Outlook Express would not populate with email

I hope someone can help me.
I have Windows XP SP2
Home Edition Version 2002
Intel Pentium III processor
996 MHz, 256 MB of Ram and 40 Gig hard drive

This is not the first time this has happened to me using Outlook Express, but now with the SP2 i can not d/l internet explorer to see if i can get OE back.
When i d/l the SP2 i did save it to my desktop, so i ran it again. But I got a window message saying i had installed Outlook Express.
I have been told the OE is very unstable, but was hoping SP2 would have made it better.

I had been receiving my email fine, until i went to uninstall a game i was trying from pogo.com.
I use Mailwasher to check my email before i actually processes it to OE.

I hope this gives someone enough information that they can help me.
This is a new experience for me, and as you can see, i am using an online mail server...yahoo. Since it would do no good for someone to send me mail on OE, it will not populate...................what i mean by that is, i get the frame......with the menu bar...and my folders......but no email.......and believe me, i have lots.

Thanx
Hope to hear from someone.
Darlene :