Outlook Express Won't Launch/Freezes Computer?

Question

I have a 5 yr old G4, running OS 9.1, Outlook Express 5.0.2
When I try to launch OE, the computer freezes (altho the cursor moves around, it can't do anything). The computer makes a sound of 4 drawn-out clicks (rasps) followed by 2-3 shorter ones. Then a an error message of Type 1 appears. The same thing had been happening with Simple Text for a couple of years (altho that said "Error of Type 113"), but we never really use it so it doesn't matter. I tried to open "Apple System Profiler" and the same thing happened today. Everything else seems to be working fine. Any thoughts, suggestions, help????
Thanks.
Power Mac G4   Mac OS 9.1.x   Outlook Express 5.0.2

Answer 1

Hi, Rodney -
With regard to Outlook Express, try this -
1) Increase its Preferred memory allocation; adding 20 or 30 thousand, or even more, to its original Preferred amount is not excessive.
Article #18278 - Assigning More Memory to an Application
2) Then compact its database files. To do that, hold down the Option key while launching Outlook Express. A screen should appear offering to compact the database files - okay that, and follow the prompts.
Re Apple System Profiler, try increasing its Preferred memory allocation - doubling the original Preferred amount should suffice.
Re simpleText, increasing its Preferred memory allocation may also help. Note, though, that SimpleText has a finite limit of how large a file it can handle - 32MB. Any file larger than that, even if in SimpleText format, will not be openable by SimpleText.
One solution for that which many folk have gone to is to use a replacement program. One such is SimpleEdit.
The computer makes a sound of 4 drawn-out clicks (rasps) followed by 2-3 shorter ones.
That can be worrisome. It can indicate the OS is finding it difficult to open a file needed by the program; an overly full drive; damage to the disk directory; or, worst case, physical damage to the drive, such as one or more bad blocks.
• Difficulty in opening a file can be caused by the file having become damaged. This is not unusual particularly with preference files, and the solution for those is usually to throw away the appropriate preference file, then restart the machine. The next time a call is placed to use that prefs file a new one will be created with default settings.
The prefs file used by Apple System Profiler can be found 'loose' in the Preferences folder (in System Folder); its name is ASP Preferences.
Outlook Express uses at least two prefs files. One is named Outlook Express Prefs and is located loose in the Preferences folder. The other is named simply Preferences, and can be found in the account folder for the user account. OE 5 places that here - (hard drive) >> Documents >> Microsoft User Data >> Identities >> Main Identitiy >> Preferences. If you have created additional acccounts, there will be a separate folder for each in the Identities folder, each with its own Preferences file.
SimpleText has no prefs file.
• A too-full drive can result in extensive fragmentation of files, giving Finder a lot of grief when it tries to pull one together; it can also lead to erratic Finder behavior, including crashes and other events.
It is good practice to not let a drive get more than about 80 to 85% full; leaving the remainder unused allows room for files to grow normally, for Virtual Memory to use without incident, and for temporary files (such as are created during a printing operation).
• Damage to the disk directory can best be checked for by booting the Mac to the most recent OS 9 Install CD available (one valid for that model), and running Disk First Aid from the Utilities folder on the CD. Although DFA is somewhat limited in what it can fix, its diagnostics are excellent.
If DFA finds somethig it can not fix, it would be time to use a stronger utility, one such as Alsoft's DiskWarrior or Micromat's TechTool Pro.
• Physical Damage to the hard drive is more difficult to diagnose and fix.
If it is bad blocks, that can usually be fixed by doing a deep (zero-all-data) re-initialization of the drive, reformatting it as Mac OS Extended in the process. Once the re-initialization is completed, run the Test Disk item in Drive Setup's Function menu - doing so should map out any bad blocks.
Using Drive Setup
Note - re-initializing and reformatting a drive will erase it, so be sure your data has been backed up before doing that.
• If your drive was last formatted using Drive Setup on an OS 9.0.4 or earlier Install (or Restore) CD, that version of Drive Setup had a defect that could leave a drive vulnerable to incurring a wrapper error. The versions of Drive Setup that come on OS 9.1 and later Install CDs do not have that defect.
The version of Disk First Aid that comes with OS 9.1 and later install CDs can sometimes repair a wrapper error.
Alsoft's DiskWarrior (v. 2.x or later) can definitely repair a wrapper error. Note that the current versions of DiskWarrior (v. 3.x) boot to OSX - they have no problem repairing OS 9 volumes, but the machine should be OSX-ready before booting to that disk. If the latter is not the case, look for a v. 2.1 or v. 2.1.1 version of DiskWarrior.