How to manually remove and reinstall Outlook Express (263837)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows XP
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows 2000
This article was previously published under Q263837
Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry



For information about the differences between Microsoft Outlook Express and Microsoft Outlook e-mail clients, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

257824 OL2000: Differences Between Outlook and Outlook Express

SUMMARY

Introduction

This step-by step article describes how to manually remove and install the following versions of Microsoft Outlook Express:
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows XP
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows 2000
If Microsoft Outlook Express is damaged and does not function correctly, you may have to remove Outlook Express and then install Outlook Express again.

This article describes how to manually remove and then install Outlook Express on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, or Microsoft Windows XP Professional.

Important
  • Do not remove Outlook Express from a computer that is running Microsoft Windows Server 2003. Some Microsoft programs that run on Windows Server 2003 depend on Outlook Express to work correctly. For example, Microsoft Operations Manager will not send e-mail alerts if Outlook Express is removed from a computer that is running Windows Server 2003.
  • If you remove Outlook Express from a Domain Controller, you must install Outlook Express again. If Outlook Express is not installed, Component Data Object Interfaces will be broken when they are called by Active Directory.
  • If you remove Outlook Express and you do not install Outlook Express again, Microsoft Outlook will not work correctly. We recommend that you do not remove Outlook Express as a permanent solution to a problem that is being investigated. For more information about how Outlook Express is required when you use Outlook, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    230076 Outlook 2000 requires Outlook Express

  • The following files are core Windows components:
    • Csapi3t1.dll
    • Directdb.dll
    • Inetcomm.dll
    Do not rename these files unless they will be replaced with a new version. If these files are removed or renamed, the Windows configuration is unsupported by Microsoft. Additionally, if you remove these files, problems may occur with other programs. For example, MimeOLE depends on the Inetcomm.dll file, and will not work if this file is removed.

MORE INFORMATION

The process to remove and then install Outlook Express 5.1, Outlook Express 5.5, or Outlook Express 6.0 is specific to the operating system that is running on the computer. Use one of the following methods, depending on the operating system.

Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 2000 Server

To manually remove Outlook Express 5.1, Outlook Express 5.5, or Outlook Express 6.0 from a Windows 2000-based computer, follow these steps:

Note Make sure that you are logged on to the computer as an administrator.
  1. Make sure that system files and file name extensions are visible.
    1. Double-click the My Computer icon.
    2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options, and then click the View tab.
    3. In the Hide Files and Folders section, click Show hidden files and folders, and then click to clear the Hide file extensions for known file types check box.
    4. Click to clear the Hide Protected Operating System Files (Recommended) check box, and then click Yes in the warning message dialog box.
    5. Click OK to close the Folder Options dialog box.
  2. Back up your e-mail, address book, and other data.

    We recommend that you back up your e-mail, address book, and other data before you remove Outlook Express. For more information about how to back up your e-mail, address book and other data, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    181084 How to back up your Inbox Assistant rules in Outlook Express

    188093 How to back up the account list in Outlook Express

    230208 How to back up e-mail messages in Outlook Express 5

    270670 How to back up and recover Outlook Express data

  3. Delete the Outlook Express registry keys.

    To remove Outlook Express, you must delete the registry keys for Outlook Express. To do this, follow these steps:

    Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.
    1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
    2. Locate the following registry keys, right-click the registry key, and then click Delete:
      • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express
      • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express
      • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}
    3. Close Registry Editor.
  4. Rename the Outlook Express files.

    To complete the removal procedure, rename the Outlook Express files. Each of these files is located in the default file folder and in the C:\Winnt\System32\Dllcache folder. For example, the Msoe.dll file is located in the following folders:
    • C:\Program Files\Outlook Express
    • C:\Winnt\System32\Dllcache
    You must rename the file in both folders to successfully remove Outlook Express. To rename the Outlook Express files, follow these steps:
    1. Remove any CDs that are in your CD drive.
    2. Start Windows in safe mode. For more information about starting Windows 2000 in safe mode, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

      202485 Description of Safe Boot Mode in Windows 2000

    3. Click Start, point to Search, and then click For Files and Folders.
    4. In the Search for files or folders named box, type Msoe.dll, and then click Search Now.
    5. Right-click the first Msoe.dll file, and then click Rename.
    6. Type Msoe.old, and then press ENTER.
    7. To rename the second instance of the Msoe.dll file, repeat steps e and f.
    8. When you are prompted about Windows file protection, click Cancel.
    9. When you are prompted about whether to keep unrecognized file versions, click Yes.
    10. To rename the following files, repeat steps d through i:
      • Msoeacct.dll
      • Msoert2.dll
      • Msoeres.dll
      • Msimn.exe
      • Oeimport.dll
      • Oemiglib.dll
      • Oemig50.exe
      • Setup50.exe
    11. Restart your computer in Normal Mode.
  5. Reinstall Outlook Express.
    • Outlook Express 5.1 or Outlook Express 5.5
      1. Click Start, point to Search, and then click For Files and Folders.
      2. In the Search for Files and Folders Named box, type msoe50.inf, and then click Search Now.

        Note By default, the msoe50.inf file is located in the C:\Winnt\Inf folder.
      3. Right-click the Msoe50.inf file, and then click Install.
      4. Put the Windows 2000 CD in the CD drive when you are prompted.
      5. Locate the I386 folder on the CD, click Open, and then click OK.
    • Outlook Express 6.0

      To install Outlook Express 6.0, visit the following Microsoft Web site and download the latest version of Outlook Express 6.0:

      http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/default.mspx

    After Outlook Express is installed, start Outlook Express to test its functionality.

    For information about how to restore your e-mail messages, address book, and other Outlook Express data, see the articles that are listed in the Back up your e-mail, address book, and other data section.

Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional

  1. Remove Outlook Express 6.0 from Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional.
    1. Click Start, click Run, type appwiz.cpl, and then click OK.
    2. In Add or Remove Programs, click Add/Remove Windows Components.
    3. In the Components list, click to clear the Outlook Express check box, and then click Next. Outlook Express will be removed from the computer.
  2. Reinstall Outlook Express 6.0 on a computer that is running Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional.
    1. Click Start, click Run, type appwiz.cpl, and then click OK.
    2. In Add or Remove Programs, click Add/Remove Windows Components.
    3. In the Components list, click to select the Outlook Express check box, and then click Next.
    4. After Outlook Express is installed, click Finish.

REFERENCES

For more information about how to use Outlook Express in Windows 2000, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

254623 How to reinstall Microsoft Outlook Express 5 in Windows 2000

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/22/2006
Keywords:kbhowto KB263837 kbAudEndUser
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