DOCUMENT:Q175585  13-DEC-1998  [msnetwork]
TITLE   :MSN Err Msg: Address Book Failed to Load, Outlook Express...
PRODUCT :The Microsoft Network
PROD/VER:WINDOWS:2.51,4.0
OPER/SYS:WINDOWS
KEYWORDS:kberrmsg msnmail kbmsn

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The information in this article applies to:

 - The Microsoft Network, version 2.51
 - Microsoft Outlook Express version 4.0 for Windows 95/98
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you attempt to start Microsoft Outlook Express, you may receive
the following error message:

   Address book failed to load, Outlook Express is incorrectly configured.

If you then attempt to compose a new e-mail message, you receive the
following error message:

   This note cannot be displayed due to an initialization error.

CAUSE
=====

The Windows address book file may be damaged or missing.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this issue, rename and then re-create the Windows address book
file. To do this, use the following steps:

1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.

2. In the Named box, type "*.wab" (without the quotation marks), and then
   click Find Now.

3. In the list of found files, right-click the following file

      <MSN Member ID>.wab

   and then click Rename.

4. Type the following line, and then press ENTER:

      <MSN Member ID>.old

5. Close the Find: Files Named *.wab window.

6. Double-click the Outlook Express icon on the desktop. The MSN, The
   Microsoft Network, Sign-In screen appears and a new Windows address
   book file is created.

MORE INFORMATION
================

If this behavior continues to occur, the registry values for Outlook
Express and the Windows address book may be set incorrectly.

For information about how to resolve this issue, please see the following
article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q191946
   TITLE     : Err Msg: Address Book Failed To Load, Outlook Express Is...

For additional information about address books in Outlook Express, please
see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q175017
   TITLE     : How to Import and Export Address Books in Outlook Express

Additional query words: 2.51 4.0 msnet msnetwork microsoft-net m.s.n.
outexw95
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Keywords          : kberrmsg msnmail kbmsn 
Version           : WINDOWS:2.51,4.0
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

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