Cannot Open the Windows Address Book in Outlook Express

• Microsoft Windows 98
• Microsoft Outlook Express versions 4.0, 4.01, 4.01 Service Pack 1, 4.01 Service Pack 2 for Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you try to open the Microsoft Windows Address Book in Outlook Express, you may receive the following error message:

An error occurred while attempting to open the address book file.

RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).


To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.



2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs, click Outlook Express, and then click Remove.



3. Use Registry Editor to delete the following registry keys:




HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Outlook Express

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WAB

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB



4. Restart your computer, and then install Outlook Express again.

Additional query words:

Keywords          : kberrmsg kbtool outexw95 outexw98 
Version           : WINDOWS:4.0,4.01,4.01 Service Pack 1,4.01 Service Pack 2
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb 

Last Reviewed: May 6, 1999