IE and OutExpress problems

Hi,

I am having major problems with Outlook Express. Recently updates were downloaded and installed from microsoft (one being Q837009 for outlook). After my computer rebooted, I discovered that all of my e-mails in the incoming and outgoing folders had been DELETED! And Outlook could not receive or send any future e-mails. It kept talking about disk space. I am so sick of Outlook and IE with these problems. Since I did not know how to recover all of the e-mails, I figured perhaps the best thing to do would be to use IEradicator2 to uninstall and then reinstall IE. It has not worked. There are still major issues and it does not appear to be removing IE in it's entirety because the favorites are still appearing after uninstall and reinstall. What can I do? I wish Microsoft would bundle all this together. HELP!

Thanks to any and all for all advice!

JadeLi

 

Sounds like a big mess. Honestly, I would suggest posting a thread on the Microsoft™ Newsgroup boards regarding this issue. I've received replies and decent results from the technical support offered there. Being that it is Microsoft's software, they may even have this in the knowledgebase. Try looking up any documentation on the update (Q837009) you installed.


The newsgroups at Microsoft's website are somewhat big, and have a high volume of traffic on them, but you will receive an answer to your question! Trust me! I speak from experience. This is just my suggestion, and you may find this totally unneccessary as a fellow geek here may be able to resolve the issues you're having. Good luck .

 

What OS are you running?

 

Thank you alanc and T-Rex. I will certainly check in with Microsoft. I am running Windows 2000 Professional. It is a big mess. I can't understand what the heck happened and I'm not sure I will be able to retrieve all of the e-mails but I need to straighten out IE and I think I am just going to find a free e-mail client or use Netscapes. Is Eudora a good one?

JadeLi

 

What Service Pack?

Right-click My Computer > Properties > General tab, it's listed under 'System'

 

Microsoft Windows 2000
5.00.2195
Service Pack 4

 

How much free disk space do you have on that drive?

IEradicator is not recommended for use with Win2k SP2 and later because of Windows File Protection issues.
From here:
http://www.litepc.com/ieradicator.html

Also read this: http://www.litepc.com/support/kb.cgi?view=31&lang=en

The 1st thing I'd do is download and run DBXtract to see if you can recover your deleted messages.

At the SP4 level you're at there's no real way that I know of (someone correct me if I'm wrong here) to uninstall IE/OE since it's an integral part of the OS, so after you run DBXtract see if you can repair IE/OE by opening up a command prompt (Start > Run > cmd) and run sfc /scannow to replace any missing/corrupt IE/OE files.

As a last resort you may need to reinstall IE/OE:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/critical/ie6sp1/default.asp

And then of course using a different email client is your decision. Maybe someone else can advise you on ones that they like.

 

Thank you alanc! I will follow your instructions and let you know if everything is back to normal.

 

Oh...I have 31.6 GB free space.

 

That's plenty, I was just checking due to that 'disk space' message you got.

 

alanc,

I seem to have bigger problems than you know. I received this error when trying to run sfc/scannow:

Windows File Protection could not initiate a scan of protected system files.

The specific error code is 0x000006ba [The RPC server is unavailable.]

I did some checking and I know the error has to do with Certificates.

Should I find Win2k SP4 and reinstall. I can't use my CD to do a fix or reinstall because it is SP2. What should I do now?

 

I am reading on the internet that SP4 for Win2k Sp2 is causing quite a few problems. Anyone else having a problem?

 

There is no problem with SP4, oodles of people have installed it with no problems.

If you need to reinstall IE/OE, you don't need your 2k CD, just download IE from that link I posted.

You can use your Win2k SP2 CD to run sfc /scannow. I'm working on the prob now, gimme a few...

 

OK, according to this:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;296241&Product=win2000
you have a missing certificate (you're right!), so I've attached another to this post.
Right-click sfc.zip, choose 'Save Target as' and save it to the folder of your choice. You will then need to unzip it, the filename is sfc.cer. Then follow these directions (taken from the above MSKB link) to install it.

After you restart you should be able to run sfc /scannow successfully.

Post back with the results.

 

Okay, I'm not very technical so bear with me. run cmd brings up a window looks like dos

C:\Documents and Settings\ (and then my full name) >

Now do I just type in sfc/scannow? If so, I got the same error. I tried reinstalling ie6 and it says it's already installed. SO, should I go to the control panel.....remove software and uninstall IE and then try to reinstall?

I really think I may have to go back and uninstall sp4, if someone can tell me how. And then use the CD to perhaps run a fix or something.

I appreciate all of your help alanc!

 

Did you successfully import that sfc.cer file?

 

Yes, I followed your step by step instructions. It acknowledged it was installed successfully.

 

Sounds like that IEradicator really did some damage.

Let's check the RPC service.

Start > Run > services.msc

Double click 'Remote Procedure Call (RPC)'

What do you have for 'Startup type'? (should be set to Automatic)

and 'Service status'? (shoud be Started)

 

alanc,

Yes, Under Remote Procedure Call (RPC)' - Startup type is set to Automatic
and 'Service status' is set to Started

 

OK, I've sent a PM to Adrynalyne with a request for advice so hopefully he'll be along shortly. Meanwhile I'll try and see if can find anything else on this certificate problem.

 

Thank you alanc!!!!

 

I've fixed this SFC problem, I just dont recall how. I am still trying to remember.

It wasn't the certificate fix.

It might have to wait until I can look at the MS internal KB tomorrow.

 

You know this really happened after downloading updates one of which was for Outlook Express. I think it was Q837009...something like that. It just totally screwed up Express and I lost all of my e-mails and then couldn't send or receive new ones.

I used IEradicator2 after that. I'm really thinking I need to get the system back to SP2 and used my CD to fix or whatever. I just don't know how to get it back to that point. I think the whole damn thing IE and OE is all screwed up.

 

Thanks for looking in Adryn


Jade, there should be an "Outlook Express Q837009" in your Control Panel Add/Remove.
Try uninstalling it, you can always reinstall it later.
I don't think that'll fix it though...

 

Yes, I have tried reinstalling both BUT nothing has worked so far. I'm not sure what to do other than to take it back down to a Sp2 and use the CD.

 

Okay, I think what I need to do is to take this back down to SP2 from SP4. Does anyone know where I can find step by step instructions to do this properly?

I can then use the Windows CD to perhaps fix or do a "reinstall".

Thanks,
JadeLi

 

May or may not be related - when I installed SP4 on Win2k, network access slowed to nothing and could not connect to my mail server. Hours of discussion with my ISP's techos failed to resolve. Ultimately got my old cd and reinstalled Win2k, then Office and all was well. Reapplied SP4 and same disaster. I believe Microbloodysoft have a fix but will only supply it if you contact them and explain the symptoms - something to do with IPSec settings being changed. I know of others who have had the same issues as me (and maybe you) and have gone to SP3 happily. Hope that helps.

 

Indeed you are correct MG, there are no major problems unless you are impacted by them as I have been. As a newbie to this site I have no idea what your first 2 steps refer to or how to find them, but I'm not the only poor sucker that has had a system that worked perfectly under SP3 that became totally dysfunctional after upgrading to the 'no serious problems' SP4. Check ZDNet user opinions of SP4 and perhaps no major problems may need to be redefined.

 

I've never had Win 2000, so I'll keep my nose out of trying to fix the problem.
However, once you get back in business, if you want to get away from the IE/Outlook headaches, you might want to consider trying Firefox as your browser, and Thunderbird for your email client.

 

Mastertech - Have Spybot, Ad-Aware SE, Zone Alarm and running an always current McAfee AntiVirus. Appreciate the tip on Spywareblaster and in the process of downloading at present. Feel pretty confident my machine is clean prior to migrating to SP4 especially after reinstalling Windows immediately prior. Oh and buy the way, also have Mozilla and Opera which grind to a halt after SP4. The purpose of me contributing to this thread was to try and help Jade, not to fix my dramas.