Can't load Outlook Express after SP2 Install

[balnotbias]

SP2 caused my XP Pro system's copy of Outlook Express to
hang. When OE is invoked, all I get is the Internet
Properties box. All tabs look OK except
Connections/Settings. Here it insists on automatically
putting in a different and longer password for my ISP
logon (ADSL LAN) in place of of the correct one. This
prevents OE from connecting to my ISP with a message
saying that my login or password is incorrect. However,
when I overwrite the password with the correct one, OE,
or SP2, or something, overwrites it with the wrong one
again! The same problem occurred with Internet Explorer,
but overwriting the correct password fixed that problem,
proof that the password I'm using is the correct one.
Most bizarre. Any ideas?

 

[Jetro]

This is rather a masked password to fool a potential cracker.
Do you have any aDSL software and antivirus installed?

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

SP2 caused my XP Pro system's copy of Outlook Express to
hang. When OE is invoked, all I get is the Internet
Properties box. All tabs look OK except
Connections/Settings. Here it insists on automatically
putting in a different and longer password for my ISP
logon (ADSL LAN) in place of of the correct one. This
prevents OE from connecting to my ISP with a message
saying that my login or password is incorrect. However,
when I overwrite the password with the correct one, OE,
or SP2, or something, overwrites it with the wrong one
again! The same problem occurred with Internet Explorer,
but overwriting the correct password fixed that problem,
proof that the password I'm using is the correct one.
Most bizarre. Any ideas?

A particularly nice strain of adware or a virus perhaps?

Hans-Georg