Using XP home edition, out of nowhere, cannot send new mail or open any prior messages to reply, etc. Reboot doesn't fix. I tried searching for *.wab on my start page but none found. Then, tried entering "sfc" under "run" but the black screen to select next options only appears for a microsecond then goes away, leaving me with no options. Looking forward to help on this - thanks.1 person needs an answerI do too

Is this a POP3 account? If so, try a new identity. It appears you have dbx file corruption and this will eliminate it.You may have a damaged identity especially if it is the default Main Identity. File | Identity | Add New Identity. Create a new one and test it. If all is well, you can import your messages and Address Book from the old identity and delete it.Note: Do not use the word Main in the name of the new identity.How to Create and Use Identities in Outlook Expresshttp://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=209169Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]

Bruce - thanks, not sure how to check if it's POP3 but I believe it is. I created a new identity as you suggested but now i can't open OE. Looks like I'll need to reboot. As an aside, can I delete outlook without affecting express? I'd like to clean up as much space as possible.

If you are not using Outlook, you can remove it, but I would fix this issue first. When you created a new identity, and entered the account settings, did you have to fill in the POP and SMTP fields? The same as your old identity?Adding a new identity should not have any effect on opening OE. Why did you close it? And what happens when you try to open it?Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]

Not sure why closed it, but I wasnt prompted to fill in POP or SMTP when creating new id. After the reboot, I am able to open OE, but still get same error message. Dont know how to see if OE is using the new identity or the old.

Who is your mail server? Usually what is after the @ in your address?In your current identity: Tools | Accounts | Mail | Properties. What do you see under the Servers tab for incoming and outgoing settings?Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]

looks like message didnt go thru -rebot didnt help same error messages. I wasnt prompted to fill in POP or SMTP. Any way to check if my new identity is in effect ?

See my last message and reply to that post.Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]

comcast.net --POP3 confirmedIts using my old identity (original email address)cant find where my new identity is?

comcast.net --POP3 confirmedIts using my old identity (original email address)cant find where my new identity is? OK. It is a POP3 account. If you set up the new identity correctly, you would have had to add that information. If the new identity was set up, the File | Identities | Switch Identities would take you there. Can you do that? If not. let's take a different approach.First, make sure your current identity is set up correctly.Make sure the SMTP port is set to 587 and: My Server Requires Authentication is checked.How do I set up/configure Outlook Express, Windows Mail & Windows Live Mail for Comcast email?http://www.comcast.com/customers/faq/FaqDetails.ashx?Id=2288Is/was all that OK? Still have trouble? Start by doing the following:1: 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=9030952: 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.-------------------If you still have the same issue, go to the OE message store and delete Folders.dbx as follows.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.Close OE. Find Folders.dbx and delete it. A new Folders.dbx file will be created when you open OE.Close OE and reboot. Any better?Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]

Bruce - I'm back - thanks. The SMTP was set to 25 so I changed it to 587..I'll see if it works now.I rebooted and I get another message when I try to open the "new mail" icon in OE - it reads " The file C:\Documents and Settings|my name\Personal Folders(1).pst could not be found." Then when I click "ok" it pulls up a window to create/open a personal folders file...

I rebooted and I get another message when I try to open the "new mail" icon in OE - it reads " The file C:\Documents and Settings|my name\Personal Folders(1).pst could not be found." Then when I click "ok" it pulls up a window to create/open a personal folders file...Arrrrrggggghhhhh! What is happening? Outlook Express uses .dbx files. Microsoft Outlook, a completely different program, uses .pst files.I can't help you with an Outlook issue.Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]