"The Identity Login Could Not Be Started" Error Message Appears When You Try to Start Outlook Express After You Upgrade to Internet Explorer 5.5 (310893)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 2000
This article was previously published under Q310893

SYMPTOMS

After you upgrade your computer to Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.5, the following error messages may appear when you try to start Outlook Express:
The identity login could not be started. Some components are either missing or incorrectly configured.
Outlook Express could not be started. It may not be installed correctly. Make sure that your disk is not full or that you are not out of memory. Contact Microsoft support for further assistance (0x80040154).
Outlook Express could not be started because MSOE.DLL could not be initialized. Outlook Express may not be installed correctly.

CAUSE

This issue can occur because upgrading to Internet Explorer 5.5 does not also properly upgrade Outlook Express. The version of Outlook Express remains the same.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, remove Outlook Express, and then reinstall Internet Explorer 5.5 and Internet Tools. Reinstalling Internet Explorer 5.5 and Internet Tools installs the correct version of Outlook Express.

For more information about uninstalling Outlook Express 5.5 in Windows 2000, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

263837 How to Manually Uninstall and Reinstall Outlook Express in Windows 2000

For more information about uninstalling Outlook Express 5.5 in Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me), click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

278909 How to Manually Uninstall and Reinstall Outlook Express on Windows Me

For more information about uninstalling Outlook Express 5.5 in Windows NT 4.0, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

171229 How to Add and Remove Internet Explorer Components

MORE INFORMATION

For instructions about how to download and install Internet Explorer 5.5 and Internet Tools, visit the Internet Explorer Web site.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:11/7/2005
Keywords:kberrmsg kbnetwork kbprb kbsetup kburl KB310893
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