Try this instead. Do a File/Search for all files ending with DBX on your
computer and note the folder they are contained in. (In Windows 2000 and XP,
the DBX are hidden by the operating system, so you will need to click the
Advanced button on Search and include hidden files).

Once you find the folder containing the DBX files, rename that folder to
OldMail (if you have several folders, rename them OldMail1, OldMail2, etc.).
Now see if Outlook Express will open. It should and you will find empty
default folders. You can use the menu, File/Import/Messages, selecting OE6
and From a Message Store and point to the OldMail folder. If the mail is
not totally corrupted, you should be able to recover some of your messages.
If they will not import, you may need to use a 3rd party program such as
DBXtract or DBXpress from www.oehelp.com to recover them.

Good luck and post back with your results.
--
Jim Pickering, MVP, Outlook Express
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pr...8-1171988A62D6



"J S Oliver" <jsoliver@cox.net.(donotspam)> wrote in message
news:35BDA0DD-880B-46D5-88E6-A7575E4DB7DD@microsoft.com...
> 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
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>