Can't open Outlook Express

Question

I'm running Outlook Express 5.0.6 on OS9.0.4.
Express crashed, I think when I deleted an e-mail. Had to reset the PC and I immediately made it restart up onto my Norton SystemWorks CD in order to run DiskDoctor, but I couldn't see the hardrive. Numberous resarts would not show the hardrive, couldn't see it from the OS9 CD either, or from Disk First Aid. Eventually decided to shutdown and let it cool down a bit as that sometimes works, and it did work. It all came back .... wheew ... what a relief ... BUT .... I couldn't open Express.
The message is "An error occured while launching - An I/O error occurred.
I've downloaded another OE 5.0.6 but that wouldn't open either. Tried to use Conflict Catcher but that's gone funny aswell. After it's done the first test with some extensions off it gives a report and won't do another test.
Any ideas anyone? What does this message mean, I can't find an answer via Google. I don't remember getting an e-mail from an unknown source before the crash.

Answer 1

Hi, RicArcher -
When you delete an email or an attachment to one in OE, although the data is removed the space it occupied in OE's databases is still there, and still uses memory for OE to operate. Sometimes the database files can get so big that OE chokes on them; sometimes they become damaged.
Try compacting OE's database files. To do that, hold down the Option key while launching OE. A splash screen should appear asking if you want to compact the database files - click okay.
What this will do, besides purging the database files of empty but memory-consuming space, is to create new database files. Once it has successfully done that, and you have examined the new files for completeness, you can discard the old database files. You'll find those in one of two places: either in the Identities folder in the OE main folder, or in the Identities folder located here - (hard drive) >> Documents >> Microsoft User Data >> Identities.
In either case in the Identities folder will be at least one identity sub-folder, the default one named Main Identitiy. If you have created any additional identities (accounts), each will have its own sub-folder in the Identities folder. Each of the identity sub-folders contins a set of database files.
If you have not already done so, increase OE's Preferred memory allocation. Doublinng or tripling the original amount is a beginning; adding 50 thousand or even more (if you have sufficient RAM to support that) is even better.
Article #TA21666 - Assigning More Memory to an Application