OLEXP: Outlook Express 5 Starts Very Slowly

In Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Outlook Express or the Windows Address Book (wab.exe), may start very slowly.

This behavior can occur for any one or more of the following reasons:

• The Pstores.exe file and associated .dll files may be corrupted, or their versions may be incorrect, and the ProtectedStorage registry key has incorrect parameters. -or-
  
  
• The Imagehlp.dll file is absent or damaged.

To resolve this issue, use the following methods in the order presented:

Method 1: Replace the Imagehlp.dll File

To resolve the issue of an absent or damaged Imagehlp.dll, extract a new copy of Imagehlp.dll from your original Windows media by using the appropriate method:

Microsoft Windows 98

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type sfc, and then click OK.
3. Click to select Extract one file from installation disk.
4. In the box, type Imagehlp.dll, and then click Start.
5. From the Restore From section, click to select the path:
   X:\Win98
   where X is the letter of your CD-ROM drive.
6. In the Save File In section, locate the C:\Windows\System path.
7. Click OK.
8. If you receive a prompt to back up the file, click Yes and proceed until you successfully extract the file.

Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me)

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type msconfig, and then click OK.
3. On the General tab, click the Extract File button.
4. Type Imagehlp.dll, and then click Start.
5. From the Restore From section, click to select the path:
   X:\windows\options\install
   where Xis the letter of your CD-ROM drive.
6. In the Save File In section, locate the C:\Windows\System path.
7. Click OK.
8. If you receive a prompt to back up the file, click Yes and proceed until you successfully extract the file.

If the issue persists, proceed to the next method.

Method 2: Replace the Pstore Files

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
To resolve the issue of incorrect Pstore files, follow these steps on a computer running either Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition (Me):

1. Click Start and then click Run.
2. Type msconfig in the Run line, click OK, then click the Selective Startup tab.
3. Click to clear the Load Startup Group check box, click Apply, and then click OK.
4. Restart the computer.
5. Click Start, and then click Find Files or Folders.
6. Search on pstore*.*.
7. Rename all instances found to *.old or *.aaa by right-clicking on the associated file and clicking Rename from the shortcut menu.
   1. Pstorec.dll
   2. Pstorerc.dll
   3. Pstores.exe
   4. Pstore.log
   5. Psbase.dll
8. Click Start, and then click Run.
9. Type regedit in the Run line and then click OK.
10. Remove the Registry key
    
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Protected Storage.
11. Reinstall Internet Explorer (either from the web or from the cab files).
12. Restart the computer again.
13. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS prompt.
14. Type C:\Windows\System\pstores.exe -install in the MS-DOS prompt window, and then press ENTER.
15. Type Exit, then press ENTER.
16. Close all programs.
17. Restart the computer again.
18. Open Outlook Express to see performance return to normal.

This behavior can occur after you uninstall an earlier version of McAfee VirusScan and then install a new version. You cannot remove files that are in use until you restart the computer. If you do not restart the computer after you uninstall the earlier version of McAfee VirusScan, certain .dll files, which the newer version installs, are removed when you restart the computer. For more information on this issue, see the Product KnowledgeCenter at the McAfee Web site: For additional information about SFC, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.