Boot win into safe mode, does Outlook now function?

"Paula" wrote in message
...
Outlook 2007 will not open. It gives me a message saying the file
C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\Outl ook.pst is in use and
cannot be accessed.

I've used the inbox repair tool which has been suggested in other posts.
This runs until near the very end when I receive a message saying that the
check cannot be completed.

Any suggestions to fix Outlook?