I'm running Windows XP Home ed. on my pc and have recently cleaned up my system as per advice given to me posted hjt log here in the forums.

I had several email files backed up within Outlook and am suddenly unable to retrieve or even open Outlook. I also discovered that I must have been using the Office 2003 version (which I have no idea where it came from since I only have 2002 and 2000 pro versions.) Apparently I have both 2002 and 2003 installed.

Everything used to run fine last time I used Outlook which was a couple of weeks or so prior to doing the cleanup I posted here. I did not think it would affect the files in Outlook and therefore didn't think twice about anything happening to them. I'm assuming they are still on there somewhere but since I can not access the 2003 version I am unable to see the files I need to get to once again to retrieve important information and files.

Is there any way to get to these files, which before just appeared in the left column in Outlook and contained sent files, drafts, and received files, etc?
Secondly, what can I do about the dual Office versions running on my pc?

Thank you for any advice provided on getting around this problem.

What is stopping the 2003 version from running, do you get any errors?

You say you had email files backed up before, where they in .PST format?

Did you have more than one Folder, e.g did you used to have your normal mailbox and then additional personal folders?

The best thing to do is browse to the following location on your PC:
C:\Documents and Settings\USER\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

That is where Microsoft Outlook normally stores its files, so just check to see whether there are any there.
Or alternatively search your entire computer for *.pst

Open up your Outlook and click on Tools - Options - Mail setup - Data files.
Do you see anything in the box?

If not then try browsing to that folder we specified earlier and click on one of the .pst files.

Once we have recovered your emails then we can uninstall one of the versions of Office from Add/Remove programs.

Zimbo,

thank you for your help so far.

I don't get errors while trying to run 2003. It just asks me for the product key code before even opening allowing access to the program. Since I never installed Office 2003 I don't have a key code for it. I read something about a trial version of Office, which this is a Office 2003 Standard edition. I'm assuming it may have come with the desktop I purchased.

I was unable to find the file in the directory you suggested. I did however locate it with Outlook Express 6 and am able to view all of the necessary files which I had thought were lost.

Is Outlook Express 6 linked to Office 2003 or does it act as a standalone? I want to make sure it will not be affected before proceeding with the removal of Office 2003 with add/remove programs.

Outlook Express 6 is installed by Windows XP and is completely seperate from Office 2003.
So you should be able to uninstall office 2003 without causing any problems.

Thank you Zimbo. Problem is fixed and the important files retrieved. Thought I had posted my response before but for some reason it never posted.

Thanks for letting us know...