How to remove Outlook Express 5.1, 5.5, or 6.0 from a Windows 2000-based computer

To manually remove Outlook Express 5.1, Outlook Express 5.5, or Outlook Express 6.0 from a Windows 2000-based computer, follow these steps:

Note Make sure that you are logged on to the computer as an administrator.

1. Make sure that system files and file name extensions are visible.

a. Double-click the My Computer icon.

b. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options, and then click the View tab.

c. In the Hide Files and Folders section, click Show hidden files and folders, and then click to clear the Hide file extensions for known file types check box.

d. Click to clear the Hide Protected Operating System Files (Recommended) check box, and then click Yes in the warning message dialog box.

e. Click OK to close the Folder Options dialog box.

2. Delete the Outlook Express registry keys.

To remove Outlook Express, you must delete the registry keys for Outlook Express. To do this, follow these steps:

a. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.

b. Locate the following registry keys, right-click the registry key, and then click Delete:

•HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express

•HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express

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

c. Close Registry Editor.

3. Rename the Outlook Express files.

To complete the removal procedure, rename the Outlook Express files. Each of these files is located in the default file folder and in the C:\Winnt\System32\Dllcache folder. For example, the Msoe.dll file is located in the following folders:

• C:\Program Files\Outlook Express

• C:\Winnt\System32\Dllcache

You must rename the file in both folders to successfully remove Outlook Express. To rename the Outlook Express files, follow these steps:

a. Remove any CDs that are in your CD drive.

b. Start Windows in safe mode.

c. Click Start, point to Search, and then click For Files and Folders.

d. In the Search for files or folders named box, type Msoe.dll, and then click Search Now.

e. Right-click the first Msoe.dll file, and then click Rename.

f. Type Msoe.old, and then press ENTER.

g. To rename the second instance of the Msoe.dll file, repeat steps e and f.

h. When you are prompted about Windows file protection, click Cancel.

i. When you are prompted about whether to keep unrecognized file versions, click Yes.

j. To rename the following files, repeat steps d through i:

• Msoeacct.dll

• Msoert2.dll

• Msoeres.dll

• Msimn.exe

• Oeimport.dll

• Oemiglib.dll

• Oemig50.exe

• Setup50.exe

k. Restart your computer in Normal Mode.

-------------- End of Document -----------------

Tags: Windows 2000, Windows XP

Published Date: 20080516