Some more diagnostic questions:

1. Start Settings Control Panel Security Center: What does Security
Center report for the status of (a) your anti-virus application, (b) your
firewall, and (c) Automatic Updates?

2a. What anti-virus application is installed? Is your subscription current
and are its definitions current?

2b. What anti-spyware application(s) do you use that provide real-time
protection (e.g., Defender, Spysweeper, etc.)?

2c. Are you using a third-party firewall (e.g., ZoneAlarm) or the Windows
Firewall? If the former, what is its name and version, please?

3a. Start Settings Control Panel Add/Remove Programs Make sure the
"Show Updates" box is checked (top, right) Scroll down to "Windows
Internet Explorer 7 - Software Updates" Are there any listings under here
similar to "Security Update for Windows Internet Explorer 7 (KB123456)"? If
so, write them down along with the Install date for each one and post this
information in your next reply.

3b. Start Settings Control Panel Add/Remove Programs Make sure the
"Show Updates" box is checked (top, right) Scroll down towards the very
bottom Write down the last five (5) "Security Updates for Windows XP
(KB123456)" and the Install date for each one and post this information in
your next reply.

4. Earlier in this thread I suggested uninstalling IE7 (which automatically
returns you to IE6). Had you tried this yet? **NB: That's just a
question!** Please don't attempt to uninstall IE7 now.
--
~PA Bear

Tim wrote:
I created a new user profile, limited use, and the same problem; I create
an
identity but as soon as it tries to connect OE stops responding. I
created
another profile, administrator, and the same problem; create but can't
connect.

"PA Bear" wrote:

Yes, I'm referring to User Profiles. Create a new User Profile and see
if
you can create/use multiple identities in it. [If not, more drastic
measures will be required.]

Related: Ideally, each family member should be using their own,
password-protected User Profile, and unless you're running WinXP Home,
none
of you should be running /as/ Administrator.

Shared Computer Toolkit for WinXP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/s.../overview.mspx
--
~PA Bear

Tim wrote:
Profile? If you're referring to user profiles on the machine, I only
have
one.

"PA Bear" wrote:

Do you think the problem is with the ISP?

No. Forget I asked the question.

Do you have any problems creating and using one or more new identities
in
a
new/another User Profile, Tim?
--
~PA Bear

Tim wrote:
My ISP is TDSMetrocom. This is where I already have two e-mail
addresses.
My business web site is hosted by Yahoo!, where I have one address.
Do
you
think the problem is with the ISP?
--
"PA Bear" wrote:
Who's your ISP, Tim?

Tim wrote:
Right now my wife and I have separate identities (I want to add one
for
my
daughter) and I have an identity for my business (I want to add one
for
a
different department in the business).

I was afraid you were going to say something along the lines, "That
being
said, /something/ is amiss in the current User Profile. What's
wrong
is
still TBD", I was hoping you had a magic bullet in your pocket.

I checked with the mail providers again and everything is 'fine' on
their
end and the addresses I have with them are okay. They both say the
problem
is with OE and they can't do anything about that.

"PA Bear" wrote:

I know I can have multiple mail accounts per identity, but would
that
also
allow me to have different names in the 'From:' when I send an
e-mail?

Yes, just double-click on FROM.

OE will use the default mail account when beginning a new message.
When
Replying to or Forwarding a message, OE will use the account to
which
the
original message was sent.

To avoid confusion and afford some privacy, it would probably be
preferable
for each of you to have your own, password-protected User Profile
and,
therefore, your own identity in which is running only your mail
account.

That being said, /something/ is amiss in the current User Profile.
What's
wrong is still TBD.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org


Tim wrote:
I just checked versions, all three are 6.00.2900.3028
[xpsp_sp2_gdr.061107-0012].

I know I can have multiple mail accounts per identity, but would
that
also
allow me to have different names in the 'From:' when I send an
e-mail?

"PA Bear" wrote:

OE Help About Files: What versions of MSOE.DLL, INETCOMM.DLL
and
DIRECTDB.DLL are listed here (e.g., v6.00.1234.5678)?

2) I'm creating the new identities because I need additionally
e-mail
addresses.

Have you obtained new email addresses from Yahoo and TDS? (You
can't
just
make up a new one and plug it into OE Accounts Mail.) If you
have,
do
they work OK in one of the existing identities? (Do you
understand
that
you can have quite a number of mail accounts running in one (1)
identity?)

What about #5?
--
~PA Bear


Tim wrote:
1) Tried it. OE starts with the new identity and then stops
responding.
2) I'm creating the new identities because I need additionally
e-mail
addresses.
3) I added the accounts to the existing identities and things
work
fine.
4) OE stops responding whenever I switch to it, I don't have the
opportunity
to import.

I haven't tried uninstalling IE7, I will now.

"PA Bear" wrote:

More diagnostic questions...

OE File Identities Manage identities Use this identity
when
starting
a
program/Use this identity when a program cannot ask... If
you
enable
this
option and select the new identity in each of the boxes, does
OE
open
to
the
new identity [and work OK]?

1. Have you tested the above?

I already have one identity using the Yahoo! server and two
using
TDS.

2. Assuming the above 2 identities are working OK, may I ask
why
you're
attempting to create 2 new identities which appear to be the
equivalent
of
the original 2?

3. If you add the TDS account to the first identity above (the
one
running
Yahoo only), is everything OK? If you add the Yahoo account to
the
second
identity above (the one running TDS only), is everything OK?

4a. If you export an IAF file for the Yahoo account from the
working
identity and then import it into the new identity (instead of
adding
the
account manually), is everything OK?

4b. If you export an IAF file for the TDS account from the
working
identity
and then import it into the new identity (instead of adding the
account
manually), is everything OK?

To export an IAF file: Tools Accounts Mail Highlight
(select)
the
account Export ...
To import an IAF file: Tools Accounts Mail Highlight
(select)
the
account Import ...

5. Start Run Regedit [OK]

Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities

How many subkeys are underneath the above key? (Each subkey's
{GUID}
corresponds to 1 identity and its store;
http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#storemain.)

6. If no joy with anything above: If you uninstall IE7, does
this
behavior
persist?

Uninstalling IE7 (which automatically returns you to IE6)
http://www.ie-vista.com/kbase2.html

How to uninstall Internet Explorer 7:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927177

IE7 (Un)Installation and Anti-Malware Applications:
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/200...lications.aspx
--
~PA Bear

Tim wrote:
Right, I can create a new identity, OE stops responding
whenever
I
try
to
use it. My original identities (3) work just fine, but they
were
all
created before I installed IE7.

I have noticed that when OE stops responding with this new
identity
the
status bar still says 'Connecting'. I have contacted both
Yahoo!
and
TDS
(e-mail hosts) and they have assured me that the e-mail
address
I
set
on
their respective server was correct.

I already have one identity using the Yahoo! server and two
using
TDS.
I
am
now trying to create two new indentities; one using Yahoo! and
one
using
TDS. The same problem happens with both of them. The only
commonalities
are
OE6/IE7, my machine and the opeator (me); with OE6/IE7 being
the
new
kid
on
the block.

"PA Bear" wrote:
In a reply to Steve, Tim wrote:
Thanks, that took care of the link problem, but I still have
the
original
one; I can't create new identities is OE 6.

No, you said you can create a new identity but it (or OE)
stops
responding:

...When I try to create a new identity, I get through the
process, click "Finish" and OE 6 stops responding. When I
restart
the
software and switch to the new identity it immediately stops
responding.

Tim, how is your original identity working currently? Did
this
problem
switching identities exist before you installed IE7?

OE File Identities Manage identities Use this identity
when
starting
a program/Use this identity when a program cannot ask... If
you
enable
this option and select the new identity in each of the boxes,
does
OE
open
to the new identity?
--