How to repair or re-install Outlook Express 6 ??

[Max]

Hello,

First a happy New Year for all of you!

I did a new installation of XP home, SP2 and SP3. I want to use Outlook
Express 6 but Firefox as browser. All went fine untill I downloaded a
whopping number of 35 updates through Windows automatic update; since then I
cannot open, neiter compose messages and I get a message that says Outlook
Express hasn't been configured properly and needs to be re-installed.
Switching OE-6 on and of in the Control Panel doen't work either. IE-6 still
works fine. The question is: how do I repair or re-install Outlook Express 6
?? I googled but it seems to be very difficult, I do not want to use 3rd
party stuff or another email program since OE-6 is the most convenient for me.

Thanks, Max.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Reinstalling OE isn't going to fix this problem.

I did a new installation of XP home, SP2 and SP3.

Why? Did you format & reinstall or did you do a Repair Install?

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)? Were any of these applications running
in the background when you installed SP2 and/or SP3?

I cannot open, [neither] compose messages and I get a message that says
Outlook Express hasn't been configured properly and needs to be
re-installed.

Post the complete error message, please.

Is MS Office and/or MS Outlook also installed?

 

[Max]

Thanks Robear Dyer,

Before replying your questions, OE6 is capable of recieving messages, but I
cannot open, nor reply to & forward any message. See below for my answers in
capitals:

Reinstalling OE isn't going to fix this problem.

I did a new installation of XP home, SP2 and SP3.

Why? MY PC WAS GETTING SLOW AND I WANTED TO CLEAN IT UP AND PARTION THE HD
IN A DIFFERENT WAY (C:\ FOR XP & OTHER SOFTWARE, D:\ FOR DOCUMENTS ETC.).
Did you format & reinstall or did you do a Repair Install? I DID A FULL
REFORMAT, PARTITIONING & REINSTALL OF XP, SP 2 & 3. OE6 WORKED FINE UNTIL
HAVING INSTALLED ALL THOSE WINDOWS UPDATES A WEEK LATER.

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? AVG FREE, I ALWAYS USED IT IN COMBINATION WITH OE6
WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.
What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? ONLY DEFENDER
What third-party firewall (if any)? NONE FIREWALL SINCE MY ADSL MODEM
ALREADY HAS ONE.
Were any of these applications running in the background when you installed
SP2 and/or SP3? NONE.

I cannot open, [neither] compose messages and I get a message that says
Outlook Express hasn't been configured properly and needs to be
re-installed.

Post the complete error message, please. MESSAGE IS IN DUTCH LANGUAGE. WHEN
I START OE 6 AND TRY TO OPEN A MESSAGE IT SAYS "AN ERROR HAPPENED DURING
OPENING OF THIS MESSAGE". WHEN I CLICK ON 'NEW MESSAGE', I GET THE SAME
NOTIFICATION. WHEN I CLICK ON 'ADDRESS BOOK', THEN I GET "CANNOT OPEN ADDRESS
BOOK, POSSIBLY THE ADDRESS BOOK HAS NOT BEEN INSTALLED PROPERLY" I.E., I GET
NO ERROR CODES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN I DOUBLE CLICK ON A SAVED EMAIL ON MY DESKTOP, THEN
I GET A MORE DETAILED MESSAGE: "CANNOT START OE, POSSIBLY IT HAS NOT BEEN
INSTALLED PROPERLY. TAKE CARE OF SUFFICIENT MEMORY ON YOUR DISK. CONTACT MS
HELPDESK FOR SUPPORT (0x8004104F)"
THERE IS NO ISSUE OF SUFFICIENT MEMORY ON MY DISK.

Is MS Office and/or MS Outlook also installed? NONE OF BOTH. I RUN OPEN
OFFICE, I ALWAYS USED IT IN COMBINATION WITH OE6 WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.

Thanks, Max.
=======================

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[X-post to OE General newsgroup]

=> Max, please do NOT post your replies inline or in all caps again. Thank
you.

None of the updates you've installed have caused this behavior...unless your
anti-virus application and/or any anti-spyware applications (other than
Defender) were running in the background and/or your third-party firewall
was enabled when you installed SP2 and SP3.

Had you backed-up your OE data prior to the format & reinstall and then
imported the data back into your new OE identity?

Did you test OE's functionality (a) before you installed SP2 or SP3 and/or
(b) before you imported any OE data (if you did so)?
===
The above notwithstanding, try the following, in order:

A. Address Book may have a Read Only attribute.

1. Enable "Show Hidden File & Folders" per this tutorial:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial62.html

2. Open Windows Explorer search (WinKey+F) | In the topmost Search box,
type...

*.WAB

then press the Search Now button.

3. Right-click on any WAB files found (e.g., NAME@WAB) | Select Properties |
Remove (uncheck) any "Read Only" attribute.

B. Test a new, user-created identity.

NB: If OE will not open, skip to letter C below!

1. Open OE | File | Identities | (select) Add new identity | Name the new
identity MAX.

2. Open OE to the new identity, configure at least one (1) of your Mail
accounts in it.

NB: Tools | Accounts | Mail | [account] | Properties | Advanced | Delivery |
Leave a copy of messages on the server: This option should be checked
(enabled) & all options underneath it should not be checked (disabled) while
you're testing.

3. See if you can successfully Compose a message to yourself (i.e., your
email address), Send & Receive it.

NB: If the new identity works, STOP HERE! ...then reply to this post and I
will give you further instructions.

========================

C. Disable OE, Edit Registry, Re-enable OE

[You will want to print or copy/paste these instructions into Notepad for
offline reference]

1. Close all applications (i.e., anything with an icon on the taskbar) or
reboot into Safe Mode (cf.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial61.html).

2. Start | Settings | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Add/Remove
Windows Components | clear the checkmark in front of Outlook Express | click
Next | click Finish.

3. Assuming Windows is installed on your C: drive, open Windows Explorer to

• C:\Program Files\Outlook Express <=this folder

Right-click on the folder & Rename to "OLD Outlook Express" (without the
quotes), then close Windows Explorer.

4a. Start | Run | REGEDIT | OK

4b. Navigate to, right-click on & DELETE the following six (6) keys, in
turn:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WAB

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed
Components\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed
Components\{7790769C-0471-11d2-AF11-00C04FA35D02}

4c. Close REGEDIT.

5. Start | Settings | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Add/Remove
Windows Components | check (enable) Outlook Express | click Next | click
Finish.

6. Reboot & test Outlook Express functionality.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Before replying your questions, OE6 is capable of recieving messages, but
I
cannot open, nor reply to & forward any message. See below for my answers
in
capitals:

Reinstalling OE isn't going to fix this problem.

I did a new installation of XP home, SP2 and SP3.

Why? MY PC WAS GETTING SLOW AND I WANTED TO CLEAN IT UP AND PARTION THE HD
IN A DIFFERENT WAY (C:\ FOR XP & OTHER SOFTWARE, D:\ FOR DOCUMENTS ETC.).
Did you format & reinstall or did you do a Repair Install? I DID A FULL
REFORMAT, PARTITIONING & REINSTALL OF XP, SP 2 & 3. OE6 WORKED FINE UNTIL
HAVING INSTALLED ALL THOSE WINDOWS UPDATES A WEEK LATER.

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? AVG FREE, I ALWAYS USED IT IN COMBINATION WITH OE6
WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.
What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? ONLY DEFENDER
What third-party firewall (if any)? NONE FIREWALL SINCE MY ADSL MODEM
ALREADY HAS ONE.
Were any of these applications running in the background when you
installed
SP2 and/or SP3? NONE.

I cannot open, [neither] compose messages and I get a message that says
Outlook Express hasn't been configured properly and needs to be
re-installed.

Post the complete error message, please. MESSAGE IS IN DUTCH LANGUAGE.
WHEN
I START OE 6 AND TRY TO OPEN A MESSAGE IT SAYS "AN ERROR HAPPENED DURING
OPENING OF THIS MESSAGE". WHEN I CLICK ON 'NEW MESSAGE', I GET THE SAME
NOTIFICATION. WHEN I CLICK ON 'ADDRESS BOOK', THEN I GET "CANNOT OPEN
ADDRESS BOOK, POSSIBLY THE ADDRESS BOOK HAS NOT BEEN INSTALLED PROPERLY"
I.E., I GET NO ERROR CODES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN I DOUBLE CLICK ON A SAVED EMAIL ON MY DESKTOP,
THEN
I GET A MORE DETAILED MESSAGE: "CANNOT START OE, POSSIBLY IT HAS NOT BEEN
INSTALLED PROPERLY. TAKE CARE OF SUFFICIENT MEMORY ON YOUR DISK. CONTACT
MS
HELPDESK FOR SUPPORT (0x8004104F)"
THERE IS NO ISSUE OF SUFFICIENT MEMORY ON MY DISK.

Is MS Office and/or MS Outlook also installed? NONE OF BOTH. I RUN OPEN
OFFICE, I ALWAYS USED IT IN COMBINATION WITH OE6 WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.

Thanks, Max.
=======================

 

[BillW50]

In PA Bear [MS MVP] typed on Sun, 4 Jan 2009 16:07:09 -0500:

[X-post to OE General newsgroup]

=> Max, please do NOT post your replies inline or in all caps again.
Thank you.

Some don't like top posting either. Since bottom posting was the standard
long before OE came along, why don't you use it? And top posting is for
email (for some), while bottom posting on newsgroups makes it easier for
others to follow. You don't read books from back to front, do you?

--
Bill
2 Gateway MX6124 - Windows XP SP2
3 Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
2 Asus EEE PC 702G8 ~ 1GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
Windows XP SP2 ~ Xandros Linux - Puppy - Ubuntu

 

[Sunny]

In PA Bear [MS MVP] typed on Sun, 4 Jan 2009 16:07:09 -0500:

[X-post to OE General newsgroup]

=> Max, please do NOT post your replies inline or in all caps again.
Thank you.

Some don't like top posting either. Since bottom posting was the
standard long before OE came along, why don't you use it? And top
posting is for email (for some), while bottom posting on newsgroups
makes it easier for others to follow. You don't read books from back to
front, do you?

I have yet to see a book that repeats the first-second-third etc.
chapters, at the start of each page either.
The only "fault" is laziness on the part of top or bottom posters.
IMHO

 

[BillW50]

In Sunny typed on Mon, 5 Jan 2009 08:51:45 +1000:

In PA Bear [MS MVP] typed on Sun, 4 Jan 2009 16:07:09 -0500:

[X-post to OE General newsgroup]

=> Max, please do NOT post your replies inline or in all caps again.
Thank you.

Some don't like top posting either. Since bottom posting was the
standard long before OE came along, why don't you use it? And top
posting is for email (for some), while bottom posting on newsgroups
makes it easier for others to follow. You don't read books from back
to front, do you?

I have yet to see a book that repeats the first-second-third etc.
chapters, at the start of each page either.
The only "fault" is laziness on the part of top or bottom posters.
IMHO

No I am with you. I feel inline is perfectly fine and makes a lot of sense.


--
Bill
2 Gateway MX6124 - Windows XP SP2
3 Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
2 Asus EEE PC 702G8 ~ 1GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
Windows XP SP2 ~ Xandros Linux - Puppy - Ubuntu

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Who asked you? <plonk>

In PA Bear [MS MVP] typed on Sun, 4 Jan 2009 16:07:09 -0500:

[X-post to OE General newsgroup]

=> Max, please do NOT post your replies inline or in all caps again.
Thank you.

Some don't like top posting either. Since bottom posting was the standard
long before OE came along, why don't you use it? And top posting is for
email (for some), while bottom posting on newsgroups makes it easier for
others to follow. You don't read books from back to front, do you?

 

[BillW50]

In PA Bear [MS MVP] typed on Sun, 4 Jan 2009 19:29:41 -0500:

Who asked you? <plonk>

In PA Bear [MS MVP] typed on Sun, 4 Jan 2009 16:07:09 -0500:

[X-post to OE General newsgroup]

=> Max, please do NOT post your replies inline or in all caps again.
Thank you.

Some don't like top posting either. Since bottom posting was the
standard long before OE came along, why don't you use it? And top
posting is for email (for some), while bottom posting on newsgroups
makes it easier for others to follow. You don't read books from back
to front, do you?

The same people who asked me to protect the little guy who gets attacked by
big bullies! Who are you to tell people what to do? What is the matter PA
Bear? Can't deal with somebody smarter and more intelligent than you? If you
feel differently, attack what I claim and have an intelligent conversation.
Quit acting like a child!

--
Bill
2 Gateway MX6124 - Windows XP SP2
3 Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
2 Asus EEE PC 702G8 ~ 1GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
Windows XP SP2 ~ Xandros Linux - Puppy - Ubuntu

 

[~BD~]

In PA Bear [MS MVP] typed on Sun, 4 Jan 2009 19:29:41 -0500:

Who asked you? <plonk>

The same people who asked me to protect the little guy who gets
attacked by big bullies! Who are you to tell people what to do? What
is the matter PA Bear? Can't deal with somebody smarter and more
intelligent than you? If you feel differently, attack what I claim and
have an intelligent conversation. Quit acting like a child!

--
Bill
2 Gateway MX6124 - Windows XP SP2
3 Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
2 Asus EEE PC 702G8 ~ 1GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
Windows XP SP2 ~ Xandros Linux - Puppy - Ubuntu

I'm getting to like you, Bill!

Dave

 

[BillW50]

In ~BD~ typed on Mon, 5 Jan 2009 01:15:33 -0000:

In PA Bear [MS MVP] typed on Sun, 4 Jan 2009 19:29:41 -0500:

Who asked you? <plonk>

The same people who asked me to protect the little guy who gets
attacked by big bullies! Who are you to tell people what to do? What
is the matter PA Bear? Can't deal with somebody smarter and more
intelligent than you? If you feel differently, attack what I claim
and have an intelligent conversation. Quit acting like a child!

I'm getting to like you, Bill!

Likewise Dave.

--
Bill
2 Gateway MX6124 - Windows XP SP2
3 Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
2 Asus EEE PC 702G8 ~ 1GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
Windows XP SP2 ~ Xandros Linux - Puppy - Ubuntu

 

[Max]

The posts from Sunny & Bill in this thread make no sense to me but thanks
Robear Dyer for your great effort! In reply to Robear's questions:

I first installed XP, SP2 and SP3 and then set up my internet connection,
downloaded & installed AVG antivirus & Defender. Then I created my Outlook
Express accounts and imported the backed up mail files and address book; it
worked fine until the installation of all the updates.

I checked the WAB files found and the "Read Only" attribute is unchecked.
I first tried your B method: I created a guest account and OE 6 works fine!
You asked me to stop there, so I wait for further instructions. I did nothing
with your C method yet.

Thanks, Max.
==================================

[X-post to OE General newsgroup]

=> Max, please do NOT post your replies inline or in all caps again. Thank
you.

None of the updates you've installed have caused this behavior...unless your
anti-virus application and/or any anti-spyware applications (other than
Defender) were running in the background and/or your third-party firewall
was enabled when you installed SP2 and SP3.

Had you backed-up your OE data prior to the format & reinstall and then
imported the data back into your new OE identity?

Did you test OE's functionality (a) before you installed SP2 or SP3 and/or
(b) before you imported any OE data (if you did so)?
===
The above notwithstanding, try the following, in order:

A. Address Book may have a Read Only attribute.

1. Enable "Show Hidden File & Folders" per this tutorial:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial62.html

2. Open Windows Explorer search (WinKey+F) | In the topmost Search box,
type...

*.WAB

then press the Search Now button.

3. Right-click on any WAB files found (e.g., NAME@WAB) | Select Properties |
Remove (uncheck) any "Read Only" attribute.

B. Test a new, user-created identity.

NB: If OE will not open, skip to letter C below!

1. Open OE | File | Identities | (select) Add new identity | Name the new
identity MAX.

2. Open OE to the new identity, configure at least one (1) of your Mail
accounts in it.

NB: Tools | Accounts | Mail | [account] | Properties | Advanced | Delivery |
Leave a copy of messages on the server: This option should be checked
(enabled) & all options underneath it should not be checked (disabled) while
you're testing.

3. See if you can successfully Compose a message to yourself (i.e., your
email address), Send & Receive it.

NB: If the new identity works, STOP HERE! ...then reply to this post and I
will give you further instructions.

========================

C. Disable OE, Edit Registry, Re-enable OE

[You will want to print or copy/paste these instructions into Notepad for
offline reference]

1. Close all applications (i.e., anything with an icon on the taskbar) or
reboot into Safe Mode (cf.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial61.html).

2. Start | Settings | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Add/Remove
Windows Components | clear the checkmark in front of Outlook Express | click
Next | click Finish.

3. Assuming Windows is installed on your C: drive, open Windows Explorer to

• C:\Program Files\Outlook Express <=this folder

Right-click on the folder & Rename to "OLD Outlook Express" (without the
quotes), then close Windows Explorer.

4a. Start | Run | REGEDIT | OK

4b. Navigate to, right-click on & DELETE the following six (6) keys, in
turn:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WAB

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed
Components\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed
Components\{7790769C-0471-11d2-AF11-00C04FA35D02}

4c. Close REGEDIT.

5. Start | Settings | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Add/Remove
Windows Components | check (enable) Outlook Express | click Next | click
Finish.

6. Reboot & test Outlook Express functionality.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Before replying your questions, OE6 is capable of recieving messages, but
I
cannot open, nor reply to & forward any message. See below for my answers
in
capitals:

Reinstalling OE isn't going to fix this problem.

I did a new installation of XP home, SP2 and SP3.

Why? MY PC WAS GETTING SLOW AND I WANTED TO CLEAN IT UP AND PARTION THE HD
IN A DIFFERENT WAY (C:\ FOR XP & OTHER SOFTWARE, D:\ FOR DOCUMENTS ETC.).
Did you format & reinstall or did you do a Repair Install? I DID A FULL
REFORMAT, PARTITIONING & REINSTALL OF XP, SP 2 & 3. OE6 WORKED FINE UNTIL
HAVING INSTALLED ALL THOSE WINDOWS UPDATES A WEEK LATER.

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? AVG FREE, I ALWAYS USED IT IN COMBINATION WITH OE6
WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.
What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? ONLY DEFENDER
What third-party firewall (if any)? NONE FIREWALL SINCE MY ADSL MODEM
ALREADY HAS ONE.
Were any of these applications running in the background when you
installed
SP2 and/or SP3? NONE.

I cannot open, [neither] compose messages and I get a message that says
Outlook Express hasn't been configured properly and needs to be
re-installed.

Post the complete error message, please. MESSAGE IS IN DUTCH LANGUAGE.
WHEN
I START OE 6 AND TRY TO OPEN A MESSAGE IT SAYS "AN ERROR HAPPENED DURING
OPENING OF THIS MESSAGE". WHEN I CLICK ON 'NEW MESSAGE', I GET THE SAME
NOTIFICATION. WHEN I CLICK ON 'ADDRESS BOOK', THEN I GET "CANNOT OPEN
ADDRESS BOOK, POSSIBLY THE ADDRESS BOOK HAS NOT BEEN INSTALLED PROPERLY"
I.E., I GET NO ERROR CODES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN I DOUBLE CLICK ON A SAVED EMAIL ON MY DESKTOP,
THEN
I GET A MORE DETAILED MESSAGE: "CANNOT START OE, POSSIBLY IT HAS NOT BEEN
INSTALLED PROPERLY. TAKE CARE OF SUFFICIENT MEMORY ON YOUR DISK. CONTACT
MS
HELPDESK FOR SUPPORT (0x8004104F)"
THERE IS NO ISSUE OF SUFFICIENT MEMORY ON MY DISK.

Is MS Office and/or MS Outlook also installed? NONE OF BOTH. I RUN OPEN
OFFICE, I ALWAYS USED IT IN COMBINATION WITH OE6 WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.

Thanks, Max.
=======================

Max wrote:
I did a new installation of XP home, SP2 and SP3. I want to use Outlook
Express 6 but Firefox as browser. All went fine untill I downloaded a
whopping number of 35 updates through Windows automatic update; since
then
I
cannot open, neiter compose messages and I get a message that says
Outlook
Express hasn't been configured properly and needs to be re-installed.
Switching OE-6 on and of in the Control Panel doen't work either. IE-6
still
works fine. The question is: how do I repair or re-install Outlook
Express
6
?? I googled but it seems to be very difficult, I do not want to use 3rd
party stuff or another email program since OE-6 is the most convenient
for
me.

Thanks, Max.

 

[BillW50]

In Max typed on Sun, 4 Jan 2009 20:13:15 -0800:

The posts from Sunny & Bill in this thread make no sense to me...

All very advanced stuff that *most* won't understand. What else can I say?

--
Bill
2 Gateway MX6124 - Windows XP SP2
3 Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
2 Asus EEE PC 702G8 ~ 1GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
Windows XP SP2 ~ Xandros Linux - Puppy - Ubuntu

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Hoople-Headed net-nanny.

: Some don't like top posting either. Since bottom posting was the standard
: long before OE came along, why don't you use it? And top posting is for
: email (for some), while bottom posting on newsgroups makes it easier for
: others to follow. You don't read books from back to front, do you?
:
: --
: Bill
: 2 Gateway MX6124 - Windows XP SP2
: 3 Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
: 2 Asus EEE PC 702G8 ~ 1GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC
: Windows XP SP2 ~ Xandros Linux - Puppy - Ubuntu
:
:

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

I checked the WAB files found and the "Read Only" attribute is unchecked.

I first tried your B method: I created a guest account and OE 6 works
fine!

Assuming you mean that you created a new identity in your WinXP User Profile
(vs a new identity in another User Profile or log-on) and that you can now
open OE to the old identity:

(1) Compact all folders in the old identity, (2) import messages from the
old identity into the new one (cf.
http://www.insideoe.com/faqs/how.htm#importOE5), and then (3) delete the old
one via File | Identities | Manage Identities.

=> Why did you run into this problem? Probably because you hadn't been
adhering to the following caveats and you hadn't compacted all OE folders
before creating your backup.

To avoid such corruption in future:

- Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
folders created for this purpose.

- Empty Deleted Items folder daily.

- Frequently perform a manual compact of all OE folders while "working
offline". More at http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm

- Do not cancel Automatic Compacting, should it occur, and do not attempt to
close OE via Task Manager or shutdown your machine if Automatic Compacting
is taking place.

- Disable email scanning by your anti-virus application. It can cause
corruption (i.e., loss of messages) and provides no additional protection:

Why you don't need your anti-virus to scan your email
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

The posts from Sunny & Bill in this thread make no sense to me but thanks
Robear Dyer for your great effort! In reply to Robear's questions:

I first installed XP, SP2 and SP3 and then set up my internet connection,
downloaded & installed AVG antivirus & Defender. Then I created my Outlook
Express accounts and imported the backed up mail files and address book;
it
worked fine until the installation of all the updates.

I checked the WAB files found and the "Read Only" attribute is unchecked.
I first tried your B method: I created a guest account and OE 6 works
fine!
You asked me to stop there, so I wait for further instructions. I did
nothing with your C method yet.

Thanks, Max.
==================================

[X-post to OE General newsgroup]

=> Max, please do NOT post your replies inline or in all caps again.
Thank
you.

None of the updates you've installed have caused this behavior...unless
your anti-virus application and/or any anti-spyware applications (other
than Defender) were running in the background and/or your third-party
firewall was enabled when you installed SP2 and SP3.

Had you backed-up your OE data prior to the format & reinstall and then
imported the data back into your new OE identity?

Did you test OE's functionality (a) before you installed SP2 or SP3
and/or
(b) before you imported any OE data (if you did so)?
===
The above notwithstanding, try the following, in order:

A. Address Book may have a Read Only attribute.

1. Enable "Show Hidden File & Folders" per this tutorial:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial62.html

2. Open Windows Explorer search (WinKey+F) | In the topmost Search box,
type...

*.WAB

then press the Search Now button.

3. Right-click on any WAB files found (e.g., NAME@WAB) | Select
Properties
| Remove (uncheck) any "Read Only" attribute.

B. Test a new, user-created identity.

NB: If OE will not open, skip to letter C below!

1. Open OE | File | Identities | (select) Add new identity | Name the new
identity MAX.

2. Open OE to the new identity, configure at least one (1) of your Mail
accounts in it.

NB: Tools | Accounts | Mail | [account] | Properties | Advanced |
Delivery
| Leave a copy of messages on the server: This option should be checked
(enabled) & all options underneath it should not be checked (disabled)
while you're testing.

3. See if you can successfully Compose a message to yourself (i.e., your
email address), Send & Receive it.

NB: If the new identity works, STOP HERE! ...then reply to this post and
I
will give you further instructions.

========================

C. Disable OE, Edit Registry, Re-enable OE

[You will want to print or copy/paste these instructions into Notepad for
offline reference]

1. Close all applications (i.e., anything with an icon on the taskbar) or
reboot into Safe Mode (cf.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial61.html).

2. Start | Settings | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Add/Remove
Windows Components | clear the checkmark in front of Outlook Express |
click Next | click Finish.

3. Assuming Windows is installed on your C: drive, open Windows Explorer
to

• C:\Program Files\Outlook Express <=this folder

Right-click on the folder & Rename to "OLD Outlook Express" (without the
quotes), then close Windows Explorer.

4a. Start | Run | REGEDIT | OK

4b. Navigate to, right-click on & DELETE the following six (6) keys, in
turn:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WAB

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed
Components\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed
Components\{7790769C-0471-11d2-AF11-00C04FA35D02}

4c. Close REGEDIT.

5. Start | Settings | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Add/Remove
Windows Components | check (enable) Outlook Express | click Next | click
Finish.

6. Reboot & test Outlook Express functionality.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Before replying your questions, OE6 is capable of recieving messages,
but
I
cannot open, nor reply to & forward any message. See below for my
answers
in
capitals:

Reinstalling OE isn't going to fix this problem.

I did a new installation of XP home, SP2 and SP3.

Why? MY PC WAS GETTING SLOW AND I WANTED TO CLEAN IT UP AND PARTION THE
HD
IN A DIFFERENT WAY (C:\ FOR XP & OTHER SOFTWARE, D:\ FOR DOCUMENTS
ETC.).
Did you format & reinstall or did you do a Repair Install? I DID A FULL
REFORMAT, PARTITIONING & REINSTALL OF XP, SP 2 & 3. OE6 WORKED FINE
UNTIL
HAVING INSTALLED ALL THOSE WINDOWS UPDATES A WEEK LATER.

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? AVG FREE, I ALWAYS USED IT IN COMBINATION WITH OE6
WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.
What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? ONLY DEFENDER
What third-party firewall (if any)? NONE FIREWALL SINCE MY ADSL MODEM
ALREADY HAS ONE.
Were any of these applications running in the background when you
installed
SP2 and/or SP3? NONE.

I cannot open, [neither] compose messages and I get a message that says
Outlook Express hasn't been configured properly and needs to be
re-installed.

Post the complete error message, please. MESSAGE IS IN DUTCH LANGUAGE.
WHEN
I START OE 6 AND TRY TO OPEN A MESSAGE IT SAYS "AN ERROR HAPPENED DURING
OPENING OF THIS MESSAGE". WHEN I CLICK ON 'NEW MESSAGE', I GET THE SAME
NOTIFICATION. WHEN I CLICK ON 'ADDRESS BOOK', THEN I GET "CANNOT OPEN
ADDRESS BOOK, POSSIBLY THE ADDRESS BOOK HAS NOT BEEN INSTALLED PROPERLY"
I.E., I GET NO ERROR CODES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN I DOUBLE CLICK ON A SAVED EMAIL ON MY DESKTOP,
THEN
I GET A MORE DETAILED MESSAGE: "CANNOT START OE, POSSIBLY IT HAS NOT
BEEN
INSTALLED PROPERLY. TAKE CARE OF SUFFICIENT MEMORY ON YOUR DISK. CONTACT
MS
HELPDESK FOR SUPPORT (0x8004104F)"
THERE IS NO ISSUE OF SUFFICIENT MEMORY ON MY DISK.

Is MS Office and/or MS Outlook also installed? NONE OF BOTH. I RUN OPEN
OFFICE, I ALWAYS USED IT IN COMBINATION WITH OE6 WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.

Thanks, Max.
=======================

Max wrote:
I did a new installation of XP home, SP2 and SP3. I want to use
Outlook
Express 6 but Firefox as browser. All went fine untill I downloaded a
whopping number of 35 updates through Windows automatic update; since
then
I
cannot open, neiter compose messages and I get a message that says
Outlook
Express hasn't been configured properly and needs to be re-installed.
Switching OE-6 on and of in the Control Panel doen't work either. IE-6
still
works fine. The question is: how do I repair or re-install Outlook
Express
6
?? I googled but it seems to be very difficult, I do not want to use
3rd
party stuff or another email program since OE-6 is the most convenient
for
me.

Thanks, Max.