Windows POP folders

Sorry to post this in a Mac forum, but it does relate. My Windows 7 laptop running WindowsLive is moving emails from the Inbox to a POP folder in the trash. The messages that stay briefly in the Inbox get pushed to my MacMail, but the POP folder contents do not. I want to be able to read ALL my mail on the iMac but I can't. My iPad, however can see the POP folders so I don't know if the problem is with IOS, OSX or Microsoft. Please help

What kind of mail account do you have setup with Windows Live? If it's a PoP 3 account, change it to IMAP and your problem will be solved. If Windows Live does not offer a free IMAP account, switch your mail ISP to GMail (Google) which is free and works well with both Windows and Mac OS X including mobile devices.

Thank you chscag for the quick reply ----- now, let me display my real stupidity and ask you how to change my POP3 account to IMAP ---- I have gone to the browser and logged on to WindowsLive, but I can't crack open the area to change settings.

Sorry, but someone else who is familiar with Windows Live will have to answer you as I no longer use Windows Live or Hotmail. I use GMail which is easy to switch.

I would think that Windows Live should have account setup instructions on line and an option to choose IMAP. As I stated before, it may not be free though.

Thanks again, chscag for your reply and advice ----- I have spent numerous hours on this task and have not resolved the issue ---- today I had the inbox populated for several hours and then, BOOM, everything dumped into a POP folder. I will now attempt to do what you have done and convert to gmail ---- I tried once before but my MACmail screen was full of MSN, Gmail, iCloud, etc. and I didn't know what I could safely delete. I have set the enable IMAP button in gmail and have set the "from" to be from my msn address ---- Can I now delete the MSN from my Macmail preferences