Lets try this method.

1) Start Computer
2) Open the control panel (Start Control Panel)
3) Open the mail applet (if it isn't showing click on the "classic view"
link in the upper left to see all applets in the control panel)
4) Select Show Profiles
5) Select Add button and create a new profile with your mail account details
6) When done with the above, delete the old mail profile
7) OK out and close the control panel
8) Does Outlook start at this point?

"Laura" wrote in message
...
I purchased a computer that had a trial version of Microsoft Teacher (?) I
then purchased Microsoft Professional XP. I have uninstalled the previous
version and installed the XP version. Everything works now except
Outlook.
I have tried uninstalling, restarting, reinstalling, and then restarting
to
no avail. I deleted my accounts for outlook and re-entered them. The
test
said it was working but now when I try to open Outlook, I get the message
"Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Unable to display the selected folder or
item. Could not open the item. Try again." Before I deleted my email
accounts it gave me a message saying it couldn't open my default folders
and
would make my outlook display what I assume to be my hard drive (?). I
don't
know the technical names for these things...does anyone know what I'm
talking
about and how to fix it?