My Mail program has gone south on Leopard on my 27-month old Macbook. I can't send, even though the server details are correct. I tried reinstalling from the install DVD - but no go: no longer compatible, evidently.. What to do?

Question

My Mail program has gone south on Leopard on my 27-month old Macbook. I can't send, even though the server details are correct. I tried reinstalling the Mail program from the install DVD, but no go; apparently that two-year old Mail is no longer compatible with my up-to-date Leopard. I tried deleting the account (hotmail) from Mail and setting up a different account (Yahoo). After loading all the inbox two things happened: first, I still couldn't send, and second, when I closed the Mail window the whole inbox then disappeared and doesn't come back. Although I couldn't reinstall the Mail program from the install DVD, would it still be possible to reinstall the whole system from that DVD? If I do, will I lose files or will there be another problem since that DVD is now over two years old?
Thanks for any suggestions; they will be much appreciated.
P.S. I've just noticed that now I can't change the desktop picture: I go through the motions in Preferences, but the new picture doesn't appear on the desktop. Is there a systemic problem?

Answer 1

You are waiting for an apology to something that happened over a year ago? Really? This is why there is a manager in the store. You have a problem with an employee you speak to the manager. Just like you did on the phone. You would have gotten your apology in July 2013.
Here is the information about your upgrade fee.
Upgrade Fee
It is because when you have a problem you (customers) go running to the store and want to take up the time of the reps to fix it. Other carriers have third parties that deal with technical support and those locations are few and far between. VZW provides this directly through their stores. Also, when you subsidize a $650 and pay $200 VZW has to pay $400. Your monthly service fee doesn't begin to scratch the surface of paying that back. Not with all the money that is put into the network and its improvements.
Then over a year later you get someone on the phone who apologized and offered to waive the fee on your phone and you didn't take it? That offer won't come down the pike again.
One thing you should know is that all these employees are people and as such they sometimes come off cross. I doubt that you speak to everyone so sweetly all the time. Cut them a little slack and put this whole thing behind you after 15 months. Either upgrade with VZW or move on.