What I was afraid of earlier is that we might remove OE (on the assumption that it would repair it) before backing up all the emails etc. I'm pretty certain that there is no repair option for OE (like IE) and that Remove would do just that. Your address book is normally a .wab file (which by the sound of things might have gone). Look for *.wa~ too because often there is a backup file lurking around. You can copy that somewhere, rename it to .wab and relocate it. It goes in: c:\windows\application data\microsoft\address book You will need to show all files and extensions otherwise you might miss it even if it's there. Shout back if you need any help. If, as a last resort, you should elect to remove OE and then re-install it somehow then either use the Export feature to backup your emails or copy all the .dbx files that you recognise (Inbox.dbx, Outbox.dbx and so on). They will copy over the new empty ones and your emails should return. Derek.W

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After reading your reply Derek, I'm not so sure I was clear in my last post. Just to clarify to all; I meant re-install OE6 "over_the_top" without uninstalling it. And as an additional "safety", COPY the applicable files elsewhere for potential future re-use. All OE6 registry entries remain where they are, with (possibly) only new ones added.

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Yep, good thought Dan. You could always backup the emails first just to be on the safe side. My concern was post #1 (not yours) because I just don't believe the Repair option exists in OE and I cannot be certain that Removing OE will keep any backups - best make them first whatever. Derek.W

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Sorry for the lack of response. Hard to remember that the object was to drain the swamp when the alligators are biting your ankles. Have now backed up all the *.dbx files and the default.wab files to removable CD. Then saved old MSOE.dll and default.Wab files to temp location. Then replaced the old MSOE.dll and Wab.exe files with new files from Dell. I think they didnt match version I am running but worth a try. No luck, still no OE or Address book available. Next deleted IE with this neat prog: http://www.litepc.com/ieradicator.html Then reinstalled IE6 SP1 full default version. Still get same error message when trying to access Outlook Express - "OE could not be started because MSOE.dll could not be loaded" Still cant open address book either. Cant understand why my original Favourites are still available in the newly installed IE6. Should I be pleased? for a nanosecond maybe My tiny brain is hurting and my wife is packing as we speak. What to do guys? I am at a total loss Cheers Salumi69

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Well, it could be your source installation file(s) is bad. If you want, I can email you the trouble file (MSOE.dll, if this is indeed the problem file). I run 98SE and mine works fine. (I have the official MS CD.) If Emailing is not the preferred method, I can upload the file to my webspace for download. Post back if you want to try either method. Gotta start somewhere (short of a re-install of the O/S "over the top"). Unless there's other viable suggestions in the meantime.

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Treat this as food for thought, thinking aloud, or whatever: I'm not sure that OE is removed when using IEradicator. I think it just removes IE. If I remember rightly, if you run IE Setup from your default version you can select customize. Therefore, if it comes to it you can remove OE, reboot then install it again (which might help if it comes to the crunch). There shouldn't really be any need to save msoe.dll or wab.exe (just the .wab file for your address book, and only the .dbx files necessary to replace the ones with emails in them). Msoe.dll & Wab.exe are part of the normal OE install and don't change with usage. If there were problems with those two files initially then maybe you are adding the problems back in again. Try simpler thoughts and suggestions first. Derek.W

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Sorry for the time lag in response due to difficulty in email access and thanx to all who offered advice. Situation is unchanged. Dan Penny...could you please email me the MSOE.dll and WAB.exe files so I can give it a try. How do I ensure that when reinstalling OE it picks up the new *.dll file and not just the old one? The WAB files are not so important as I now have all my contact data in Eudora and backed up in *.txt and *.csv formats ready for import when or if ever I get OE running again. Thanx again Cheers Salumi69

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As Derek stated, these two files are part of the OE standard base files. Re-installing Outlook Express should replace them. However, if you want to try a copy of the files, I've uploaded them to my webspace. (Salumi.zip) The full filepath is included so you'll know where they belong.

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