> Anyway, I then bought the official Scandbx. It has fixed the problem
> sufficient to open OE 6, but Error 0x800C0138 showed up on the connection
> dialog box, so now I'm going to ask Scandbx to fix that.

Close OE. Find and delete Folders.dbx.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), AH-VSOP

J S Oliver wrote:
> HI Jim --
>
> This was fascinating. I did the File/Search for all files ending with dbx
> (*.dbx). NONE was found. In the middle of the search, however, I tried the
> demo version of Scandbx. It had refused to work before, saying "OE is
> open. Must close" -- in other words, the same "another instance is
> running" issue. However, this time, Scandbx ran and found all my email
> files -- the ones that File/Search said didn't exist.
>
> If the search is case sensitive, that would explain it. Otherwise, I'm at
> a loss.
>
> Anyway, I then bought the official Scandbx. It has fixed the problem
> sufficient to open OE 6, but Error 0x800C0138 showed up on the connection
> dialog box, so now I'm going to ask Scandbx to fix that.
>
> So: I never got to try the rename to OldMail 1, etc. suggestion.
>
> Some history in case it's relevant to someone: Earlier today, I did a
> regedit and changed all the (1) values to (0) in the indicated path files.
> Then I rebooted. It reported that OE had been removed from the computer
> and asked if I wanted to change my settings. I said "yes." Then I tried to
> download OE6. That failed because it said a more recent version was
> detected.
>
> Also, whereas until today I was able to access my webmail account despite
> the "another instance" issue, in the middle of the day, for no apparent
> reason, webmail said I couldn't access it because possible OE was
> running. Go figure.
>
> The summary version: I tried many things. Scandbx appeared to fix the
> issue at least for now.
>
> Thanks for all your assistance anyway.
>
> Now I'll try to configure OE newsgroups!
>
>
> I then went back to regedit and changed all the value 0s to 1s and
> rebooted. That's when I found your latest post using another computer.
>
> > 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