See this KB article:

A dialog box with no text appears if you reply to a news message in Outlook
Express 6 Service Pack 1 (ignore the title)
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=555398

Also see this post of mine in a recent newsgroup discussion:
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...7f3b0ed2?hl=en

For a reason yet to be determined, Windows Update is still offering OE
updates in the wrong order to Win2k SP4 and WinXP SP1 users. They
supposedly straightened it out c. 14 Aug-05. Here's the fix:

1. Uninstall 'Windows 2000 Hotfix - KB897715' via Add/Remove Programs and
reboot.

2a. Assuming MSOE.DLL is now v6.00.2800.1409 or earlier (i.e.,
v6.00.2800.1123 or v6.00.2800.1106), install (KB)823353 manually using the
file downloaded from
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

2b. Optional: Reboot and install KB887797 via
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...6-a1a3da675baf

3. Reboot and (re)install (KB)897715 manually using the file downloaded from
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...d-28502b3d2518

Alternatively, after #1 above, check in at Windows Update and install
whatever OE Cumulative Update is now offered and reboot. Then return to
Windows Update to see if another one's now offered you.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), AH-VSOP


gwuk wrote:
> Sorry, 2000 SP4 5.00.2195
>
> > > Sorry about the piggyback. Version of both is 6.00.2800.1506. Hope
> > > that helps.
> > >
> > > > (It's best to begin a new thread about /your/ problem instead of
> > > > piggybacking onto another's thread.)
> > > >
> > > > Windows version?
> > > >
> > > > OE Help > About > Files: What versions of MSOE.DLL and INETCOMM.DLL
> > > > are displayed here?
> > > > --
> > > > > Got exactly the same problem with KB823353. Any one know how to
> > > > > get round it. It still does the same thing when I go directly to
> > > > > the site instead of using auto update as well.
> > > > >
> > > > > > When I activate Automatic Update I am repeatedly prompted to
> > > > > > download the exact same update (in this case a security patch
> > > > > > for Outlook Express). I install it and the Update site
> > > > > > indicates that it is successfully installed yet I am prompted
> > > > > > again and again. Any ideas?