outlook appears to start then disappears, it is not open in task manager but when i shut down computer it says ending program now please wait. every 6-9 tries outlook opens and runs normal. then i can't get it back, just a quick screen showing outlook starting then it's gone.

Assuming you mean Outlook and not Outlook Express, despite the title you supplied, see this: Dialog box is open.Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]--------------------------------https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Brian.TillmanIf a reply helps, please vote it as helpful. If a reply solves the issue, please mark it as an answer.

Are you using Outlook or Outlook Express?If you are using Outlook 2002, then ensure you have installed all the updates.Refer to the following Hotfix and check if this helps:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/841541

brian, thanks for your ans yes you are right i have outlook, not express, but i ck'd the user info and it's all there. i also updated via microsoft, and got some new updates, still no resolution of my email prob. i did have one update fail to install, KB2416447, overall seems funny that the outlook will load and work normally about every 5th or 6th tries, but then struggles to open at all other attempts, then when i shut down at night the shut down says, ending program please wait, and it shuts down outlook! and it does the ending program routine multiple times, ( 1 for each attempt i made that day to open it ) another guy from microsoft offered a hot fix solution but the repair insisted, that if i wasn't sure the fix matched my problem perfectly, i could harm my system. i didn't try it cuz the fix did not match perfectly. thanks again, randy up in north idaho.