Outlook Express was working fine for a time, but now have a problem and
I need help to fix it.

the symptoms are that I have a number of user accounts, but it is locked
in one user account only.

Also after launching it, it opens with 'Local Folders' window open, but
all of the screen is in light grey, meaning nothing is active. This
means I cannot change to another user, or use any of the menus.

It sometimes starts in an 'Off line' mode but also sometimes says it is
on line. When it does start in an on line mode, it has another window
open which allows me to make another folder, but it still receives no
mail, or make the window active, even after making another folder.

As the file menu is inoperative, as stated, as is the Window bar I
cannot minimise the screen or close the application down. To do this I
have to use 'Task Manager', and use the 'End Task' option.

Using this gives the error message that this programme is not
responding, and asks if I wish to close now.

Prier to ending the task, Task Manager states that the programme is
running.
Any help would be most kind.

Again thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Vaughn

"Vaugh" wrote in message
...
Outlook Express was working fine for a time, but now have a problem and I
need help to fix it.

the symptoms are that I have a number of user accounts, but it is locked
in one user account only.

Also after launching it, it opens with 'Local Folders' window open, but
all of the screen is in light grey, meaning nothing is active. This
means I cannot change to another user, or use any of the menus.

It sometimes starts in an 'Off line' mode but also sometimes says it is
on line. When it does start in an on line mode, it has another window
open which allows me to make another folder, but it still receives no
mail, or make the window active, even after making another folder.

As the file menu is inoperative, as stated, as is the Window bar I
cannot minimise the screen or close the application down. To do this I
have to use 'Task Manager', and use the 'End Task' option.

Using this gives the error message that this programme is not
responding, and asks if I wish to close now.

Prier to ending the task, Task Manager states that the programme is
running.
Any help would be most kind.

Again thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Vaughn


Well, lets start with the first question:
Are you locked iinto one Windows User Account or one OE Identity or one mail
account in OE??


--
Frank Saunders

"Vaughn" wrote in message

Frank Saunders, MSMVP-OE wrote:
"Vaugh" wrote in message
...

Outlook Express was working fine for a time, but now have a problem
and I need help to fix it.

the symptoms are that I have a number of user accounts, but it is
locked in one user account only.

Also after launching it, it opens with 'Local Folders' window open,
but all of the screen is in light grey, meaning nothing is active.
This means I cannot change to another user, or use any of the menus.

It sometimes starts in an 'Off line' mode but also sometimes says
it is on line. When it does start in an on line mode, it has
another window open which allows me to make another folder, but it
still receives no mail, or make the window active, even after
making another folder. As the file menu is inoperative, as stated, as is
the Window bar I
cannot minimise the screen or close the application down. To do
this I have to use 'Task Manager', and use the 'End Task' option.

Using this gives the error message that this programme is not
responding, and asks if I wish to close now.

Prier to ending the task, Task Manager states that the programme is
running.
Any help would be most kind.

Again thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Vaughn



Well, lets start with the first question:
Are you locked iinto one Windows User Account or one OE Identity or
one mail account in OE??


Can log on using any of the Windows User accounts, but can only start
the application with one user name. This happens automatically, as
this was the last user log in used, but I cannot change this as the
window is not active.

An even better idea: Find the Windows folder that the DBX files are in and
rename it. (They may be hidden files, so set Search to Search hidden files
and folders.)

Then see if OE's File | Import will import from that renamed Windows folder.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE
"Anyone who prefers security over freedom deserves neither."

Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE wrote:
"Vaughn" wrote in message


Frank Saunders, MSMVP-OE wrote:

"Vaugh" wrote in message
...

Outlook Express was working fine for a time, but now have a problem
and I need help to fix it.

the symptoms are that I have a number of user accounts, but it is
locked in one user account only.

Also after launching it, it opens with 'Local Folders' window open,
but all of the screen is in light grey, meaning nothing is active.
This means I cannot change to another user, or use any of the menus.

It sometimes starts in an 'Off line' mode but also sometimes says
it is on line. When it does start in an on line mode, it has
another window open which allows me to make another folder, but it
still receives no mail, or make the window active, even after
making another folder. As the file menu is inoperative, as stated,
as is the Window bar I
cannot minimise the screen or close the application down. To do
this I have to use 'Task Manager', and use the 'End Task' option.

Using this gives the error message that this programme is not
responding, and asks if I wish to close now.

Prier to ending the task, Task Manager states that the programme is
running.
Any help would be most kind.

Again thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Vaughn




Well, lets start with the first question:
Are you locked iinto one Windows User Account or one OE Identity or
one mail account in OE??


Can log on using any of the Windows User accounts, but can only start
the application with one user name. This happens automatically, as
this was the last user log in used, but I cannot change this as the
window is not active.


An even better idea: Find the Windows folder that the DBX files are in
and rename it. (They may be hidden files, so set Search to Search
hidden files and folders.)

Then see if OE's File | Import will import from that renamed Windows
folder.


Tried renaming the file to test, but it still did not work as, as said
the whole OE window is non active when initiated from start. because of
this I cannot use file, so cannot import the messages.

Sorry I must have not fully explained myself when typing, or I have
missed something you have asked I try.

many thanks again Vaughn

"Vaughn" wrote in message
...

Tried renaming the file to test, but it still did not work as, as said the
whole OE window is non active when initiated from start. because of this I
cannot use file, so cannot import the messages.

Sorry I must have not fully explained myself when typing, or I have missed
something you have asked I try.

many thanks again Vaughn

Hope you are aware that you cannot rename the files in the message store,
nor can you rename the folder if Outlook Express is open. You must close
Outlook Express first, then search for the DBX files and rename the folder
containing the DBX files- not the DBX files themselves. Then try Frank's
proposed solution: open Outlook Express, click File/Import/Messages,
selecting from a message store and point to the renamed folder that you
renamed.
--
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.
Thanks.

Jim Pickering wrote:
"Vaughn" wrote in message
...

Tried renaming the file to test, but it still did not work as, as said
the whole OE window is non active when initiated from start. because
of this I cannot use file, so cannot import the messages.

Sorry I must have not fully explained myself when typing, or I have
missed something you have asked I try.

many thanks again Vaughn


Hope you are aware that you cannot rename the files in the message
store, nor can you rename the folder if Outlook Express is open. You
must close Outlook Express first, then search for the DBX files and
rename the folder containing the DBX files- not the DBX files
themselves. Then try Frank's proposed solution: open Outlook Express,
click File/Import/Messages, selecting from a message store and point to
the renamed folder that you renamed.


I cannot use File/Import/Messages, as when the application opens it
opens in an inactive state, NOTHING works, not even the Windows Tool bar
for minimising, and closing the said window.

this even happens after trying the given steps.

I'd do a full un-install, and then reinstall if I new how, but I do not,
any ideas please let me know.

Thanks again Vaughn

To reinstall, see this KB article, which though written for Windows XP, also
works in all other operating systems except Windows 95:
How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows
XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q318378
--
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.
Thanks.




"Vaughn" wrote in message
...
Jim Pickering wrote:
"Vaughn" wrote in message
...

Tried renaming the file to test, but it still did not work as, as said
the whole OE window is non active when initiated from start. because of
this I cannot use file, so cannot import the messages.

Sorry I must have not fully explained myself when typing, or I have
missed something you have asked I try.

many thanks again Vaughn


Hope you are aware that you cannot rename the files in the message store,
nor can you rename the folder if Outlook Express is open. You must close
Outlook Express first, then search for the DBX files and rename the
folder containing the DBX files- not the DBX files themselves. Then try
Frank's proposed solution: open Outlook Express, click
File/Import/Messages, selecting from a message store and point to the
renamed folder that you renamed.


I cannot use File/Import/Messages, as when the application opens it opens
in an inactive state, NOTHING works, not even the Windows Tool bar for
minimising, and closing the said window.

this even happens after trying the given steps.

I'd do a full un-install, and then reinstall if I new how, but I do not,
any ideas please let me know.

Thanks again Vaughn

Jim Pickering wrote:
To reinstall, see this KB article, which though written for Windows XP,
also works in all other operating systems except Windows 95:
How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in
Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q318378
many thanks will give it a go tomorrow.

Fingers crossed ;-)

Vaughn