windows mail could not be started- MSOE.DLL could not be initializ

[Steve]

I downloaded, for backup purposes, all user documents into seperate user
folders onto my 4 GB flashdrive. I am now unable to open windows mail, but
the two other users are not having any trouble with windows mail. I have the
windows vista operating system.

 

[Steve]

Whoops! The above error code was (0x8000FFFF). I've had this computer & its
installed programs for over a year now and this problem only developed today-
immediately following my backup file copying. I downloaded only documents &
contacts for each of the users on my computer-- I was the only unlucky user
who received the error code messages.

 

[Gary VanderMolen [MVP]]

Which antivirus are you running? Some of them cause problems with
Windows Mail over time.

Make sure you have installed Vista's SP1 and SP2 updates.
If the problem continues, try running the various repair functions in
the WMUtil program: http://www.oehelp.com/WMUtil

 

[Sam Hobbs]

If you are sincerely asking for help, then you need to provide more than
just the error code. Copy the complete error message into the clipboard and
paste in a reply. There is critical information in the error message that
the experts need; it is unlikely they can help just from the error code
0x8000FFFF.

 

[Steve]

Thanks for your suggestion that I should provide the complete message they
were as follows: From WinMail.exe- “Windows Mail could not be started. The
application was unable to initialize the Windows Contacts. Your computer may
be out of memory or your disk is full. (0x08000FFFF)â€; and Windows Mail-
“Windows Mail could not be started because MSOE.DLL could not be initialized.â€

 

[Steve]

Gary, I have Norton Internet Security, but I didn't have any problems with
Windows Mail until I copied 3 user's documents & contacts from to my flash
drive. The other two user's Windows Mail are still ok. Also, yes I
installed Vista's SP1 and SP2 updates some time ago.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

Thank you, Steve. I can't help except I think the fact that "MSOE.DLL could
not be initialized" is an important clue. That is probably enough
information for one of the experts to help.

 

[Gary VanderMolen [MVP]]

You didn't address my recommendation regarding WMUtil.

The fact that the problem only started after copying to a flash drive
may well be coincidental. I don't see a relationship.

Norton security products are among the top three troublemakers for
Windows Mail. First, be sure to disable its email scanning, for the
reason explained here:
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm

Disabling Norton's email scanning is sometimes insufficient. If so,
do a trial uninstall, followed by using their debris removal tool:
http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

Instead of uninstalling your antivirus, another option is to upgrade to
Windows Live Mail, which is more resistant to the adverse effects of overly
intrusive antivirus products: http://download.live.com/wlmail

 

[Steve]

Gary, Sorry I took so long getting back. It's weird, but when I insert the
flash drive that I recently used to copy my documents & contacts, I am able
to access my windows mail. When I remove my flash drive & start windows, I
get the error messages.

 

[Gary VanderMolen [MVP]]

It is possible that you inadvertently changed the path to the message store.
Go to Tools, Options, Advanced, Maintenance, Store Folder. Does it say:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail
or does it point to the flash drive? If the latter, change it back to the
default location.

 

[Steve]

I inserted my flash drive in order to access my windows mail. I followed
your directions, but it said:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail. Now what?

If I went to windows mail in one of the two other user accounts (they both
work fine) would I then be able to discover useful clues that may assist me
in understanding what occurred to my user account?

 

[Gary VanderMolen [MVP]]

One other place to check:
Go to C:\Users\username and right-click on the Contacts folder, then
select Properties, Location. What does it show for location?
If anything other than C:\Users\username\Contacts, then use the
Move command to move it back to the correct location.

 

[Steve]

Gary, I did a right-click on the "Steve's Contacts" folder, selected
properties & the Steve's Contacts Properties box showed "location" as
C:\Users\Steve, but not C:\Users\Steve\Contacts. Did I do this correctly?

 

[Gary VanderMolen [MVP]]

How did that folder get to be named "Steve's Contacts"?
That's not normal. You need to use the 'Move' command to change
that location to C:\Users\Steve\Contacts.

 

[Steve]

I renamed this file to "Steve's contacts" just before I did the copying to my
flash drive, as I didn't want to confuse my contacts with the other contacts
for the other 2 users. I just renamed this file as "contacts" because I
didn't know what you meant by the 'move' command.

 

[Gary VanderMolen [MVP]]

That's not a file, it is a folder. Never rename folders on your hard drive
that were originally created by the operating system (Windows).
You can rename copies of system folders *after* copying them to your
flash drive.

So what happened after you renamed it to Contacts? If it still doesn't
work right, you'll have to correct the entry in the Location box as I
originally indicated. That entry must say "C:\Users\Steve\Contacts"
or else it won't work correctly.

 

[Steve]

Sorry, but I misunderstood your earlier instruction when you said to use the
‘move’ command.

What I did then was as follows- left clicks on: start, computer, HP (C,
Users, Steve; then right click on Contacts, left click on Properties, and
then changed ‘Steve’s Contacts’ to ‘Contacts’ (in the box above Type: File
Folder), click ok.

Location still shows C:\Users\Steve. How do I properly do the ‘move’
command to fix this folder?

 

[Steve]

I logged-out of my user account and logged-in to another user account. I
followed your instruction below and found the ‘Location’ tab. However, I
don’t have a location tab when opening my user account- when right clicking
onto 'Contacts'—only tabs are General, Sharing, Security & Customize. Why?

 

[Steve]

Gary, I figured the rest of this out myself & fixed my Windows Mail. With
the clue that the other user account’s had a ‘Location’ tab and I didn’t-- I
concluded that the ‘location’ tab must be SOMEWHERE. I then inserted my
flash drive & went to K:\users\Steve\. I then right clicked ‘Contacts’ and
there it was—the ‘Location’ tab. I simply hit ‘default’, apply, ok & I’m now
in business again—my username Windows Mail can now be opened from my hard
drive. Thanks for your help.

 

[Gary VanderMolen [MVP]]

You're welcome. Glad to hear your issue has been resolved.