Need techie help/opinion for Outlook problem

[Claudia1]

Let me state up front that I am not the computer tech person in our family. DH does a great job at it but he is out of town for a few days right now.

Right before he left, the Microsoft Outlook suddenly did not load. He restarted the computer, reloaded Outlook, and did everything that usually brings it back to life. No luck. He had to leave before he could resolve it.

When I click on the icon, the screen starts to load (for about 1 second) and then a window pops us that says, "Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Unable to open the Outlook window. The set of folders could not be opened. The server is not available. Contact your administrator if this condition persists." Everything else is working fine.

I have a tech house call scheduled for tomorrow but I really need to get to our email. Does anybody have any suggestions that a non-tech person can do to correct this problem (that would not destroy the computer or alienate a husband!!)?

Should I grit my teeth and bear it until tomorrow?

 

[always quiet]

I am not an expert by ANY means (just ask the tech folks here who have helped me on numerous occasions! ), but if it says the sever is not available, wouldn't that indicate that the problem is with Outlook Express and NOT your computer?? :confused2 I would leave the computer's settings alone for awhile and try restarting later....maybe the problem with work itself out!

 

[crazelion]

You do not outlook express to check your email if have of these services email addies:

hotmail.com

yahoo.com

netscape.net

aol.com

email.com

bellsouth.net

Just go to the home page email address that have and check your email from there. That's the easy way to do it.

I am one the few people that can't stand outlook express at all.

 

[kild]

I have seen this before and it was the .pst file that was corrupt or had errors. The file gets locked, and outlook cannot access it anymore. There is a way to correct it, but it takes a few steps.

1. YOu would have to start the PC in safe mode. Restart the computer and hold the ctrl button down until a menu pops up. It will have choices 1. normal 2. safe mode 3. safe mode with networking etc... Choose safe mode.
2. When the PC comes back up (things will look funny) go to start, search, 'FOr Files or Folders"

3. You want to search for *.pst and make sure the Look in: is set to local harddrives (C: )

4. When it finds the personal.pst or somthing like it, highlight it by clicking on it, then right click and select rename. Name it to something like old.pst

5. Restart your pc normally and Outlook should come up with no problems.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Are you using O or OE??

 

[Claudia1]

Thanks, everybody! I shared this with DH on the road and he says, "Thanks", too.

I got thru the search and didn't come up with anything remotely similiar. I had DH on the phone and he suggested a couple of other searches but he was not in a good area for his cell phone and I was not comfortable in guessing what he was saying. I didn't want to lose even more data, so I'm just waiting until tomorrow.

I love the help I get on the CB!!!!!