Email-Outlook Express will not open.
Don't know if I'm in the right place to ask this question. When I try to open my Outlook Express I get a box that reads,"Outlook Express could not be started because MSOE.DLL could not be initialized.Outlook Express my not be installed correctly". It tells me to contact Microsoft support. It worked fine yesterday until I clicked on a box to let my files be compacted. Since then I have not been able to open Outlook. I have tried to restore my computer to 4 differant dates but it tells me it is unable to retore to any earlier dates. I'm not a computer wiz so any help is appreciated. Thanks.
March 2nd, 2010 10:39pm

Delete the Folders.dbx file in the OE message store folder.Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the location of your Outlook Express files. Write the location down and navigate to it in Windows Explorer or, copy and paste it into Start | Run. In WinXP, Win2K & Win2K3, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default marked as hidden. To view these files in Windows Explorer, you must enable Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder Options Icon | View, or in Windows Explorer | Tools | Folder Options | View. With OE closed, locate Folders.dbx and delete it. A new one will be created automatically when you open OE.While this should resolve your problem, see this so you know what else to expect.Consequences of deleting Folders.dbx:http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#deldbx General precautions for Outlook Express: Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user defined folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted Items folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption. Information about the maximum file size of the .dbx files that are used by Outlook Express:http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=903095 After you are done, follow up by compacting your folders manually while working *offline* and do it often. Click on Outlook Express at the top of the folder tree so no folders are open. Then: File | Work Offline (or double click Working Online in the Status Bar). File | Folder | Compact all folders. Don't touch anything until the compacting is completed. Turn off e-mail scanning in your anti-virus program. It is a redundant layer of protection that eats up CPUs and causes a multitude of problems such as time-outs and account setting changes. Your up-to-date A/V program will continue to protect you sufficiently. For more, see:http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#3 In Tools | Options | Maintenance: Uncheck Compact messages in background and leave it unchecked. {N/A if running XP/SP2}. And backup often. Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB):http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx Bruce Hagen MS-MVP [Mail]
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March 3rd, 2010 3:59am

I am having the same problem as Dallas. However, in trying to fix it I can not find the OE message store folder. I previously required a password for my OE. I compacted my email messages for my main identity and began receiving the "MSOE.DLL could not be initialized...disk is full or no more memory" message. I discovered I could log into another OE identity. I logged into the alternate identity email, then in trying to fix the main identity (which I can't get into) I unchecked password required on the main identity. My email is configured to log on as main identity so now I can not log out of alternate identity to perform your instructions "With OE closed". What do I do?
July 19th, 2010 4:06pm

Create another identity. Import the contents of the corrupt identity. That will give you a choice to make one of the not-corrupted identities default and fix the problem at the same time.You won't need to get to the message store to do this, but after enabling: Show Hidden Files and Folders, it can be found here.C:\Documents and Settings\Your User Name\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{Long string of letters & numbers}\Microsoft\Outlook ExpressRight next to the message store for your other identity.Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]
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July 19th, 2010 4:22pm

Hi, I'm having the same error message as Dallas for the same reasons, with one additional message before that one. The extra message reads: "Outlook Express could not be started. The application was unable to open the outlook express message store. Your computer may be out of memory or your disk full. Contact Microsoft support for further assistance. (0x800C013B) I've tried deleting the folders.dbx file as suggested, but no result. Any suggestions would be appreciated Cheers Jen
August 11th, 2010 2:38pm

You would have been better off starting a new thread of your own. Your issue is not the same and it would have been noticed sooner.Question 1: Was outlook Express closed when you deleted Folders.dbx? If no, try that. If yes, you may have file corruption of one or more dbx files.Answer this. Of the following folders, which would you not mind losing all messages from, and which would you want to keep messages? (The latter may require purchasing a retrieval tool).Inbox Sent Items Deleted Items Outbox Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]
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August 12th, 2010 1:58am

Outlook express was closed. Ideally, I'd like to keep my inbox, all other folders are disposable
August 12th, 2010 2:20am

OK. Close OE and delete the dbx files for:Sent Items Deleted Items OutboxReboot and see if OE will open now. We'll save the Inbox or last, but while your there, get me the size of Inbox.dbx.Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]
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August 12th, 2010 2:29am

Ok, still no luck after the deletions. The inbox folder size is 139kb. There are however, a few folders in the recycle bin, that appeared after the compact. The inbox.bak in that location is 70820kb
August 12th, 2010 3:00am

Ok, still no luck after the deletions. The inbox folder size is 139kb. There are however, a few folders in the recycle bin, that appeared after the compact. The inbox.bak in that location is 70820kbYou never said anything about compacting. An Inbox of 139KB is an empty Inbox. Start over and tell me exactly what events took place and what happens when you try to open OE. Copy and paste the entire error message in this thread.Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]
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August 12th, 2010 3:08am

Sorry, I did refer to having Dallas' issue, which was the result of compacting. I should have been more specific.I don't normally compact. When logging out of Outlook Express in a hurry, I accidentally clicked yes to the compact option. Everthing else was still open, and the PC was online at the time.I get two error messages, when the first appears Outlook appears to be trying to open in the background i.e. little outlook square appears in the centre of the screen then disappears. The first error message is:---------------------------Outlook Express---------------------------Outlook Express could not be started. The application was unable to open the Outlook Express message store. Your computer may be out of memory or your disk is full. Contact Microsoft support for further assistance. (0x800C013B)---------------------------OK ---------------------------THe second appears when I click ok on the first it is:---------------------------Outlook Express---------------------------Outlook Express could not be started because MSOE.DLL could not be initialized. Outlook Express may not be installed correctly.---------------------------OK ---------------------------I need to go to work now, I'll check for messages in 12 hours. Much appreciated.Jen
August 12th, 2010 3:20am

Compacting was not a mistake and either a lack of doing it, or disrupting it, probably caused this issue.Start here.When OE crashes or won't starthttp://www.insideoe.com/problems/errors.htm#crash Should you be successful in getting OE to open, please do not delete or try to restore the bak files in the Recycle Bin until we speak further.Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]
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August 12th, 2010 3:29am

Thank you Bruce, my outlook is up and running again.In the end I had to delete the key and set up a new identity, as none of the options prior to that worked. The damage must have been quite bad.As per your instruction I've kept all the bak files and not tried to restore anything.I'll wait on your next adviceJen
August 13th, 2010 3:49pm

That's good news for starters.Normally, restoring bak files are a little easier, but since you had to create a new identity, you will need to import them manually.Open the Recycle Bin and drag any of the bak files you need to the Desktop. Do not use the the restore option.Follow the instructions here.How to restore individual dbx fileshttp://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx#imp1 You will have to rename them and create corresponding files in OE to accommodate them. It's not hard, but read carefully and just do one at a time.If you do not understand the instructions, post back before attempting. You might want to drag an extra bak file to the Desktop that you don't need just for a test run.Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]
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August 13th, 2010 4:48pm

Hi Bruce,All my files have been successfully restored.Thank you very much for all your help. It is greatly appreciated.RegardsJen
August 15th, 2010 6:04pm

You're welcome & glad to hear the positive results.Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]
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August 15th, 2010 6:07pm

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