My OE6 suddenly won't open.
I get the message that an instance of the program is already running,
and to restart my computer.

However, when I do that., OE6 still doesn't open and the same message
appears...

Help!! selene

What is your operating system? (Windows 2000, XP, etc.) Look for a file
called msoe.dll and report the version number of it you find (right click on
the file, selecting Properties and Version tab).

That type of message usually indicates that the message store folder is
corrupted. How long since you last compacted your message store folder?

When (and if) you post back with the info above, someone can try to help
you.
--
Jim Pickering, MVP, Outlook Express
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pr...8-1171988A62D6
Please deliver feedback to the newsgroup, so that others can be helped.


"selene" wrote in message
ups.com...
My OE6 suddenly won't open.
I get the message that an instance of the program is already running,
and to restart my computer.

However, when I do that., OE6 still doesn't open and the same message
appears...

Help!! selene

Hi Selene,

I don't have a definitive answer, but we can make a start.

Before starting OE (Msimn.exe) check in Task Manager to see if it is
running.

End the Msimn.exe process:
1.Start Task Manager by right-clicking an open space on the taskbar, and
then clicking Task Manager on the shortcut menu.
2.In Task Manager, look at the active processes that are running on the
computer; locate the process named Msimn.exe.
3.End the Msimn.exe process.

Do you use any 3rd-party filtering software?

For Future Reference
First see if someone has a specific suggestion.

General Information

There are a few reasons for Outlook Express not starting. It is sometimes
possible to fix a small problem by compacting messages (Tools, Options,
Maintenance, Clean-up Now. Do not use automatic compacting because it
can more readily lead to corruption of data. It is best to do compacting in
offline mode. DO NOT close Outlook Express while compacting.

1. 3rd-party filtering software
The AVG anti-virus message scan plug-in was once a cause. Do not use the
message scan feature. The A-V using normal system scan will still protect
the PC.

2. Damage to a DBX file.
There is sometimes an error message, but when this is absent finding the
(possibly) bad DBX file becomes a guessing game. The problem could be with
Outbox.dbx, Sent Items.dbx, Inbox.dbx or other file. These can be
renamed one at a time. After renaming one try starting Outlook Express.
(see below)

All the files can be moved from the store folder to a new "Mail Backup"
folder on the desktop leaving the message store folder empty. This might
allow Outlook Express to start if the problem is in one or more of the DBX
files.

3. Corruption in the registry for the Outlook Express identity.
It is sometimes possible to create a new identity, and then import
messages from the old identity. This may not be an option.

From the Microsoft KB: Regenerating the Identities Registry Key
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;258034

4. Damage to the Outlook Express installed program.
Outlook Express may need to be reinstalled. Back-up the store folder
holding the DBX files before doing anything. Create a new folder on the
desktop to hold ALL the DBX files.

More Information

This behavior can occur if the client mail store contains a damaged .dbx
file. The damaged file is probably Outbox.dbx, Inbox.dbx, or Sent Items.dbx.

To resolve this behavior, remove the damaged .dbx file:

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click

Windows Explorer.
2. In Windows Explorer, on the Tools menu, point to Find, and then click

Files or Folders.
3. You may need to include hidden files and folders (Windows 2000 and XP).
4. Type Outbox.dbx in the Named box, and then click Find Now.
5. Right-click the file name, and then click Rename.
6. Rename the file to Outbox.old. It is also safe to delete the file. A new
file

will be created when Outlook Express starts.

Note that deleting a .dbx file also deletes any e-mail messages or other
data in the folder.

OLEXP: How to Back Up and Recover Outlook Express Data

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;270670

Backup and Restore
http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com



How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in
Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winxp

The second method works for Win 98 and other later Windows operating
systems.


--
Tim K.
aka Kuay Tim
MS-MVP - Outlook Express
Lynnwood, WA
*
"selene" wrote in message
ups.com...
My OE6 suddenly won't open.
I get the message that an instance of the program is already running,
and to restart my computer.

However, when I do that., OE6 still doesn't open and the same message
appears...

Help!! selene

Jim -- Thank you --

Here's the missing info: I use WinXP

I have 2 msoe.dll files:

\Program Files\Outlook Express with msoe.dll version
6.0.2900.2869

\Program Files\WINDOWS\Outlook Express with msoe.dll version
6.0.2600.0


Don't remember compacting files ever--
selene


selene wrote:
My OE6 suddenly won't open.
I get the message that an instance of the program is already running,
and to restart my computer.

However, when I do that., OE6 still doesn't open and the same message
appears...

Help!! selene

"selene" wrote in message
ups.com...
Jim -- Thank you --

Here's the missing info: I use WinXP

I have 2 msoe.dll files:

\Program Files\Outlook Express with msoe.dll version
6.0.2900.2869

\Program Files\WINDOWS\Outlook Express with msoe.dll version
6.0.2600.0

Don't remember compacting files ever--
selene


You should not have a folder named
\Program Files\WINDOWS\Outlook Express
Move it to some other folder and see if OE opens.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Please reply in newsgroup. Do NOT send email.

Frank,

I can't move that WINDOWS folder. I get a message that it is a system
folder and cannot be moved.

Selene



Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM wrote:
"selene" wrote in message
ups.com...
Jim -- Thank you --

Here's the missing info: I use WinXP

I have 2 msoe.dll files:

\Program Files\Outlook Express with msoe.dll version
6.0.2900.2869

\Program Files\WINDOWS\Outlook Express with msoe.dll version
6.0.2600.0

Don't remember compacting files ever--
selene


You should not have a folder named
\Program Files\WINDOWS\Outlook Express
Move it to some other folder and see if OE opens.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Please reply in newsgroup. Do NOT send email.

Here's one place to start:
http://www.insideoe.com/problems/per...ce.htm#nostart

Basically it sounds like corruption of your stored messages. If you only
use one identity in Outlook Express, there should be a single folder
containing all of your DBX files (which are marked as hidden in Windows XP).
What you need to do it either rename the folder containing those DBX files,
or open the folder and "Move" vs. Copy those files to another folder you
create for them. Outlook Express should then be able to open, although your
mail folders will be empty. Once it opens, you can try using the menu,
File/Import/Messages, selecting OE6 and From a Message Store and point to
either the renamed folder with the DBX files or the folder you created that
now contains them. If they do not all import correctly, then you will need
a 3rd party utility to recover them.

Post back with advice on success or lack thereof and we'll go from there,
but please read the info at the link above first. Good luck.
--
Jim Pickering, MVP, Outlook Express

"selene" wrote in message
ups.com...
Jim -- Thank you --

Here's the missing info: I use WinXP

I have 2 msoe.dll files:

\Program Files\Outlook Express with msoe.dll version
6.0.2900.2869

\Program Files\WINDOWS\Outlook Express with msoe.dll version
6.0.2600.0


Don't remember compacting files ever--
selene


selene wrote:
My OE6 suddenly won't open.
I get the message that an instance of the program is already running,
and to restart my computer.

However, when I do that., OE6 still doesn't open and the same message
appears...

Help!! selene

Jim,

Wouldn't it be easier to reinstall IE6 with OE6?
Selene

Jim Pickering wrote:
Here's one place to start:
http://www.insideoe.com/problems/per...ce.htm#nostart

Basically it sounds like corruption of your stored messages. If you only
use one identity in Outlook Express, there should be a single folder
containing all of your DBX files (which are marked as hidden in Windows XP).
What you need to do it either rename the folder containing those DBX files,
or open the folder and "Move" vs. Copy those files to another folder you
create for them. Outlook Express should then be able to open, although your
mail folders will be empty. Once it opens, you can try using the menu,
File/Import/Messages, selecting OE6 and From a Message Store and point to
either the renamed folder with the DBX files or the folder you created that
now contains them. If they do not all import correctly, then you will need
a 3rd party utility to recover them.

Post back with advice on success or lack thereof and we'll go from there,
but please read the info at the link above first. Good luck.
--
Jim Pickering, MVP, Outlook Express

"selene" wrote in message
ups.com...
Jim -- Thank you --

Here's the missing info: I use WinXP

I have 2 msoe.dll files:

\Program Files\Outlook Express with msoe.dll version
6.0.2900.2869

\Program Files\WINDOWS\Outlook Express with msoe.dll version
6.0.2600.0


Don't remember compacting files ever--
selene


selene wrote:
My OE6 suddenly won't open.
I get the message that an instance of the program is already running,
and to restart my computer.

However, when I do that., OE6 still doesn't open and the same message
appears...

Help!! selene

You could try it, but that won't solve the problem with the corrupted store
folder. Review the info in this article if you want to try it although if
you have XP patched to SP2, you have to uninstall SP2 before doing what the
article outlines:

How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows
XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q318378

I would think it easiest to move the DBX files to a folder you create and
see if you can then open OE before you begin to toy with the idea of
reinstalling. But, it's your computer and your choice although I know what
mine would be.
--
Jim Pickering, MVP, Outlook Express
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pr...8-1171988A62D6
Please deliver feedback to the newsgroup, so that others can be helped.



"selene" wrote in message
oups.com...
Jim,

Wouldn't it be easier to reinstall IE6 with OE6?
Selene

Jim Pickering wrote:
Here's one place to start:
http://www.insideoe.com/problems/per...ce.htm#nostart

Basically it sounds like corruption of your stored messages. If you only
use one identity in Outlook Express, there should be a single folder
containing all of your DBX files (which are marked as hidden in Windows
XP).
What you need to do it either rename the folder containing those DBX
files,
or open the folder and "Move" vs. Copy those files to another folder you
create for them. Outlook Express should then be able to open, although
your
mail folders will be empty. Once it opens, you can try using the menu,
File/Import/Messages, selecting OE6 and From a Message Store and point to
either the renamed folder with the DBX files or the folder you created
that
now contains them. If they do not all import correctly, then you will
need
a 3rd party utility to recover them.

Post back with advice on success or lack thereof and we'll go from there,
but please read the info at the link above first. Good luck.
--
Jim Pickering, MVP, Outlook Express

"selene" wrote in message
ups.com...
Jim -- Thank you --

Here's the missing info: I use WinXP

I have 2 msoe.dll files:

\Program Files\Outlook Express with msoe.dll version
6.0.2900.2869

\Program Files\WINDOWS\Outlook Express with msoe.dll version
6.0.2600.0


Don't remember compacting files ever--
selene


selene wrote:
My OE6 suddenly won't open.
I get the message that an instance of the program is already running,
and to restart my computer.

However, when I do that., OE6 still doesn't open and the same message
appears...

Help!! selene

Thank you,. Jim.

I have 8 identities. They are in individual folders named outlook.
Each identity has a folder named with a string of numbers/letters.
Within that folder is "microsoft" folder and within that folder is the
"outlook" folder with the DBX files.
If I read you corectly I would have to create one folder for each
identity and move the DBX files into it and then try OE again.
I'll go with that ...
Selene

Jim Pickering wrote:
You could try it, but that won't solve the problem with the corrupted store
folder. Review the info in this article if you want to try it although if
you have XP patched to SP2, you have to uninstall SP2 before doing what the
article outlines:

How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows
XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q318378

I would think it easiest to move the DBX files to a folder you create and
see if you can then open OE before you begin to toy with the idea of
reinstalling. But, it's your computer and your choice although I know what
mine would be.
--
Jim Pickering, MVP, Outlook Express
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pr...8-1171988A62D6
Please deliver feedback to the newsgroup, so that others can be helped.



"selene" wrote in message
oups.com...
Jim,

Wouldn't it be easier to reinstall IE6 with OE6?
Selene

Jim Pickering wrote:
Here's one place to start:
http://www.insideoe.com/problems/per...ce.htm#nostart

Basically it sounds like corruption of your stored messages. If you only
use one identity in Outlook Express, there should be a single folder
containing all of your DBX files (which are marked as hidden in Windows
XP).
What you need to do it either rename the folder containing those DBX
files,
or open the folder and "Move" vs. Copy those files to another folder you
create for them. Outlook Express should then be able to open, although
your
mail folders will be empty. Once it opens, you can try using the menu,
File/Import/Messages, selecting OE6 and From a Message Store and point to
either the renamed folder with the DBX files or the folder you created
that
now contains them. If they do not all import correctly, then you will
need
a 3rd party utility to recover them.

Post back with advice on success or lack thereof and we'll go from there,
but please read the info at the link above first. Good luck.
--
Jim Pickering, MVP, Outlook Express

"selene" wrote in message
ups.com...
Jim -- Thank you --

Here's the missing info: I use WinXP

I have 2 msoe.dll files:

\Program Files\Outlook Express with msoe.dll version
6.0.2900.2869

\Program Files\WINDOWS\Outlook Express with msoe.dll version
6.0.2600.0


Don't remember compacting files ever--
selene


selene wrote:
My OE6 suddenly won't open.
I get the message that an instance of the program is already running,
and to restart my computer.

However, when I do that., OE6 still doesn't open and the same message
appears...

Help!! selene