The eM Client database is not located in C:\Program Files (x86). It’s located in your user profile hidden folder.
So just uninstall eM Client and as prev message (don’t delete the database) when asked on the eM Client uninstall wizard then there is no problem.
I get it. And those old setup files are probably worthless.
As in, they don’t interfere with anything and deleting them would get rid of some clutter.
If you have any old eg V6 or V7 eM Client setup.exe files I would just just delete them. Always best to use the latest version anyway as they are generally bug fixes and updates etc.
Well, I almost did it…
I uninstalled eM Client except for the database as you recommended and then installed again according to the download link you provided. All looked perfect until I was asked to provide a startup password. I made one up but was told it was not correct and I had the choice to try again or cancel. After trying again, I cancelled. Then it closed and I got a congratulations screen. However, there’s no icon on my desktop or task bar and no way to open it. I tried to create an icon but with no luck (I’m not sure of the correct way to do that). I checked to see if the app is listed with my programs, which it is, but I don’t know if it completely installed. Maybe it did but is still stuck on the password problem? (Sigh)
Ok sounds like the Password Protected Startup is in the hidden Database folder and not the actual program as i thought.
After searching this forum, i found a post on the following thread below how you can then get around the startup password via the eM Client “hidden roaming folder”.
startup password required - Initial setup - eM Client
Yes, there is a way, but you will lose some of the settings.
With eM Client closed, delete all of the following files in the C:\Users_yourusername_\AppData\Roaming\eM Client folder. You may have to enable hidden items in Windows Explorer to get there.
settings.dat-bak
settings.dat-wal
settings.dat-shm
When you restart eM Client, depending on how the email accounts are setup, you may have to re-enter those passwords, but all the data should be there.
Update. I was (miraculously) able to pin a shortcut icon to my task bar but when I click on it I get a pop-up that says “Application startup is password-protected. Please insert a password to continue.” It’s the exact same message I was getting from the previous installation and also at the end of the reinstallation.
For the background on how all this started: I got a message from AOL (I still use an old Verizon email account as well as my msn account) stating it would no longer support third-party email applications using outdated sign-in methods. I was given an option of removing and then reinstalling my AOL account into eM Client in order to update the sign-in security. However, I was afraid to do this, thinking it might make changes to the way my eM Client was set up. Another option was to generate a one-time password. I thought this would be safer, so I followed the online instructions which created a password for me to enter into eM Client. Well, I entered it where I saw a place to create a password… BAD choice. But not to worry, I thought. When the program wouldn’t let me in without entering a password, I just re-entered the same password. To my dismay, it wouldn’t accept it!! I was told it wasn’t valid. And thus my problem began.
Now I’ve come full circle. Before you ask: yes, I’ve tried entering that password again.
I see you replied before I finished my update. You are fast!
Thank you for helping once again.
I went into C:\Users_yourusername_\ but there is no AppData after that. Maybe I need to enable hidden items in Windows Explorer? I don’t know how to do that but I recall coming across it once.
Also, what are the account passwords Gary refers to?
Sorry to be such a pain!
Yes the AppData is a “Hidden folder”. To enable hidden folders using eg: File Explorer in Windows 10, click the “View Tab” at the top and then click the check box “Hidden Items” as per example below.
Also, what are the account passwords Gary refers to?
The Account passwords Gary refers to are “Your eM Client email account passwords” which are normally under “Menu / Accounts” in Windows when you setup your email accounts initally via either the automatic email wizard or manual email setup.
OK, I enabled hidden items. I’ll find the AppData but I just noticed the time… I should be sleeping! I totally lost track (how time flies when you’re having a good time 
). I’ll have to get back to this later. No doubt there will be more questions. Thank you so much for your guidance and patience. I don’t know why you do this but I’m truly grateful!
I found the correct eM Client file but there is only settings.dat-bak and not the other two. I would delete it and then see if I can open the program, but since the others don’t exist, I hesitate because I wonder if Gary really knew what he was talking about. I don’t want to make another mistake.
Yes @gary knows what he is talking about. He is a an eM Client moderator.
In my eM Client roaming folder V7 & V8 there is (three settings) files showing. You should have the same three. See my example below.
Note:- Copy these three settings files to another folder (if you are worried) before deleting them.
This is totally weird. The other two files didn’t show up until after I deleted settings.dat. So then I deleted them too but eM Client still asks for a password and then those two files reappear! I did note something else as well. When I try opening the program, a new file appears: check_db. Once I cancel the password request, it’s gone. The settings files I deleted stay in place.
Ok Sry that’s all I can offer to help you. I would suggest then (for now) to copy those three files then back where they were into that eM Client roaming folder till you get some more help.
Hopefully someone else on this forum can help you further.
You did your best. Thank you so much. I think I need to pay for the pro version of version 7 so that I can have an eM Client tech employee help me. On the website I can’t find how to get that. All I can find is Version 8.
Close eM Client, delete the three files, restart eM Client.
You won’t believe what happened. I had tried deleting the files as per your instructions with the results I gave in a message above. Then I left my computer for a few hours and when I returned, now all 3 of the files were showing at the same time… unreal. So I deleted them again, closed the folder, tried to restart eM Client, and this time it worked!
Now I’m back to having to create a new password for AOL. I think I should pay for the pro version in order to get someone to help me with that before I create another disaster. Can I get the pro without upgrading to eM Client 8?
Thanks to both of you, Gary and Cyberzork! You kept this old lady’s all-white hair from falling out. 
@snoozey Yes you can just buy an eM Client Pro license without upgrading to V8. Email [email protected] who will assist you.
Note:- If you buy a Pro License for eM Client 7, it cannot be used for V8 or V9 etc. Just so you are aware of that.
You can’t actually buy a version 7 license since the release of version 8. When you buy a license, it will be for the current (and all past) versions of eM Client.
Once you have purchased the license, you will need to activate it in eM Client, then just ignore any update offers to version 8. Or, contact us and we can limit it to version 7 for you.
Knowing me, I think the safest way is to have you limit the license to version 7. Please let me know how to start the process. Thanks.
