Outlook Express

[tamster]

Hi Folks,

My problem is with outlook express, i've trouble with my e-mails, my isp (ntl) says everything at there end is ok and that i have to uninstall then reinstall O/E but i don't know how to do this.

Could someone tell me how to do this step by step as i'm fairly new to pc's and believe me i find nothing easy.

Would a system restore work

Thanks for any help guys.

[bassman]

Hello tamster.
Uninstalling and reinstalling OE would certainly be a challange. It is an itergral part of Windows. Someone here once told me it could be done in the "Add/Remove Windows components" section of "Add/Remove Programs" but that is only to remove access to it in "Start menu".
Rather then "Fix OE, I would recommend you use a better, safer e-mail client. You might try Thunderbird (http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/). A perrinial favorite around here.
Other then that, if you could describe the problem you are having, maybe we can be of help ;)

[tamster]

Hi Bassman,

Thanks for the reply, 1 month ago i went on holiday and when i came back i can't send e-mails to any new addresses, i can still send them to addresses that are in my address book pre holiday but not new ones.

What about the system restore?

[bassman]

I would not do a "System Restore" for the sake of gaining lost function of OE. Until you can determine what happend to OE, System Restore should be considered drastic and un-necessary.
Might be time to do some security checking. Full virus/spyware/malware scans, might be wise to start with a Highjack This scan and post the log here.
How about a more definite description of the problem? If you open OE, type in a new address, give a subject, then type a letter, when you hit send what exactly happens?

[tamster]

Sent to new address, this is the reply,

Mail Administrator - Mail System Error - Returned Mail

[Sylvander]

These new addresses [that you cannot send emails to]...
Are they in your address book?

Find your address book ".wab" file, check it's "Properties->Attributes" and make sure the "Read-only" tick-box isn't ticked [this can happen if you transfer the file by burning it to a CD and then copying it to the HDD].
Right-click on the file and click "Open" and see if all looks well.
Check that the wab file is at the same location as the address specified in the registry by the (Default) data setting in the key...
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4\WabF ileName
It's a good idea to move such things off C: and when you do this with the wab file you specify its new address here.

If you want to move personal data files off C: here's how...
a. My Documents. [Use “TweakUI” to move their home]
b. E-mails for all identities. [use the email client to move their home]
c. Internet Explorer Favourites. [Use “TweakUI” to move their home]
d. Temporary Internet Files. [use the browser (Internet Explorer) to move them]
e. Re-home the Windows Address Book as shown here http://tinyurl.com/24q6l . Use the key “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4\Wab FileName” to specify its new address. [Its normal home address [in Win98] is C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book\(the name you gave your PC).WAB]

[bassman]

i'm fairly new to pc's and believe me i find nothing easy.

easy Sylvander, this person is new to this stuff. Directing someone to the registry is scarry at best ;)

tamster, the message you are getting would indicate the receiving party is at fault. If your mail is returned, it indicates it was sent and bounced back. Have you tried other addresses?

[bassman]

Again, I am going to strongly recommend that you download and install Thunderbird. For a number of reasons, you want to NOTuse OE. Do that and try the addresses that are giving you grief.

[Sylvander]

Sounds like the addresses are incorrectly specified.

Did you type the addresses, or were the addresses as specified in the address book the ones used?
What went in the address window?
An identifier, with the actual address not shown?

[tamster]

Syvlander, I'll not be able to do all that, its way over my head.
I'm learning new things every day (which is fascinating) but i don't know what all that means.
Can i use another place to send/receive e-mails, such as yahoo untill i learn (a lot) more about pcs

[Sylvander]

OK, you could do it in easy steps...

1. Use your "Find" or "Search" facility [it's on the "Start" menu], to search the C: drive for all files ending wab [*.wab].

When I do that, only a single file is found, because there should only be one address book, and it is held in that file.
The copy on the C: drive is the usual/normal/default copy.
The location differs depending on the version of Windows in use [which are you using?]
I'm running Win2000Pro and my default copy is here...

C:\Documents and Settings\abb\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book\abb.wab

Yours will probably be at a similar location, but your user name will be different, so abb will be replaced by your user name [the one that identifies your user profile].

Here's mine...

[tamster]

Bassman , is Thunderbird like O/E, yahoo is it a program for sending emails

I have just received emails from my brother who lives in England and i can send emails to my yahoo address as well as other people in my address book, could it be that these new addresses that i got from from 2 people from Holland and 2 from England have a spelling error in them or a dot in the wrong place

[Rick]

yes it could be just that simple
a dot . in the wrong place or any spelling error can and will cause an e-mail to get returned

someting as simple as name@server.con will mess it up
or any wrong web address .com .net .org .uk in the wrong place and your sol
Another common mistake is when you use a comma ,,, instead of a dot ..

[tamster]

Sylvander i done the search and their was 16 results with wab

[Sylvander]

"16 results with wab"
Woa...what is going on there I wonder.
Are there 16 different profiles in use with that OS? [Which Windows?]

"could it be that these new addresses...have a spelling error in them or a dot in the wrong place"
If you want to be absolutely sure you are using the precisely correct address...
Right-click on the received email...and click "Properties->Details tab", and scroll down to the bottom to something like...
"Return-Path: forums@pcguide.com"
This was from an email from the PC-Guide.
Just highlight the email address [forums@pcguide.com in this case] and Ctrl+C to copy, then Ctrl+V to paste it into your email address window.

Then the address to which you are sending MUST be exactly the same as the address from which it was sent. :)

[tamster]

Sylvander/Bassman/Rick, Oh god i feel such a fool, my young nephew has just told me to drop the www. from the start of the addresses that i have being trying to send to.

i am very sorry for all the trouble you guys have gone through for me, i'm in the doghouse with the wife for this (plus she cant stop laughing at me) . i know everybody that reads these threads will be laughing as well so again guys, sorry

Ps you could toast bread in front of my face.

[Sylvander]

A laugh a day keeps the Doctor away. :)

And it isn't all wasted time, is it?

All of the above probably gave form to some quite valuable ideas. :D

[In-form-ation is that which gives FORM to ideas and beliefs]

[bassman]

No problem at all ;) It is always nice when we know we have a solution, even if it did not come from our recommendations.
I still recommend you go to Thunderbird though. It IS an e-mail program like OE but a much safer and nicer program then OE. Yahoo is what is considered a "Web Based" e-mail program where you go to a specific web site, log in, then check your mail there. This too has it's benefits. You can even set up your server based client (OE, Thunderbird, Outlook,... ) to check your web based e-mail accounts.

Good luck