Strange Behavior of Outlook Express

Until a week ago when I would open an e-mail in my in box, a new window would open and I'd be able to read the text of that message. Now, however, when I click on an e-mail in the in box I get a Box with title on my quick launch task bar at the bottom of my monitor screen. By trial and error I learned I then have to right click open this box and get a drop down menu to appear and then click on "maximize" to get to see the text. How do I restore my OE to its formner mode of operation??

TIA

 

Sounds like your Options changed.

On the Outlook Express Tools menu, click Options, then you can view what is checked, most likely in General tab.

 

I considered View Layout too and had a look there but I can't find anything that would explain why the email is being minimised to the 'quick launch task bar at the bottom of my monitor screen'. (By the way, in OE6 you choose 'View - Layout' and not 'Tools - Options'.)

I think there might be more to it than that.

All the same, do you know what each of the Options do, telephonics?

 

I agree that some settings have changed but I don't thionk those are in Outlook Express. I am well aware of the "Layout" under the View button and understand each of the optional settings. I've tried many combinations of these options to no avail. Now I am starting to look at Internet Explorer which is tightly linked to Outlook express. Any further ideas appreciated. TIA

 

Why don't you take a screen shot of using the drop down menu (I think the correct term would be context menu) and show people exactly what you mean. I'm fairly sure I know what you mean, but it would be nice to be sure - as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words! This one seems a little more than usual out of the ordinary and I think people would benefit from a picture. Might spark some thoughts too, seeing exactly what happens.

Definitely minimising to the quick launch, not to the task bar? Even IE shouldn't be doing that so it's definitely odd if it is.

Have you tried turning off the quick launch and then tried opening an email? Just wondering what might happen if there was no quick launch or any other toolbar for it to turn up in. Might give extra clues - might give nothing...

 

Are you useing IE7, could be your Tabs Settings.

 

Use I.E. 6.1 not I.E. 7.0.

I tried to copy and paste the drop down menu but it is not possible to do so-it disappears as soon as the cursor hits it. So, let me describe what I see when I click on an e-mail in my in box.
First, a blue colored bar appears across the bottom of my screen. In the left portion of this bar the text of the e-mail's subject appears. On the right end of this bar shows the usual minimize,maximize and x out icons.As soon as my curson touches anywhere on this colored bar the blue color disappears and the e-mail subject is now seen in a small box ( not the whole subject-just first word or two. I then right click on the box with the subject name and I get the drop down menu which has following options
Restore
Move
Size
minimize
maximize

If I then click on maximize the text of the e-mail fills my monitor screen. I could also get the same result by clicking on the maximize icon on right end of the bar instead of clicking on the box with the e-mail subect in it.

Previously I referred to the quick launch bar- Wrong- it is a task bar. I feel this problem is due to a setting change but not one within Outlook express.

Toughy????

 

I knew I was missing something, have not looked around MG's in awhile. There is a sticky on OE.

See if this helps

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=79744

 

Thanks for posting that article. It will keep me busy following all the items listed. But I did try one new approach arlier today/ I right clicked on the start button and then clicked on properties. Then opened the task bar and clickerd on customize then hit the restore button closed with OPK. Nothing resulted which confiorms feeling that you are correct asnd the problem restys within Outlook Express. I'll explore your reference and get back to you. Thanks again.

 

Your welcome, everything I read says either a corrupt file or registery entry, sticky should help.

 

still working on DBX files. So far found nothing corrupted-

 

Have completed trying all the solutions in the reference document you provided. Unfortunately nothing has changed, Guess the problem is in the registry and that is an area that I stay away from. Will just live with this situation until I am forced to do a complete system delete and reboot.
Thanks for all your help

 

Close Outlook Express and try the steps below.

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. In the Open box, type regsvr32 urlmon.dll, and then click OK.

3. Repeat step 1 for each of the following commands:

regsvr32 mshtml.dll
regsvr32 shdocvw.dll
regsvr32 browseui.dll
regsvr32 msjava.dll

Steve

 

Thanks. Will try and get back to you.

 

All steps were done successfully shut down and restarted PC opened Outlook express with fingers crossed. Tried to open an e-mail in m,y inboix--same result.Bluebar across bottom of screen which I then right clicked on to get drop down menu. The clicked on maximize and text of e-mail filled my screen.

 

Check this setting below, whatever it is set on change it and try OE.

Tools > Internet Options > Advanced > Browsing > Enable third party browser extensions.

Steve

 

Steve--thanks for that suggestion. Followed your lead and found that the "Enable Third Party browser extensions" box was checkled. Unchecked as you suggested then tried OE-No change but I think with your help I now am in the area where a setting chasnge will solvfe my problem so Im going to see what I can turn up. Shall advise.

 

telephonics, just try something - next time you try to open an email and it ends up down the bottom, try this:

Use your left mouse button
Click and hold on the blue bar
Drag it up further up on the monitor.

Having re-read your description, I'm wondering if one of your emails was accidentally dragged down the screen too far and also, that perhaps a restart of the computer isn't setting things back to normal.

I have a recurring problem at the moment which strongly suggests a problem in the registry and restarts don't fix it. Just wondering if that's actually your problem. If so, you may need to drag an email up the screen each time you have restarted your computer, or you might have to do it with every email.

Let us know and then we may have a different direction to go to fix your problem.

 

If not resolved, I think Chookers suggestion might work. Similar post in Outlook Forum with directions:

If you can't resize it in the normal fashion, right click on the minimized
OE in the Taskbar and choose Move. Use the arrow buttons to get it back
where you can work with it.

 

An elegant solution. IT WORKED. I hd to play a bit of a game however to draw the text of an opened e-mqail back up. I found as my cursor got near the blue bar it woiuld run away and then shrink to a small box enclosing the first word or twoof the subject. But once I did catch it and dragged it up I was amazed. I was almost afraid to close that e-mail and open the next for fear it might not work again but I am delighjted to report it has been working for a day now with no problems whatsoever. THANKS THANKS THANKS!