[insight2bp]

I have Windows 98, IE 6.0. Years ago, I erased everything that I knew was connected to Outlook Express. Now I want to try it again. I download the ie6setup.exe, which is 6_sp1, from Microsoft. I install Outlook Express. I've done it several times. I set it up and it can receive mail. By the way, from somewhere, it comes up with an old e-mail address I had when I tried it before; so information is in there somewhere. I found some info in user.dat, but am told not to mess with that.

OK, every time I reinstall, I get the message, "The address book failed to load. Outlook Express is incorrectly configured. Please re-install." OE opens anyway, I can receive mail, but if I click on address book, I get a similar message to the one quoted..

OK, it have read posts on several sites that say the *.wab file may be write protected or may be corrupted. So, find it, unprotect it, rename it. and the next time I open OE it will create a new address book.

The trouble is, there is NO *.wab file anywhere on my computer, no matter how many times I go through re-installing and reopening OE. What's going on? Can someone help me? Thanks so much.

[VistaRookie]

See if this helps you...

Inside Outlook Express - Files and Settings - OE Windows Address Book:
http://www.insideoe.com/files/wab.htm

If you don't have wab.exe on your computer, you have to get it, either
from the install disc or another computer.

[insight2bp]

OK, thanks, you took me one step into the problem. I have found wab.exe, and whether I click on it or do "wab" in "run," in either case I get the message, "An error occured while attempting to open the address book file." That's it. No explanation. By the way, I downloaded a fresh wab.exe file from my Windows CD, and have the same results.

Is there some *.dll or other file that is missing on the system, or what? I see a wab.cab and a few *.dll's via "find." What's next? Thanks for any input!

[VistaRookie]

I'm just guessing at this point, never had the
problem come up before.

This article isn't for Win98 but has a list of needed
registry keys and .dll files.
Outlook Express does not start after you upgrade your operating system to Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional Edition:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/8730...id=2578&sid=45

Here is a search I ran at Google, if you have the time,
you might find something in there?

"Windows Address Book" no wab.exe "windows 98" - Google Search:
http://www.google.com/search?complet...22&btnG=Search

[insight2bp]

Thank you, VistaRookie, for introducing me to wab.exe. That info and other info finally led me to a resolution (actually before seeing your second post, but thanks anyway).
No partial fixes would work, so I fianlly went all the way:
1 - I uninstalled Outlook Express.
2 - I sent all folders and files with "outlook" in the name to the recycle bin.
3 - I sent all wab*.* files to the recycle bin.
4 - I (carefully!) deleted four items from the Registry, as guided by Microsolt at
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=191946
5 - I reinstalled OE, which said it needed some files from the Internet (undoubtedly some I had sent to the recycle bin).
6 - SOLVED! OE opened, the address book opened. It opened as a fresh OE, as if never installed before -- just what I evidently needed to get rid of whatever the problem was..
Thanks, VistaRookie, for your part in helping me.

[VistaRookie]

Glad it worked!