[Debby Rich]

I can't open Outlook Express! I think I've tracked down the problem, which is
explained here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q224463

However, I really need a bit more step-by-step info on how to do the fix.

Thanks in advance.

[PA Bear]

Windows version?

OE version (OE Help > About)?

Did you get the error message cited in KB224463?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE) & Security

Debby Rich wrote:
> I can't open Outlook Express! I think I've tracked down the problem, which
> is explained here:
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q224463
>
> However, I really need a bit more step-by-step info on how to do the fix.
>
> Thanks in advance.

[Debby Rich]

"PA Bear" wrote:

> Windows version?
>
> OE version (OE Help > About)?
>
> Did you get the error message cited in KB224463?

Sorry, yes I did get the same message:

"Identity Switch Canceled. The current identity could not be changed because
one of the applications was unable to switch. Close any open dialog boxes in
other applications before trying again."

I'm using Windows XP (service pack 2).

Can't get so far as opening OE, so can't provide version, but I think it's 6.

[PA Bear]

Debby Rich wrote:
> > Windows version?
> >
> > OE version (OE Help > About)?
> >
> > Did you get the error message cited in KB224463?
>
> Sorry, yes I did get the same message:
>
> "Identity Switch Canceled. The current identity could not be changed
> because one of the applications was unable to switch. Close any open
> dialog boxes in other applications before trying again."
>
> I'm using Windows XP (service pack 2).
>
> Can't get so far as opening OE, so can't provide version, but I think
> it's 6.

Please include all of previous message in your replies, Debby. Yes, you'll
be running OE6 in WinXP SP2.

See http://www.insideoe.com/problems/errors.htm#crash, beginning with the
section "If Outlook Express will not start...". Hopefully you'll get OE to
start following the first few steps.

If not, one or more of your Identities is damaged and you'll have more work
to do. Follow the steps after "If you still cannot start OE...".

References to assist you:

1. In WindowsXP, 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.

2. How OE stores your data
http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#storemain

In WinXP, the default location for an identity's store is:

C:\Documents and Settings\<User>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities\{GUID}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

where {GUID} is the Global Unique IDentifier (technical jargon for a unique
long number) used to specify each Identity.

3. Each Identity has its own associated Registry key. See
http://www.insideoe.com/files/regkeys.htm.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Why it happens:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx

To avoid such corruption in future:

- Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
folders created for this purpose.

- Empty Deleted Items folder daily.

- Disable Background Compacting [N/A in SP2] and frequently perform a manual
compact of all OE folders while "working offline". More at
http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/files/maintain.htm.

- Your anti-virus application's email scanning feature can also cause such
corruption. Disable it. It provides no additional protection.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE) & Security

[Debby Rich]

Many thanks for taking the time to try and help me. I'm afraid I've had to
give up though. I spent about an hour trying to fix it (plus other time spent
elsewhere) and have since downloaded Mozilla Thunderbird, which works well!

Thanks again for your time.

"PA Bear" wrote:

> Debby Rich wrote:
> > > Windows version?
> > >
> > > OE version (OE Help > About)?
> > >
> > > Did you get the error message cited in KB224463?
> >
> > Sorry, yes I did get the same message:
> >
> > "Identity Switch Canceled. The current identity could not be changed
> > because one of the applications was unable to switch. Close any open
> > dialog boxes in other applications before trying again."
> >
> > I'm using Windows XP (service pack 2).
> >
> > Can't get so far as opening OE, so can't provide version, but I think
> > it's 6.
>
> Please include all of previous message in your replies, Debby. Yes, you'll
> be running OE6 in WinXP SP2.
>
> See http://www.insideoe.com/problems/errors.htm#crash, beginning with the
> section "If Outlook Express will not start...". Hopefully you'll get OE to
> start following the first few steps.
>
> If not, one or more of your Identities is damaged and you'll have more work
> to do. Follow the steps after "If you still cannot start OE...".
>
> References to assist you:
>
> 1. In WindowsXP, 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.
>
> 2. How OE stores your data
> http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#storemain
>
> In WinXP, the default location for an identity's store is:
>
> C:\Documents and Settings\<User>\Local Settings\Application
> Data\Identities\{GUID}\Microsoft\Outlook Express
>
> where {GUID} is the Global Unique IDentifier (technical jargon for a unique
> long number) used to specify each Identity.
>
> 3. Each Identity has its own associated Registry key. See
> http://www.insideoe.com/files/regkeys.htm.
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Why it happens:
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx
>
> To avoid such corruption in future:
>
> - Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
> folders created for this purpose.
>
> - Empty Deleted Items folder daily.
>
> - Disable Background Compacting [N/A in SP2] and frequently perform a manual
> compact of all OE folders while "working offline". More at
> http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/files/maintain.htm.
>
> - Your anti-virus application's email scanning feature can also cause such
> corruption. Disable it. It provides no additional protection.
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE) & Security
>
>
>
>
>

[PA Bear]

YW & thanks for posting back. Good luck with Thunderbird.
--
~PA Bear

Debby Rich wrote:
> Many thanks for taking the time to try and help me. I'm afraid I've had to
> give up though. I spent about an hour trying to fix it (plus other time
> spent elsewhere) and have since downloaded Mozilla Thunderbird, which
> works well!
>
> Thanks again for your time.
>
> "PA Bear" wrote:
>
> > Debby Rich wrote:
> > > > Windows version?
> > > >
> > > > OE version (OE Help > About)?
> > > >
> > > > Did you get the error message cited in KB224463?
> > >
> > > Sorry, yes I did get the same message:
> > >
> > > "Identity Switch Canceled. The current identity could not be changed
> > > because one of the applications was unable to switch. Close any open
> > > dialog boxes in other applications before trying again."
> > >
> > > I'm using Windows XP (service pack 2).
> > >
> > > Can't get so far as opening OE, so can't provide version, but I think
> > > it's 6.
> >
> > Please include all of previous message in your replies, Debby. Yes,
> > you'll be running OE6 in WinXP SP2.
> >
> > See http://www.insideoe.com/problems/errors.htm#crash, beginning with
> > the section "If Outlook Express will not start...". Hopefully you'll
> > get OE to start following the first few steps.
> >
> > If not, one or more of your Identities is damaged and you'll have more
> > work to do. Follow the steps after "If you still cannot start OE...".
> >
> > References to assist you:
> >
> > 1. In WindowsXP, 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.
> >
> > 2. How OE stores your data
> > http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#storemain
> >
> > In WinXP, the default location for an identity's store is:
> >
> > C:\Documents and Settings\<User>\Local Settings\Application
> > Data\Identities\{GUID}\Microsoft\Outlook Express
> >
> > where {GUID} is the Global Unique IDentifier (technical jargon for a
> > unique long number) used to specify each Identity.
> >
> > 3. Each Identity has its own associated Registry key. See
> > http://www.insideoe.com/files/regkeys.htm.
> >
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~
> >
> > Why it happens:
> > http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx
> >
> > To avoid such corruption in future:
> >
> > - Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
> > folders created for this purpose.
> >
> > - Empty Deleted Items folder daily.
> >
> > - Disable Background Compacting [N/A in SP2] and frequently perform a
> > manual compact of all OE folders while "working offline". More at
> > http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/files/maintain.htm.
> >
> > - Your anti-virus application's email scanning feature can also cause
> > such corruption. Disable it. It provides no additional protection.
> > --
> > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> > MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE) & Security