I am NOT good with computers, so if you can offer help, please do it with as simple an English as you can!!!<P>Well, I was trying to be clever to keep h from knowing my business, and followed (I thought) some advice I had already received on the other thread about computers. But when I deleted stuff today from the outlook express applications files, I completely trashed outlook, and I need some help!!! A message comes up saying "Outlook Express could not be started."<P>I did try the microsoft site, but I don't know what they're talking about....it asks what version I have of things...I don't know how to find out. Anyway, at microsoft, they seem to be just upgrades, and while I've still got the inbox coming up(empty), it won't do anything, etc, nothing will work. I do not know what I need to do to fix it. Can I download a whole new outlook express? <P>My email is my life line to my family and friends overseas....can anyone please help?????<P>

This kind of happened to me once. I had to rename some files and down load again. I will see if I can find the help site for you.

<A HREF="http://www.tomsterdam.com/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.tomsterdam.com/</A> <P>This is the site I use, I don't know if it is what you need though.

Thanks, Suzzie Q...I'm on to it!!! Love your handle, by the way!

No sorry nothing there I could see...ours doesn't seem to be Outlook Express 5, just OE. <P>I did try to get the deleted files back using "recover4all" on the net...that requires you to save to disk. I did that, but then had no idea how to reinstall on my hard drive.<P>Any other thoughts????<BR>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Nina too:<BR><B>...when I deleted stuff today from the outlook express applications files, I completely trashed outlook...</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I'm warning you right now that this is <I>not</I> my area of expertise, but...what exactly did you do?<BR>

Jacky, did you try looking in your recycled folder? You should be able to undelete everything from today's date...about the time of the disaster. Actual e-mails should have a '.eml' extension, and be in your folder named 'Inbox'. I'd just undelete everything, and redelete to e-mails. -Mike

The first time I went to Explorer/windows/applications/microsoft/outlook express. Someone told me to delete the files there, so I did.<P>The next time I started up it says outlook couldn't run, but then it said that windows was repairing it.....and it worked okay, but all my deleted files were restored. So that was the first time.<P>The second time, I thought, I know, I won't delete the files, just the info in the files, so I opened the ones saying inbox, sent items and received items, highlighted the little squares all over the place, which also included email addresses in text, and deleted.<P>I tried recover4all which retrieves deleted files, but you have to save them to disk. I don't know how to get it back where it belongs, on the hard drive.<P>There is nothing new in the recycle bin...in fact when I was deleting, it didn't ask if I wanted them to go there, like it usually does.<P>Mike I don't understand how to get to where you're talking about...and I am getting worried!!!

WEll, I was talking about using Expolrer (NOT INTERNET EXPLORER...JUST EXPLORER. It should be under Start/Programs/Windows Explorer, although sometimes it is under Start/Programs/Applications/Windows Explorer...but, if there is nothing new in the recycle bin, then you are out of luck in that respect. All is not lost, however. I am still trying to remember whether I got Outlook Express with a version of Internet Explorer (I think this is the case), or with Microsoft Office. Do you have a CD that has Internet Explorer on it? If so, we might be able to reinstall it from that. -Mike

BTW, Jacky...to get the versions in any Microsoft (or any other program that I am aware of...) Go to the menu bar 'Help' item, drop that menu down, and select 'About'. A dialog box will tell you all the gory details...so which version of Internet Explorer, and Outlook Express do you have? Also, you mentioned that you had no luck with the folders...but the program runs otherwise? Is this true? If so, then we may be trying to fix the wrong problem...i.e. You have deleted all of your folders, but Outlook Express is otherwise okay, jusy really stupid right now. If this is the case, try to compose a new e-mail..if it lets you, then we just need to set it up again...still pretty major, but not insurmountable....you know its always like this with you sirens...sure you look, and smell hot, but...

Yeah, thanks Mike, but anyone would think I was blond...geez what a stupid thing to do!!!!!<P>Okay I have Windows 98 and Internet Explorer 4.0. It just calls my email Outlook Express, no version.<P>I could get a compose message box up, but it wouldn't send.<P>I can't find a disk with only OE on it. I do have a manual for Windows, and a disk, and it talks about OE in the manual, and how to set up...and YES!!! I just looked and the disk has all the files on it...so we're getting somewhere. Now I am aware that I have to uninstall my wrecked OE or something and get the files from the disk....how do I do that?????<P>Thanks to you...keep helping me, I am a bit blond about computers .

<A HREF="http://www.wired.com/news/download/outlook.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.wired.com/news/download/outlook.html</A> <P><BR>Try this site. A bandaid fix is to get a hot mail account to talk to relatives. They are free.<BR>Next time set up a password into outlook. Don't delete anything....

You should be able to install it over top of the last install...select a typical installation. You could do it manually, too by recreating InBox, Sent Items, etc. but that's more for geeks like me. The tough part is setting up the account with the ISP...you need to know a few things that you currently do not, like what the name of their incoming, and outgoing mailservers are, your account name and password. I suspect that they may still be in there.<P>In any event, you should check the status of the account by selecting Tools...Accounts. There <I>should</I> be an account there, selected (highlighted). If so, select Properties. The important things on this tab (there are 5 'tabs', or pages in this dialog that you are seeing...lined up at the top...see? It supposed to look like a file cabinet drawer, sort of.)...is the account name, which is your e-mail address....mtblake@netexpress.net in my case, and the box that says 'include this account when receiving mail', etc.<P>The next tab...Servers, is where you tell OE who your POP3 (Post Office Protocol) servers are. In my case, it is netexpress.net for both. This is typical, so take the portion following the '@', and enter that there for the time being if it is blank. Make sure that your account name, and password are correct. Tough, I know, but....<P>The other tabs are unimportant for most e-mail...with the exception of the last one...the port numbers need to be correct...usually 25 and 110. You can get this information from you ISP, but it is usually somewhat of a hassle, especially your account password....for obvious reasons.<P>When you try to send your e-mail...what happens? When you push Send/Receive...does it even try? If so, that box that comes up has a button...Details. Press it, and you will receive error messages from the program...what does it say? -Mike

Thanks Suzzie Q,<P>I have discovered I have two avenues to get email...hotmail, and the server has one you can access, for the original OE account...so I'm still able to commumicate, but I'd still like some help with this (see my previous post above Suzzie Q. I prefer OE, and also I hate wrecking things!!!<P>Mike must be at work...

bumping up

When you originally posted that you wanted more control of your computer activity, I thought...hey, there's a good project...it could be a VB script, or even use the inherent automation in IE, and OE...essentially macros. There are enough programmers here that I thought a 'real' one could help....looks like an interesting exercise for me to do. At the same time I thought, there's an easy way to make a $1,500 paper weight. Okay, then you have deicded to reinstall...you have a job waiting for you at Microsoft Support! That is the answer to all Windows 98 problems!<P>I am not certain that you will be able to keep the e-mail server settings, so <B>before you flush the old installation</B>, answer me a question...do you have your old address book? In OE, go to Tools, select Address Book...are there any entries in there? Also, you must know those things that I asked earlier about your ISP's e-mail server...the incoming, and outgoing server names...your account, and password...and the port numbers used. That information <B>should</B> be under 'Tools' 'Accounts'. There should be an account there...is there? If yes, press 'Properties'...the information is in that 5 tabbed dialog box...copy it down before removing OE. Visit every tab in the dialog...they are along the top...plus, they little buggers move....too friggin' clever, Mr. Gates, too clever!<P>Okay, to remove OE...is simple. Double click 'My Computer'. Double click the 'Control Panel' folder. Double-click 'Add/Remove Programs'. Scroll until you find 'Outlook Express {#}'. Highlight that. Press the (newly enabled) 'Add/Remove' button. Sit back, and relax...even if it complains, which it will likely do. It won't remove a file that was not originally installed by the same code. Like any remaining e-mails that you did not delete, or other 'stuff' like that. It will therefore not be able to remove all of the folders, but that is a by-product of directory structure rules, and not to worry your pretty {blond} head about! You may have to reboot, and it may ask you about deleting shared files no longer used...reply in the affirmative...kill it all! I am pretty certain that your CDs are Internet Explorer, and that OE is on them. You might be able to install OE by itself, but as I recall, I got mine with IE 5. No matter, its all good from this point on. If you gotta reinstall IE, it will not hurt anything. When you reisntall OE, accept all defaults, as that is likely how the first installation went, too. -Mike<BR><p>[This message has been edited by waiting_for_her (edited August 22, 2001).]