Computer recently crashed and new motherboard was installed. Since then
Outlook Express sometimes will not open and shows message "may not be
installed properly" When it does open mail can be sent and received, but
incoming mail cannot be opened - message is "There was an error opening - an
error has occurred". Address book also has messge "may not be installed
properly". Have reinstalled Office 2003 but did not fix problem and cannot
download Outlook Express from Microsoft website as get message "computer has
newer version already installed". Any solutions?

Hi Hargin,

When the PC crashed one or more files in the OE message store were likely
corrupted. The Inbox.dbx file would be the place to start. After finding the
message store move the file to a new desktop folder. Also, include a copy of
Folders.dbx. Delete the Inbox.dbx file in the OE message store. It may be
possible to import messages from the desktop folder, or recover messages
using DBXtract. Other files in the OE message store may have been effected.
Post back if further help is needed.

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.

Note that deleting a .dbx file also deletes any e-mail messages or other
data in the folder. The Store folder can be found in Tools, Options,
Maintenance tab.Store Folder. The text for the path can be copied using a
right-click and then entered in the Start, Run box. OK to open the Store
folder. Each identity has its own Store folder. Disregard this method if
Outlook Express cannot be opened.

Restart Outlook Express



Steve Cochran's DBXtract
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtract/Default.aspx
Cost is $5.

New features:

1. Extract from multiple files sequentially.
2. Store messages under a subdirectory corresponding to the folder name.

There is also a better, newer recovery program available for about $30. Look
for it at the same site.

thanks,

Steve Cochran



--
Tim K.
aka Kuay Tim
MS-MVP - Outlook Express
Lynnwood, WA
*
"Hargin" wrote in message
...
Computer recently crashed and new motherboard was installed. Since then
Outlook Express sometimes will not open and shows message "may not be
installed properly" When it does open mail can be sent and received, but
incoming mail cannot be opened - message is "There was an error opening - an
error has occurred". Address book also has messge "may not be installed
properly". Have reinstalled Office 2003 but did not fix problem and cannot
download Outlook Express from Microsoft website as get message "computer has
newer version already installed". Any solutions?

Do you have this Registry key?...

HKEY_CURRENT_USER
\Software
\Microsoft
\WAB
\WAB4

If not, STOP; If so, is there a DWORD named UseOutlook (NB: no space) and is its value set to 1 (one)?

If not, STOP; If so, Address Book is configured to share contacts with Outlook, even if you don't use it (can happen with the install of Office). Change the value to 0 (zero), Address Book should be available to you and all should be well. (If that DWORD is not present, don't create it, and don't alter any other DWORD values.)

Note that any changes (additions, deletions, edits) made while sharing was enabled will not be available (displayed) in Address Book when sharing is disabled.

cf. http://www.insideoe.com/files/wab.htm#share
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=191946
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Security, Shell/User)


Hargin wrote:

Computer recently crashed and new motherboard was installed. Since then
Outlook Express sometimes will not open and shows message "may not be
installed properly" When it does open mail can be sent and received, but
incoming mail cannot be opened - message is "There was an error opening - an
error has occurred". Address book also has messge "may not be installed
properly". Have reinstalled Office 2003 but did not fix problem and cannot
download Outlook Express from Microsoft website as get message "computer has
newer version already installed". Any solutions?