My Outlook Express Does Not Open

When you start Outlook Express after upgrading it from Outlook Express version 5 or lower, you may get the following error message: "Outlook Express could not be started because Msoe.dll could not be initialized." This error occurs if an Identities key related to Outlook Express is either missing or corrupted in the Windows Registry.

Instructions

Rename, Backup and then Delete the Main Identities Subkey

1. Click the Windows "Start" button, type "regedit" is the "Search programs and files" field, then press "Enter."

2. Click "regedit" in the search results window.

3. Click "+" before the "HKEY_CURRENT_USER" folder on the Registry Editor window that opens. This will expand the HKEY_CURRENT_USER folder.

4. Click "+" before the "Identities" folder.

5. Click the folder named something like this "{44E5BD63-8E82-45A9-A240A33F61E6792F}". This name varies from one computer to another. If there is more than one folder with this type of name then one-by-one click them and then look for the "Username" file in it on the right-pane. The one with the "Username" file is the one you require.

6. Right-click the "Username" icon in the right-pane and then click "Modify."

7. Type "Main Backup" in the "Value data" box on the dialog box that opens and then click "OK."

8. Click the "Main" identity subkey in the left pane.

9. Click the "Registry" menu and then click "Export Registry File."

10. Type "Main" in the "File name" box on the dialog box that opens.

11. Choose "Registration Files" from the "Save as type" drop-down box.

12. Choose "Selected branch" below "Export range" and then click "Save." By default, the identity will be saved in the My Documents folder on your computer.

13. Right-click the "Identities" folder in the left-pane and then click "Delete."

14. Click "Yes" on the dialog box that opens, close all the open windows and then restart your computer.

Re-Create the Identities Subkey

1. Click "Start," point to "All Programs" and then click "Outlook Express."

2. Click "Cancel" on the Internet Connection Wizard dialog box that opens and then click "Yes" on the cancellation confirmation dialog box.

3. Click "Cancel" on the Outlook Express Import dialog box that opens and then click "Yes."

4. Double-click the "My Documents" folder on your desktop to open it.

5. Double-click the "Main" identity file that you saved in the My Documents folder.

6. Click "Yes" on the dialog box that opens and then click "OK."

References

• "Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out, Second Edition"; Ed Bott, Carl Siechert and Craig Stinson; 2004

Resources

• Microsoft: Error When You Start Outlook Express After Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 Installation