A few days ago Outlook 2003 (with SP2 installed) had to be closed for
not responding. It then came up next time without the viewing pane (an
unusual occurrence). Today I was unable to access my Inbox folders. I
have run scanpst.exe, which carries on to the end when it asks to
"repair" when it hangs and does nothing. My pst file is less than 2Gb.
I was also unable to access or send mail.

Reading the posts I set up a new profile, identila to the old one bt
with a new name and was then able to send received mail, but now new
folders Inbox/Unread mail/Follow up/Sent items appear in the "Favorite
Folder" section. Incoming mail goes to the Unread folder, but once read
disappears.

How can I recover my old inbox which has important e-mails, and why did
it happen, and how can I prevent it happening again? I can't recall
doing anything untoward beforehand. No new software. Norton Antivirus
in place.