It's not uncommon to have the first attempt to switch fail, but it shouldn't
lock up. It could a number of things.

Clear the Temporary Internet Files. In IE>Tools>Internet Options>
Delete Files button. And check the box to Delete Offline content.

Do not archive mail in default OE folders. They will eventually become
corrupted. Create your own user defined folders for storing mail and move
your mail to them. Empty Deleted Items folder regularly. Keep user created
folders under 100MB, and Default folders as empty as is feasible.

After you are done, follow up by compacting your folders manually while
working *offline* and do it often.

Click on Outlook Express at the top of the folder tree so no
folders are open. Then: File>Work Offline (or double click Working Online in
the Status Bar). File>Folder>Compact all folders. Don't touch anything until
the compacting is completed.

Try these cleaning tools. Always check for updates for each one before
running.

AdAware SE:
http://www.lavasoft.de/

SpyBot S & D:
http://beam.to/spybotsd

Run a Defrag.

Visit Windows Updates. You're missing a few.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS MVP - Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"Patrick Cleburne" <mgcleburne@csa> wrote in message
news:2dGdndpNq6uOX-DeRVn-gg@comcast.com...
> Running XP Home SP2 fully updated with 6 identities in OE 6 (6.00
> 2900.2180)-- fully virus scanned, spyware and firewalled too.
>
> Sometimes the OE identity switching feature doesn't work. I highlight on
> the identity I want to switch to, click OK- but I stay on the current
> identity. And sometimes the program just locks up and disappears. Clicking
> the program shortcut doesn't restart it either. Sometimes it comes back by
> itself after 30 seconds or so, other times it takes a reboot.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Patrick
>