Outlook Express 6 has gone buggy...

OE6, all latest patches, running in XP Pro started choking last night.

I should have posted this last night, when I was actually looking at the error message.

I was downloading old Gunsmoke radio shows from an OTR newsgroup, and it was doing just fine at first. In the middle of the evening it started popping a "must shut down" error message when I tried to combine the parts for some files. Restarted OE & tried to resume, and it froze on the same command. I then deleted all the messages, thinking that something corrupt in one of the files was screwing things up, re-downloaded them, and tried again. Same problem. Tried different newsgroup/different files & still froze. Rebooted the puter, same problem, plus now it wouldn't even let me delete the downloaded messages. Cleaning up DOES seem to work sometimes, but sometimes pops up the same old error message. Error message references msimm.exe (?) kernel32.dll (I can crash it again tonight & get the exact error message if that doesn't make sense.)

Went into Add/Remove programs, Windows components, removed IE & OE, and reinstalled them, but I don't think that actually removed/re-installed anything, as the processes were instantaneous; didn't take enough time to actually DO it, plus both programs came back with all settings and accounts intact, and all updates still in place, according to Windows Update.

Nothing was added/changed last night before the problem started, and only thing changed in the last few days was installing/running CrapCleaner, and the routine AVG6 database updates.

Downloading/reading email is still working, but newsgroups are crippled. No viruses, trojans, spyware, etc., and nothing nasty in the newsgroup downloads; just old radio shows in .mp3 (and I do double check the file extensions to make sure nobody is slipping in a ringer).

Any suggestions?

 

Could it be a file format split that OE doesn't understand?

 

Shouldn't be. These are simple splits, not Mastersplitter parts or RAR pieces. All files from the same batch from the same poster... it choked in the middle of what he'd posted. But after the first crash, it was constant, with ANY file combining. They're yEnc encoded, but I use a yEnc converting proxy that has had no problems, and simple single piece downloads are decoded and useable, so that's still working fine.

As I mentioned, running Cleanup crashes randomly, and trying to Combine file parts freezes every single time, so the instability is more than just during combining.

 

not really sure how to remedy that problem. Have you tried using something like Forte' Free Agent for a news reader?

 

Was your message "MSIMN caused an Invalid Page Fault in module kernel32.dll". Did a quick search at Microsoft and found these two articles at MS:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;221486

and

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;225096

The second one looks possible.

 

I gave it a brief try a long time ago, and for what simple stuff I do, I actually liked OE better, plus I'm thoroughly familiar with using it for newsgroups. But if I can't straighten out OE by tonight, I may give it another go, as the files I'm wanting won't be kept on the newsgroup server for more than a couple more days. 8 YEARS of Gunsmoke radio shows... huge download, and won't likely get re-posted for many more months.

Is there a way to force a complete REAL uninstall of OE, which would allow me to do an actual fresh install of it?

 

Hi GT if you are looking to install OE you might want to take a look here
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;318378&Product=winxp

Check out method 2 at the bottom of the page

 

First one doesn't apply; second one has the same files clashing, but I don't have any "Rules" set up in OE, so that's not the cause in this case.

 

That's probably my best shot. Thanks General. I'll give that a try tonight.

As I mentioned, the only thing I've done in the last couple days is to run CrapCleaner, which DOES cleanup registry entries. I wonder if it removed something needed for OE. In any case, this should restore it.

When I've got time, I'll re-run CC & see if that specifically is what crippled OE.

 

Gary,
I run CC and also use OE, and the only problem I've encountered is that links in emails won't take me directly to the Web, I have to copy/paste, and I don't think that has anything to do with CC. Anyway, if you do find anything out about CC and OE, post it so we can be aware of it for future reference.
Eric

 

Will do... after the Gunsmoke series is done.

 

Eric,

Start > Run > regsvr32 urlmon.dll
Start > Run > regsvr32 mshtml.dll

Should take care of your problem.


GT,

Start > Run > msimn /reg

will force OE to rewrite it's registry keys. It can fix some weird issues, might be worth a try before you reinstall.

 

Sounds promising. Does that leave all the secondary app & driver references intact, or would I have to watch out for some problems elsewhere?

 

Not sure about that, but I tested it on my machine awhile back and nothing broke...

 

It didn't work on mine, alanc. I don't want to hijack GTs thread, but ya got any other thoughts on this?

I should add that I am running SpamBully Version 1 in Outlook Express, and Windows XP with all the updates.

GT, any luck on yours?

 

Hijack away Eric.

alanc: msimn /reg repaired it... running smooth again. So it obviously was something mushed in the registry. For grins, I re-ran CrapCleaner, and that didn't break it, so it evidently wasn't CC that messed it up.

Thanks guys.

 

That usually fixes it...
Did you get "DllRegisterServer in .........dll succeeded" messages for both of those?

Cool! Glad you got it sorted.

 

Yes, I got the success messages... I forgot to say that I am also running Avant Browser, but I don't think that caused the problem. I use Reg Cleaner 4.3, but I've never had any problem with it before.....should I look through the backups for anything suspicious? One more bit of info, I had installed and uninstalled Mozilla Thunderbird.....might have that damaged something?

 

More stuff you can try from MS here: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=281679

Do the regsvr32 thing with these files as well:

Shdocvw.dll
Msjava.dll
Actxprxy.dll
Oleaut32.dll
Browseui.dll
Shell32.dll (Windows XP and Windows 2000 only)

If that doesn't work:

If all that doesn't work a reinstall of IE/OE is in order

 

Thanks Alanc,
Will work on this later today! I sure appreciate your help!
Eric

Stink, I posted as Cindy.

 

Well, I guess a reinstall is in order. Maybe if I had started my own thread and not hijacked Gary's thread, it would have worked. What if I start a thread, you answer, and then I'll try all the tricks you gave me? It's worth a shot!
Oh, well, at least a reinstall isn't such a big deal. I appreciate your help alan!
Take care,
Eric

 

I'm starting to think that maybe it did, although I have no idea how...


Anyway, see General Lee's post in this thread for the link to the reinstall instructions.