email help ?

[Ratty]

Hi guys

I just come to check email and can't open anything. Using outlook, I get an error message saying the address book is unavailable and I need to re insatall. Trying to access through my BT account shows no emails, addresses or anything. Outlook Express show all my emails and they can be viewed through the preview pane only. I think my Hayley (10 yr old Rugrat) may have altered something while she has been using MSN Messenger because she will click anything as ok to keep going with her mates. Any ideas? Bear in mind that I am a PC Numpty so simplistic answers if poss.

Thanks in advance.

Ratty.

[JediGoat]

Sounds like your .pst file is corrupt.

Do a search for a file ending .pst. You may have to restore from a back-up.....assuming you do back up your emails...........

If you've a back up on CD, Outlook won't be able to open it, so copy it to your C drive and point Outlook to the copy.

HTH
Jo

[Ratty]

Thanks for the reply Jo

I've been on a course so I've only just seen it.

Unfortunately, backing up is not something I do. I'm not at all PC literate and don't really keep important stuff on my machine at home. I tried the search you suggested but nothing was found. I am still receiving mails and can see them in the preview pane but can't open them or send still. I was hopeing it would have healed itself while I was away!!!! I Googled the problem and saw sites that offered free repair down loads. Can you recommend something along these lines because I worry about down loads .

Thanks again

Ratty

[JediGoat]

Seeing as you've nothing to lose (or rather, nothing you haven't lost already) you could try reinstalling Outlook. It should try to repair the installation first (before you do, disable send/receive to stop you losing more emails while you fix the problem)

You can check where you emails are currently being saved to, by going to Tools -> Options -> Mail Setup -> Data Files. Select the personal folder, and click 'open Folder'. This should show an Outlook.pst file (if it's only a few kb, it's corrupted, and you'll have lost your emails).

If that's the case, I'd go for a reinstall rather than trying to download a fix.

HTH
Jo

[Ratty]

Hello again Jo

Still no joy.
I've not lost my emails. They are still coming in and I can view them in preview, but not open or answer them.

Still can't find this .pst file. Tried through Tools Options but it didn't offer me Mail Set up next. It's outlook Express I'm looking at but...

If I try to view my email through BT Internet browser, I can't even see my inbox.

Thanks for trying to help

Ratty

[embee]

This is a simplistic approach from an amateur, but have you tried System Restore?

(Programs, Accessories, System Tools)

Go back to a Restore point before you noticed the problem. Worth a try at least.

[JediGoat]

Ahh sorry. I don't use Outlook Express, so I'm not sure where the emails are atored (or in what type of file).

I'd still recommend either a reinstall over the top to try to fix it. Or uninstall/reinstall.

Jo

[Ratty]

embee

Yes, I have tried restore twice, to two points several days before I noticed the problem. This was the first thing I tried. I'm sure one of the Rugrats has deleted the address book because the error messages refer to it. If I click on addresses I gat the error "unable to open address book - may not be properly installed. I've run Norton which found nothing and also the BT and Ad-aware SE programs which found nothing dramatic.


Cheers
Ratty

Ratty would this help you:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;q269777

Also a list of links from google:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...+express&meta=


I know it looks heavy reading but its not as worrying as it looks, sorry I am a techie.

I don't use outlook express, I prefer just outlook. Let us know how you do, I will keep an eye on this thread.

Cheers

Rich

[Ratty]

Hi Rich

Cheers for that.

Failed on the first attempt. Found the .wab file but it is not set up as 'read only' and it's still inaccessable. I did notice that it was last modified on 27/03/06 so I tried to system restore beyond that date but it will not restore to any points beyond then. All of the inf on those links refer to just about every version of Widows except XP. The next bit to try sounds a bit sexy. Changing a registry key. Been ripping my bathroom apart up to time now so I may look at that tomorrow

Pardon my ignorance but could I just copy my folders and inbox to Outlook and repopulate my address book?

Thanks for the reply.

Ratty

Ratty