Thank you for the suggestion to use OE. Of course I would, except that the
original problem is that OE won't open! (smiles)

That "another instance is running" is also preventing scandbx and the OE
backup utility from working. It's a horrible catch-22!

I've run Trend Micro's and AVD's virus scans. No worms, trojans, or viruses
have been detected.

I'm running the sfc /scannow utility now.

Can a novice do a clean/reinstall of XP Home? I am SURE there will be
prompts that I won't understand. Is there a comprehensive step-by-step aid
somewhere that is written to guide people with minimal computer knowledge
through a reinstall?

And, before I do that, what should I disconnect from my computer? I assume I
should disconnect my backup drive. What else? Router? Printer? Scanner?
Universal supply? Card reader? Are there ANY other precautions I ought to
take?

I have backed up the data and the system files -- I did that a couple of
days ago. I'm worried that if I use them, though, I'll just re-corrupt the
system I've just reinstalled.

Thanks for your help and patience. If you know someone reliable who can
remote onto my system and help out, don't be shy!
--
Thanks, JSO


"Jim Pickering" wrote:

> Recommend you use a regular news reader such as Outlook Express vs. that web
> interface. See here for how to set it up:
> http://www.insideoe.com/resources/index.htm#setupmsnews
> --
> Jim Pickering, MVP, Outlook Express
> https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pr...8-1171988A62D6
> Please deliver feedback to the newsgroup, so that others can be helped.
> Thanks.
>
>
> "J S Oliver" <jsoliver@cox.net.(donotspam)> wrote in message
> news:4E112F25-AA8F-4C14-9284-1E052ADBE38B@microsoft.com...
> > Thanks very much. It's late here now. I'll try that tomorrow and get back
> > to
> > you.
> >
> > By the way: The reason this query is posted under this thread is because
> > the
> > newsgroup system WILL NOT let me start a NEW thread. I can only REPLY --
> > hence my posting here. But I cannot start a NEW thread. I log in and I
> > get a
> > "welcome back" message in the right-hand pane. I hit new and that's all I
> > see: A welcome sentence in the right pane. That's all, that's it. Zip. No
> > matter how many times I hit "new," my choices are to log in again if I'm
> > not
> > J S Oliver, or sit there and stare at the screen. There's no way to post
> > a
> > new thread. So: If you can also tell me what's with THAT, you will likely
> > save me from considering suicide. If I can't even ask Microsoft a
> > question,
> > just shoot me now!
> >
> > --
> > Thanks, JSO
> >
> >
> > "Jim Pickering" wrote:
> >
> >> Try using msconfig at the Start/Run line, look on the startup tab and
> >> uncheck all programs except those relating to Microsoft applications,
> >> click
> >> Apply and reboot. See if the problem is fixed. It sounds like you have
> >> some third party program installed that is interfering or that your
> >> computer
> >> is infected with some type of parasite or spyware infection. For help
> >> with
> >> those, see these links:
> >>
> >> Go here for info:
> >> http://aumha.org/a/tshoot.php#malware
> >>
> >> And for a quick check:
> >> http://aumha.org/a/noads.php
> >> --
> >> Jim Pickering, MVP, Outlook Express
> >> https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pr...8-1171988A62D6
> >> Please deliver feedback to the newsgroup, so that others can be helped.
> >> Thanks.
> >>
> >>
> >> "J S Oliver" <jsoliver@cox.net.(donotspam)> wrote in message
> >> news:3F8A7C87-A559-47C9-85F0-4FC59D49F894@microsoft.com...
> >> >I run XP Home SP2. Out of nowhere, IE 6 won't open because it says
> >> >"another
> >> > instance is running." I've tried everything I know to do. I can't find
> >> > another instance running and I can't shut it down. I've tried cold
> >> > booting,
> >> > restarting, virus scanning, disabling my virus program, uninstalling my
> >> > virus
> >> > program, disk cleanup, disk check, defragging. OE fixit programs won't
> >> > work
> >> > for the same reason. They say they can't backup, or scandbx, or
> >> > download
> >> > another OE6 application because "another instance is running."
> >> >
> >> > When I do a search on Outloo*, I get 46 files. Six are identities. I
> >> > can't
> >> > tell which is the current identity so I don't dare delete anything. Can
> >> > anyone help with ANY of this?
> >> >
> >> > Thanks in sunny Phoenix
> >> > --
> >> > Thanks, JSO
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
>
>