Outlook

As mentioned before, I have scanned, defrag'ed and checked for viruses on my computer, but now my Outlook is acting up. If I click on the icon, it takes a really long time before Outlook actually opens up my inbox - it even shows as not responding during that time, but eventually, it opens up.

What can I do to get Outlook back to normal?

EDIT: If I open Outlook and then open MSN Messenger, both programs stall. Are these problems related?

 

Are you using Outlook or Outlook Express? If OE, have a look here.

 

Sorry, it's Outlook Express... I'm using Win98

 

Is there a way I can update my Outlook so that it runs normally again? (I'm no computer whiz, so keep it simple please!)

 

Step #1 - a system cleanup

• In C:\ locate and delete any files with a name pattern filennnn.chk where nnnn is any number so file0001.chk, etc. May be lots. May be none. Delete any you find.
• From your browser, delete all temp internet files and cookies.
• Delete the entire contents of your Temp file.
• Empty your recycle bin.
• Reboot and go to DOS mode rather than letting windows start.
• Run the following commands:
• - scanreg /fix
• - scanreg /opt
• - scandisk /autofix /nosave /surface
• - Win /d:m (to boot to windows in safe mode)
• Do a scandisk (the DOS one couldn't fix any long filename problems) but standard since you've already done a good surface check. Set to fix any errors found.
• Defrag and if the system says you don't need to (drive is 0% or 2% or something fragmented), tell it to do the defrag anyway.

Step #2 - a repair of Outlook Express (and please call it that since Outlook is a completely different application) from the control panel, add/remove, and when you select Internet Explorer, repair should be one of your options.

Step #3 - get rid of any spyware/malware on your PC. Download, update, and run Ad-aware and check all the items it finds so they will be removed. Download, update, and run Spybot. It will show any spyware in red with the items pre-checked I think. Get rid of them. Links to both programs are in my signature.

 

Newt,

Thank you so much for your response. I followed your steps and got stuck at #2 - I went to my control panel to repair OE6 and when I clicked it, it said it would delete and restore my original version (5). So it restarted and OE5 was now there... but still the same problem.

I also noticed I had an "internet explorer xxxxx" where xxxxx were numbers, as well as "internet explorer 6 sp and tools" so I removed the iexxxxx.

Do I need to repair using my win98 cd? Repair wasn't an option.

It took me 4 hours to complete everything in step 1, and as far as that goes, it completed with no errors.

I appreciate your help! And props for the exact steps, it definately helps computer ilit's like me! Thank you!!!

 

Sorry to hear it backed you off a version and still won't work correctly. Not sure why it refused to repair IE/OE6 though.

I'd be temped to suggest you remove IE/OE completely and then do a fresh load but I'm long away from 98 and not really sure how it would like an install of IE6 with no earlier versions around.

However, we do have some serious 9X experts on here so hopefully you can get an answer from someone who won't be guessing as I would be. For now, don't do it.

Do go ahead with step #3 though. Get rid of the spyware/malware.

 

Hi again, Newt,

I guess I misunderstood earlier - I tried to repair OE 6 instead of IE 6, which resulted in a bump back to OE 5.

I just went back in and clicked on IE 6 and I got the option to repair this time... I did so, and restarted... I noticed a new IE icon on my desktop (so I assume it repaired), so I clicked on OE to see if anything changed. Nadda.

I wish I knew why/what caused this to occur. It was running fine before (how common is that statement?).

I have run spybot, ad-aware, and cwshredder, detection/removal of mydoom, scanned my drives, defrag'ed, and done everything else you have suggested. I guess it's just something I'll have to live with until I reformat again

Thanks for your help.

 

I had a similar problem after I took my computer in for some work. They backed up Outlook with a program called something like "Backup OE ". The icon was still on my desktop - after spending hours trying to fix the problem, I uninstalled the program and voila, everything back to normal. Phoned the computer shop and they told me "oh yes that program will cause that problem" - duh! Why leave it on someone's computer then!!! Since then a friend had the same problem and sure enough there was that same backup program. I uninstalled it for her and yes, everything back to normal.

Maybe this will help
Beamuse

 

I apologize, Zander, seems I need new glasses. When I read your post, I thought you said, "if you have Outlook, look here. "

I clicked on the link, and it has a lot of info on it - one thing that hit me right away was, I installed McAfee and it was on my system for a couple days. I didn't like it, so I uninstalled it and installed Norton instead. So like the link said,

If you uninstall a version of McAfee VirusScan and then install
a later version without first restarting your computer, the
McAfee install routine will delete "Imagehlp.dll" by mistake.

I will definately go through those steps tomorrow (as many as I can without screwing something else up), and I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks for your help.

 

beamuse,

Thanks for your reply...

I ran a 'find' on my drive and searched for files containing text backup - I didn't find anything that would backup OE.

 

Hi Serenity!

First I would like to ask you what changes you made on your computer around the time that OE started to act up. Did you install a new program...did you uninstall a program....when you uninstalled did you use the windows add remove?

When I was using 98, and things got bogged down, I took my 98 CD and ran windows set up. It will not delete any of your files that you have worked on or programs you have installed but it will reinstall important windows settings, dlls and registries that may have been deleted or corrupted.

Here is what you do:
- Put your windows Cd in the drive
- have you windows product key ready in case you need it
- go to the Start menu and shutdown but instead of choosing shutdown, choose start in MS Dos
- At the ms dos prompt type D: then hit enter
- You will see D:\ now type in setup then hit enter
- setup will now begin, just follow the prompts and it will take you through. It will take a couple of hours if I remember right.

Just an option that you might try especially if you are getting to the point of a clean install

Beamuse

 

Hi Beamuse,

I'm pretty sure it happened when my old Norton expired and I installed McAfee virus protection. I didn't like McAfee, so I removed it using the add/remove programs and installed Norton 2003.

If I reinstall windows98, can I use the copy I have? Or do I need an "update" cd? I was tempted to run setup this afternoon, but then second-guessed myself because I thought I needed an update cd.

Like I said in my PC performance post, weird things are happening - like my Internet Explorer says the 5.x version, but my favorites are still there, even though I ran IEradicator... and OE should be the 5.x version but when it starts up, the splash screen says OE6 and all my emails are there (I never backed them up). Its like I can't remove and reinstall brand new, it picks up bits and pieces from my 'past'.

If I don't need an update cd, I think I'll try reinstalling Win98 tomorrow.

Thanks!

 

Hi Serenity!

Just use your original CD. When you finish, you will have to run windows update to get all the latest updates.

Just to make sure, back up your favorites, your outlook address book and your messages .....they can be exported into your document file.

For your favorites in explorer go to file then import/export

For your address book go into your address book then to File then export your address book to the same place as your favorites.

To backup your messages go to My Computer -> C:/ ->
windows -> application data -> Identities -> you will find in one of the files (they have a lot of numbers as a file name) a folder named microsoft -> Outlook and there you will find a group of dbx files that are named the same as yours in Outlook. Copy (not Cut) the file with your messages and put it into your file in My documents (or where ever you want to put it). That is how I backup but maybe there is another way.

A note: sometimes (as in the case of say Zone Alarm) it is better to use the uninstaller that comes with the program. You may try reinstalling McAfee and then using their own uninstall to get it out of your system again.


Hope all is better for you after this.

Beamuse