I am user of Outlook Express and recently changed computers and moved
over to this new computer several thousand emails that I had saved
over the years as files in various folders in My Documents. (That is,
I didn't just place them in folders in Outlook Express.)

My assistant put an Earthlink email client on my new machine and when
I went to open up any of these saved email files, they opened up in
this Earthlink client much to my annoyance, as I didn't want to get
two email setups going. When I looked at the saved email files in My
Documents, they had a new icon besides them--one that referenced the
Earthlink program I guess instead of the Outlook icon that was
previously there.

So I had this computer guy delete the Earthlink software which I
didn't need anyway.

The problem now is that now when I go to open up one of these files by
double-clicking on it, nothing happens. I can right-click and use the
"Open With..." option and use Word or Adobe to open them, but that's a
pain and they still don't open as emails to which I can Reply and
Forward. If there's an attachment it doesn't open with anything and
the attachment and email are totally inaccessible.

The computer guy who got me in this fix told me to go this page to fix the problem:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;312355

I tried both solutions recommended--both going the Start Menu and
running msimn/reg and going to My Computer, Tools, Folder Options and
looking through the list of Registered File Types. There was nothing
there referencing Outlook Express or even Outlook and I did not see in
the parallel list of icons the icon that is besides all of my saved
email files. (This icon has a small blue ciruclar arrow (?) on a white
background.

Can you help me to get my saved email files re-associated with Outlook
Express so I can use that program to open them? (BTW, the problem also
occurs if someone sends me an email that has an email as an
attachment--I can't open the attachment.)

Please let me know if you need more information.

---

Clarification of Question by needtoknowit-ga on 29 Mar 2005 16:34 PST

Corrtelcom--

Thanks very much for your suggestion. That did the trick. Great work!

You know what? Just reinstall OE. I had a whole post here, and it's
stupid. It's so easy to just reinstall it.

Are you using Windows XP?

Also, your email files have the extension .eml correct?

Anyway, if you can't answer those two questions its alright, I'll post
instructions for both Windows XP and Windows 2000.

XP INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Go to the folder where all your emails are saved
2) Pick a email, it doesnt matter which one and RIGHT CLICK on it
3) Choose OPEN WITH
4) A box should pop-up, now click BROWSE

5) Another box should come up.. Go to C: --> Program Files --> Outlook
Express --> msimn.exe (find that file name and click OPEN
(YOU CAN ALSO COPY AND PASTE THIS without the quotes)
"C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe"

6) make sure the box, "ALWAYS USE SELECTED PROGRAM FOR THIS TYPE OF FILE"
7) Click OK, then that email should open with Outlook Express.




2000 INSTRUCTIONS:
(Should be similar with ME/98/95)

1) Go to folder where your emails are stored
2) Choose a email, doesn't matter which one
3) Right click and choose Open With --> choose program
4) a nice box should come up, click "OTHER"

5) Go to C: --> Program Files --> Outlook express --> msimn.exe (find
this file and click Open
(YOU CAN ALSO COPY AND PASTE THIS without the quotes)
"C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe"

6) Make sure "AlWAYS USE THIS PROGRAM TO OPEN THESE KIND OF FILES" is
checked, click Open or Ok
7) Outlook Express should open up your email :)


If you have Windows 98 and you're stuck, please let me know, the
instructions should be similar.

Hope I helped!

Sorry, i missed something.

for WINDOWS XP:

When you right click the email, you may have to go, "OPEN WITH" then
"CHOOSE PROGRAM" then you will see the box pop-up with the browse
button.

sorry,

maybe i should post my email so you can contact me if you need more help.

e.mail: brucebeh[at]gmail.com

You can also goto my computer -> Tools -> Folder Options -> File Types
-> Scroll to .eml then click on the change button to re-associate your
file type. You can use the "Advanced Button" to change the associated
icon.