Internet Explorer and Outlook Express

Question

For the last week, I have been unable to receive emails in Outlook Express. I have a 6 month old Dell Dimension 2400 with XP. My ISP told me I needed to go to Microsoft.com to reinstall Internet Explorer and when I went to the download center. it wouldn't let me d/l IE bec. I supposedly have a newer version already installed. Does this make sense?   I called Dell Support because I bought the 3 year support package and much to my chagrin, I was told that it covered hardware only and that I would have to pay $39.99 for one support session. The operator did suggest that I connect with this Community Forum and I'm hoping to find the answer as to what to do here. Any suggestions would be sincerely appreciated. Thank you very much for taking the time to consider my request.

JarmoD · Answer

If you disable your firewall *temporarily*, does email work? Can you ping your ISP's SMTP & POP3 servers?

chuket · Answer

Do you have Zone Alarm installed? If so, temporarily shut it down and see if you can retrieve your e-mail. If not there is a repair for IE and OE. Post back.

kmprend · Answer

Thank you for responding. No, I don't have Zone Alarm installed. How can I find the repair for IE and OE?  I tried to download IE from the Mocrosoft download site and I wasn't able to D/L it bec. a msg. appeared saying I have a newer version already installed. This didn't make any sense to me. How can I get this repair? Thank you in advance.

chuket · Answer

Here is the easy way 'command' to run the IE repair. From this site (scroll down past the ads and see the post by LeeTutor):

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/WinXP/Q_20962045.html

Go to Start » Run and copy/paste the bold text below into the blank box:

rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 C:\windows\inf\ie.inf

You will get a box asking for the location of IExplore.exe. The box should have C:\windows\inf\i386 highlighted. This is usually the wrong location. Edit C:\windows\inf\i386 to C:\i386 or the location of your copy of IExplore.exe (you can do a search to find it). You may have to experiment to get to the correct location. Once found the repair will start. You'll lose all the critical updates and have to get them over again. The long way to do the same from MS is here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;318378

From the MS article above:

To avoid this error message and reinstall the same version of Internet Explorer and Outlook Express, follow these steps:

1. While you are logged on as an administrator, click Start, and then click Run. 2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK. 3. Locate the appropriate registry subkey, right-click the IsInstalled (REG_DWORD) value, and then click Modify.

To reinstall only the Internet Explorer 6 browser component on Windows XP, use the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{89820200-ECBD-11cf-8B85-00AA005B4383}

To reinstall only Outlook Express 6 on Windows XP, use the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}

4. Change the value data from 1 to 0, and then click OK. 5. Quit Registry Editor, and then install Internet Explorer 6. 6. To reinstall Windows XP updates, visit the following Microsoft Windows Update Web site:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Message Edited by chuket on 04-06-2005 12:52 AM

kmprend · Answer

Thank you for responding.

Re: If you disable your firewall *temporarily*, does email work?

I just tried disabling the firewall and the 'No new messages' message did appear at the bottom right of the OE screen. (Nothing has been in the bottom right corner there since the problem began about a week ago....It used to show when a messaage was about to be delivered ...saying "Connecting' or something like that.) I tried sending myself a message and it didn't appear in OE. However, I was able to view the test message in webmail.

Re: Can you ping your ISP's SMTP & POP3 servers?

I don't know what this means. I called my ISP and they told me to call Microsoft, but I don't think that's what you're referring to. I recall that 'POP3' is part of the sent message address when I've sent emails in the past, but I'm not familiar with this terminology. How does one 'ping their ISP's SMTP & POP3 servers'?

JarmoD · Answer

[Having disabled my firewall] I tried sending myself a message and it didn't appear in OE. However, I was able to view the test message in webmail.

Still having the same problem?

How does one 'ping their ISP's SMTP & POP3 servers'?

Your email a/c is configured in OE with two server names (or possbly IP addresses). Probably something like smtp.myisp.net and pop3.myisp.net. Open a command prompt (Win+R, cmd) and then run ping smtp.myisp.net. Ditto for the POP3 server. All we're doing at this point is verifying that you have connectivity to, and name resolution for, their email servers. If you get a valid reply from both pings then we know you have connectivity and we can concentrate on other causes e.g. bugs in OE.

Windows General

Internet Explorer and Outlook Express

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