nuhi]

Hi Gensou,

thanks, still cannot replicate it, tried everything exactly - Education + CU + public version and pre-release version, and Live and Offline.
Gonna send you the link to the pre-release version which has more fixes, just in case.

Btw was that laptop Host Refreshed or freshly installed? Just asking to find a potential difference.
And I suggest to add the Servicing Stack update as well, when you are updating the OS. You can get the list of updates with the NTLite 1.7 beta (or the pre-release I'm sending), more info here.

 

[Gensou]

Hi Gensou,

thanks, still cannot replicate it, tried everything exactly - Education + CU + public version and pre-release version, and Live and Offline.
Gonna send you the link to the pre-release version which has more fixes, just in case.

Btw was that laptop Host Refreshed or freshly installed? Just asking to find a potential difference.
And I suggest to add the Servicing Stack update as well, when you are updating the OS. You can get the list of updates with the NTLite 1.7 beta (or the pre-release I'm sending), more info here.

Nuhi,
thank you for being so patient with me and taking the time to troubleshoot my issue.
I used pre-release NTLite and slipstreamed all the available updates and voila - windows mail isn't breaking.
I am not exactly sure what the issue was but everything is working well (even with core metro services locked XboxIdentityProvider removed).

Thanks,
Gen

 

[nuhi]

That's great.
I'll reply to you about the hang on the PM to fix that too.
Thanks for the feedback.

 

[nuhi]

Let me know if the issue is resolved for you with the build 6500+.
Thanks.