My version of XP is 2002 with service pack 2. After starting my computer this morning i tried opening outlook express with my desktop shortcut. Instead of opening up it asked me what program I wanted to open it with. Then I tried going to the Start menu and opeing up Outlook Express there. It popped up a window that said Shotcut Missing. So I chose the "Browse" option and went to program files. There I tried opening the outlook express folder. Error message popped up and said "The disk in Drive C is not formatted" "Do you want to format now". I closed this and then tried to Start>Run>msinm.exe, which then said msimn.exe doesn't exist. Third thing I tried was I went back to Start>Outlook Express. Again it pulled up window that said shortcut missing. I then waited for it to continue looking for the source. Eventually and new window popped up that said it couldn't find the original source but found one similar. I chose to click the "Fix It" button. After doing this Outlook Express opened up. However, now when I try to open up the emails they are just blank. No attachments show up and no text shows up in the body of the emails. I haven't downloaded or changed anything lately. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!1 person needs an answerI do too

This is going to take more than one reply. Start by answering these questions. Are you seeing all the correct folders and old message headers? (i.e. you are sure this is the correct message store). What AV program do you use? Follow this path in Windows Explorer and tell me how many OE identities you see and their creation dates. 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. The path to the message store will be very similar to this: C:\Documents and Settings\Your User Name\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{Long string of letters & numbers}\Microsoft\Outlook Express Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]

1. No, not all of the correct folders are showing up. So I guess this isn't the correct message store. 2. I use Norton AV 3. There is only one OE indentity, which is Sent Items.bak (created on March 21, 2008).

SentItems.bak is not an identity, it is a backup of that folder. Where did you see that? It should only be in the Recycle Bin or an OE message store. Find the identity for your current OE: 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. Now that you see that, did you notice any other identities along the way? Perhaps your old identity and message store? Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]

Bruce, I found the SentItems.bak in Windows Explorer by using this path you provided: C:\Documents and Settings\Your User Name\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{Long string of letters & numbers}\Microsoft\Outlook Express Okay, it looks like i've found the old identities and message store. It got moved to another folder on the desktop. Basically, we have to run smtp logs and provide them for auditing purposes. The dbx files must have been accidently moved to this folder. How do I get them back to where they need to be?

Okay, it looks like i've found the old identities and message store. It got moved to another folder on the desktop. Basically, we have to run smtp logs and provide them for auditing purposes. The dbx files must have been accidently moved to this folder. How do I get them back to where they need to be? Are all the dbx files for all your missing folders there? Important: Is Folder.dbx there as well? If yes to both, you should be able to import them. First, if you have any messages in your current identity that are in folders with the same name as any folders in the old identity, move them to a user created folder(s) that do not have the same name as any of the folders you are going to import. The Inbox for example. Now, still in your current new identity: File | Import | Messages. Select Microsoft Outlook Express 6 and the button to: Import from an OE6 store identity. Browse to the location of the folder on the Desktop. You will have the option to import all or selected folders. How we doin' so far? Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]

Yes to both questions. However, the import wizard is not working. I click OE6 and then click NEXT, but it just sits there and doesn't advance to the next step. I then tried clicking other programs and clicking NEXT... same problem, just sits there and doesn't advance to the next step. Is there another way to import?

Create a new identity. File | Identity | Add New Identity. Note: Do not use the word Main in the name of the new identity. Can you import into this identity? Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]

nope, still doing the same thing...

Does the identity you are currently using work otherwise? Is it does, you're going to need to do a manual import if individual files. First, drag the dbx files that you want to import out of this folder to the Desktop so each looks as a regular Desktop icon would. Do the following for each, one-at-a-time. Open OE and create a folder with the *exact* same name as the one on the Desktop. Open the new folder and then close OE. (You must do this). Go to Windows Explorer and locate the Message Store folder for your OE identity, but don't open it. Click on the Desktop and drag the file from the Desktop in the right hand pane to the OE store folder in the left pane. Prompt - "Do you want to overwrite......."? Click Yes. *Note* If you have moved the Outlook Express store folder from it's default location on drive C to another drive, drag the dbx file to a location on that drive and not the Desktop. Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]

I sent a test email to check and see if it is working right. It is not. The email shows up with the subject line. However, the text in the body does NOT show up. So, it looks like there is a problem with the OE as well.

If this happened in a new identity, then OE is horked. Start checking for Malware. Download and install the free version of this tool and do a full scan. Malwarebytes Anti-Malwarehttp://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]

Ran Malwarebytes... it detected about 10 things. I removed them and restarted the computer. Still have the same problems with OE.

See this about possible fixes for messages appearing blank: www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#10 Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]

Still can't resolve the problem.... should i call tech support?

You've created a new identity. You say you're Malware free. The only thing left that I know maybe the cause is Norton. It has caused many people headaches when using OE. I would suggest removing it completely and replacing it. 1: Download and Save these to items. Microsoft Security Essentials:http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/default.aspx Norton Removal Tool:http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039 Close all programs so you are not connected to the Internet. 2: Remove Norton via Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel. 3: Run the Norton Removal tool. 4: Reboot. 5: Install Microsoft Security Essentials. 6: Reboot. If that does not fix it, I'm afraid I am out of ideas. But as bad as Norton is, I would suggest doing this even if it is not the final fix. Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]

Bruce, I've installed Outlook 2007. How can i get the dbx files imported into Outlook? I'm ready to ditch OE!

Migrate from Outlook Express or Windows (Live) Mail to Outlookhttp://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/migratefromoewlm.htm Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]