OE6 crashes on startup - corrupted address book?

OE6/IE6 installed with new HP Pav PC.
OE6 was running fine until I tried adding new identities to another user
account.
OE6 was open for the original user when I switched users and created a
couple of new id's in OE6. When I switched back to the original user, the
shared contact list was scrolling wildly. I closed OE6 in both user accounts.

Now whenever I try to open OE6 (from any user account), it gives the the
'encountered a problem & needs to close; error message. The error debug info
says modname:wab32.dll appname:msimn.exe'

I get the same error message if I try to open just Address Book.
I tried removing OE6 & reinstalling it (from the add/remove window components)
& I tried deleting all the ID's within OE6. Nothing helped.

I think the address book is corrupted. Any way to just delete that?
Thank for any help.

Hi csaag,

The user_name.wab files could first be renamed using the (.wab) extension.
If this resolves the issue a new default address book will be created when
OE starts. It may be possible to later open a renamed (*.wab) book to
retrieve the entries. A user_name.wab file can safely be deleted.

By default *.wab files are hidden in Win 2000 and Win XP.
Search for *.wab. A backup address book (with an altered extension) is
likely to be in the same folder(s) as the *.wab file(s).

--
Tim K.
aka Kuay Tim
MS-MVP - Outlook Express
Lynnwood, WA
*
"csaag" <csaagp_nospam@msn.com> wrote in message
news:1B39E057-3D93-47C6-A6F6-382D84A13914@microsoft.com...
OE6/IE6 installed with new HP Pav PC.
OE6 was running fine until I tried adding new identities to another user
account.
OE6 was open for the original user when I switched users and created a
couple of new id's in OE6. When I switched back to the original user, the
shared contact list was scrolling wildly. I closed OE6 in both user
accounts.

Now whenever I try to open OE6 (from any user account), it gives the the
'encountered a problem & needs to close; error message. The error debug
info
says modname:wab32.dll appname:msimn.exe'

I get the same error message if I try to open just Address Book.
I tried removing OE6 & reinstalling it (from the add/remove window
components)
& I tried deleting all the ID's within OE6. Nothing helped.

I think the address book is corrupted. Any way to just delete that?
Thank for any help.

Thanks! that worked.


"Kuay Tim" wrote:

> Hi csaag,
>
> The user_name.wab files could first be renamed using the (.wab) extension.
> If this resolves the issue a new default address book will be created when
> OE starts. It may be possible to later open a renamed (*.wab) book to
> retrieve the entries. A user_name.wab file can safely be deleted.
>
> By default *.wab files are hidden in Win 2000 and Win XP.
> Search for *.wab. A backup address book (with an altered extension) is
> likely to be in the same folder(s) as the *.wab file(s).
>
> --
> Tim K.
> aka Kuay Tim
> MS-MVP - Outlook Express
> Lynnwood, WA
> *
> "csaag" <csaagp_nospam@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:1B39E057-3D93-47C6-A6F6-382D84A13914@microsoft.com...
> OE6/IE6 installed with new HP Pav PC.
> OE6 was running fine until I tried adding new identities to another user
> account.
> OE6 was open for the original user when I switched users and created a
> couple of new id's in OE6. When I switched back to the original user, the
> shared contact list was scrolling wildly. I closed OE6 in both user
> accounts.
>
> Now whenever I try to open OE6 (from any user account), it gives the the
> 'encountered a problem & needs to close; error message. The error debug
> info
> says modname:wab32.dll appname:msimn.exe'
>
> I get the same error message if I try to open just Address Book.
> I tried removing OE6 & reinstalling it (from the add/remove window
> components)
> & I tried deleting all the ID's within OE6. Nothing helped.
>
> I think the address book is corrupted. Any way to just delete that?
> Thank for any help.
>
>
>

You're welcome. Thanks for the feedback.

--
Tim K.
aka Kuay Tim
MS-MVP - Outlook Express
Lynnwood, WA
*
"csaag" <csaagp_nospam@msn.com> wrote in message
news38D8052-7395-4587-B497-16217E61F46B@microsoft.com...
Thanks! that worked.


"Kuay Tim" wrote:

> Hi csaag,
>
> The user_name.wab files could first be renamed using the (.wab) extension.
> If this resolves the issue a new default address book will be created when
> OE starts. It may be possible to later open a renamed (*.wab) book to
> retrieve the entries. A user_name.wab file can safely be deleted.
>
> By default *.wab files are hidden in Win 2000 and Win XP.
> Search for *.wab. A backup address book (with an altered extension) is
> likely to be in the same folder(s) as the *.wab file(s).
>
> --
> Tim K.
> aka Kuay Tim
> MS-MVP - Outlook Express
> Lynnwood, WA
> *
> "csaag" <csaagp_nospam@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:1B39E057-3D93-47C6-A6F6-382D84A13914@microsoft.com...
> OE6/IE6 installed with new HP Pav PC.
> OE6 was running fine until I tried adding new identities to another user
> account.
> OE6 was open for the original user when I switched users and created a
> couple of new id's in OE6. When I switched back to the original user, the
> shared contact list was scrolling wildly. I closed OE6 in both user
> accounts.
>
> Now whenever I try to open OE6 (from any user account), it gives the the
> 'encountered a problem & needs to close; error message. The error debug
> info
> says modname:wab32.dll appname:msimn.exe'
>
> I get the same error message if I try to open just Address Book.
> I tried removing OE6 & reinstalling it (from the add/remove window
> components)
> & I tried deleting all the ID's within OE6. Nothing helped.
>
> I think the address book is corrupted. Any way to just delete that?
> Thank for any help.
>
>
>

this is a dell windows xp home computer.

There are two messages that, even though long deleted through webmail
access, remain boldfaced and supposedly unread. The cursor stays stuck
on 1 of them and the Outlook Express freezes as soon as 1 tries to do
ANYTHING. the scroll at the bottom says Outlook is trying to receive
messages.

What should I do? reinstall outlook? find a file and rename it? Thanks.

It is probably a large message.

The first thing to do is to turn off e-mail scanning in your anti-virus
program, and leave it off. It is a redundant part of your A/V, so you will
still be protected.

Next: create a message rule.

Where the message size is more than size
Delete it from the server
Click on Size and select 50KB. OK | Apply Now | Select the new rule | Apply
Now.

You might want to save the rule for future use, but uncheck it so it isn't
active.

If still no joy, move all messages out of your Inbox that you wish to save
to a local folder you create. Then:

Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store folder will reveal the location of
your Outlook Express files. Press the Tab key to highlight the folder
location, then Ctrl+C. Close OE, then Start | Run | Ctrl+V will put the
location in the box - Click OK and you'll see the OE files. Otherwise, write
the location down and navigate to it in Windows Explorer.

In WindowsXP, 2K & 3K, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default marked
as hidden. To view these files in Explorer, you must enable Show Hidden
Files and Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder Options | View.

With OE closed, find the DBX file for the folder in question {Inbox.dbx} and
delete it. A new one will be created automatically when you open OE.

Do not archive mail in default OE folders. They will eventually become
corrupt. 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.

In Tools | Options | Maintenance: Uncheck Compact messages in background and
leave it unchecked. {N/A if running XP/SP2}.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS MVP - Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

<glin@intellibridge.com> wrote in message
news:1135647283.388886.99720@f14g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com...
> this is a dell windows xp home computer.
>
> There are two messages that, even though long deleted through webmail
> access, remain boldfaced and supposedly unread. The cursor stays stuck
> on 1 of them and the Outlook Express freezes as soon as 1 tries to do
> ANYTHING. the scroll at the bottom says Outlook is trying to receive
> messages.
>
> What should I do? reinstall outlook? find a file and rename it? Thanks.
>

In XP, the normal location is C:\Documents and Settings\*XP user name*\Local
Settings\Application Data\Identities\{*long GUID string*}\Microsoft\Outlook
Express

With OE closed, move inbox.dbx to another folder.
Reopen OE and see if you can access the Inbox.

Create a new folder in OE.
Copy one email into the new folder.
Close OE.
Rename the moved inbox.dbx file to the same name that you gave the new
folder.
Copy the renamed inbox.dbx file into the OE store folder.
Overwrite the new folder file.
Open OE.
See if you can open the new folder.
Have the preview pane turned off.
See if you can delete the problem emails.
If you can't delete the two emails, move the other emails to another folder.
Delete the folder with the two emails.
--
Ron Sommer


<glin@intellibridge.com> wrote in message
news:1135647283.388886.99720@f14g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com...
> this is a dell windows xp home computer.
>
> There are two messages that, even though long deleted through webmail
> access, remain boldfaced and supposedly unread. The cursor stays stuck
> on 1 of them and the Outlook Express freezes as soon as 1 tries to do
> ANYTHING. the scroll at the bottom says Outlook is trying to receive
> messages.
>
> What should I do? reinstall outlook? find a file and rename it? Thanks.
>

Did you miss "long deleted through webmail access" ?
--
Ron Sommer

"Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message
news:OoXPqvoCGHA.984@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> It is probably a large message.
>
> The first thing to do is to turn off e-mail scanning in your anti-virus
> program, and leave it off. It is a redundant part of your A/V, so you will
> still be protected.
>
> Next: create a message rule.
>
> Where the message size is more than size
> Delete it from the server
> Click on Size and select 50KB. OK | Apply Now | Select the new rule |
> Apply Now.
>
> You might want to save the rule for future use, but uncheck it so it isn't
> active.
>
> If still no joy, move all messages out of your Inbox that you wish to save
> to a local folder you create. Then:
>
> Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store folder will reveal the location of
> your Outlook Express files. Press the Tab key to highlight the folder
> location, then Ctrl+C. Close OE, then Start | Run | Ctrl+V will put the
> location in the box - Click OK and you'll see the OE files. Otherwise,
> write the location down and navigate to it in Windows Explorer.
>
> In WindowsXP, 2K & 3K, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default
> marked as hidden. To view these files in Explorer, you must enable Show
> Hidden Files and Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder Options |
> View.
>
> With OE closed, find the DBX file for the folder in question {Inbox.dbx}
> and delete it. A new one will be created automatically when you open OE.
>
> Do not archive mail in default OE folders. They will eventually become
> corrupt. 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.
>
> In Tools | Options | Maintenance: Uncheck Compact messages in background
> and leave it unchecked. {N/A if running XP/SP2}.
> --
> Bruce Hagen
> MS MVP - Outlook Express
> ~IB-CA~
>
> <glin@intellibridge.com> wrote in message
> news:1135647283.388886.99720@f14g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com...
>> this is a dell windows xp home computer.
>>
>> There are two messages that, even though long deleted through webmail
>> access, remain boldfaced and supposedly unread. The cursor stays stuck
>> on 1 of them and the Outlook Express freezes as soon as 1 tries to do
>> ANYTHING. the scroll at the bottom says Outlook is trying to receive
>> messages.
>>
>> What should I do? reinstall outlook? find a file and rename it? Thanks.
>>
>

I saw it, but since the OP said, " the scroll at the bottom says Outlook is
trying to receive messages." I thought I'd throw in everything. My last is
essentially the same as your reply.

I could have just posted that, but I guess I'm a *canned message* freak.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS MVP - Outlook Express
~IB-CA~


"Ron Sommer" <rsommer@nospam.ktis.net> wrote in message
news:%23PZdA4oCGHA.1032@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> Did you miss "long deleted through webmail access" ?
> --
> Ron Sommer
>
> "Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message
> news:OoXPqvoCGHA.984@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>> It is probably a large message.
>>
>> The first thing to do is to turn off e-mail scanning in your anti-virus
>> program, and leave it off. It is a redundant part of your A/V, so you
>> will still be protected.
>>
>> Next: create a message rule.
>>
>> Where the message size is more than size
>> Delete it from the server
>> Click on Size and select 50KB. OK | Apply Now | Select the new rule |
>> Apply Now.
>>
>> You might want to save the rule for future use, but uncheck it so it
>> isn't active.
>>
>> If still no joy, move all messages out of your Inbox that you wish to
>> save to a local folder you create. Then:
>>
>> Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store folder will reveal the location of
>> your Outlook Express files. Press the Tab key to highlight the folder
>> location, then Ctrl+C. Close OE, then Start | Run | Ctrl+V will put the
>> location in the box - Click OK and you'll see the OE files. Otherwise,
>> write the location down and navigate to it in Windows Explorer.
>>
>> In WindowsXP, 2K & 3K, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default
>> marked as hidden. To view these files in Explorer, you must enable Show
>> Hidden Files and Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder Options |
>> View.
>>
>> With OE closed, find the DBX file for the folder in question {Inbox.dbx}
>> and delete it. A new one will be created automatically when you open OE.
>>
>> Do not archive mail in default OE folders. They will eventually become
>> corrupt. 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.
>>
>> In Tools | Options | Maintenance: Uncheck Compact messages in background
>> and leave it unchecked. {N/A if running XP/SP2}.
>> --
>> Bruce Hagen
>> MS MVP - Outlook Express
>> ~IB-CA~
>>
>> <glin@intellibridge.com> wrote in message
>> news:1135647283.388886.99720@f14g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com...
>>> this is a dell windows xp home computer.
>>>
>>> There are two messages that, even though long deleted through webmail
>>> access, remain boldfaced and supposedly unread. The cursor stays stuck
>>> on 1 of them and the Outlook Express freezes as soon as 1 tries to do
>>> ANYTHING. the scroll at the bottom says Outlook is trying to receive
>>> messages.
>>>
>>> What should I do? reinstall outlook? find a file and rename it? Thanks.
>>>
>>
>
>

Thank you folks for your helpful suggestions. In brief I did two
things:

1) went into Norton Antivirus and turned off Email Scanning. This step
restored the flow of email into my inbox, adding several hundred ones
that it had blocked. however, the cursor still froze on the problematic
photo-filled email. then I closed outlook express and

2) did a search for all files INCLUDING hidden ones and deleted all
folders.dbx. there were 4 of them. once i had done this, i was able to
jump into outlook express and delete all the emails in there. I was
fine with losing all the stored email in order to have a working
outlook again.