To manually remove Outlook Express 5.x or 6.0, you must rename several files. To help in this process, all system files and file extensions must be visible:

1. Double-click the My Computer icon.
    
2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options, and then click the View tab.
    
3. 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.
    
4. Click to clear the Hide Protected Operating System Files (Recommended) check box, and then click Yes in the warning message dialog box.
    
5. Click OK to close the Folder Options dialog box.

How to Remove Outlook Express

Before you remove Outlook Express, it is important to familiarize yourself with the back up and restore procedures for Outlook data. Microsoft recommends that you back up your e-mail, address book, and other data. For detailed instructions and backup procedures, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:

• 181084 How to Back Up Your Inbox Assistant Rules in Outlook Express
   
• 188093 How to Back Up the Account List in Outlook Express
   
• 230208 How to Back Up E-mail Messages in Outlook Express 5
   
• 270670 OLEXP: How to Back Up and Recover Outlook Express Data
   
• 230076 OL2000: Why Outlook 2000 Requires Outlook Express

To remove Outlook Express, you must rename several folders.

NOTE: Before you remove Outlook Express, make sure you are logged on to the computer with Administrative rights.

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
    
2. Locate and rename the following folders:
    
   • The Stationery folder:

     C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Stationery

   • The Identities folder:

     C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Identities

     -or-

     C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities

   • The Address Book folder:

     C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book

     -or-

     C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Address Book
      

3. After you locate these folders, click them one at a time, and then press F2. Rename them to old stationery, old identities, and old address respectively, and then press ENTER.

You must now delete the registry key for Outlook Express:

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

1. Click Start, and then click Run, and then type regedit in the Open box.
    
2. Locate the following registry keys, right-click the registry key, and then click Delete:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WAB
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{7790769C-0471-11D2-AF11-00C04FA35D02}
    

3. Quit Registry Editor.

To complete the removal procedure, rename several Outlook Express files:

1. Click Start, point to Search, and then click For Files and Folders.
    
2. Find and rename the following files (these files are the same in Outlook Express 6.0):
   
   Inetcomm.dll
   Msoeacct.dll
   Msoert2.dll
   Msoe.dll
   Msoeres.dll
   Msimn.exe
   Oeimport.dll
   Oemiglib.dll
   Oemig50.exe
   Setup50.exe
   Wab.exe
   Wabfind.dll
   Wabimp.dll
   Wabmig.exe
   Csapi3t1.dll
   Directdb.dll
   Wab32.dll
   Wab32res.dll

Each of these files are located in two folders, the default file folder, and the C:\Winnt\System32\Dllcache folder. For example, the Inetcomm.dll file is located in the C:\Winnt\System32 folder, by default, and in the C:\Winnt\System32\Dllcache folder. You must rename the same file in both folders to successfully remove Outlook Express. To rename these files:

1. Remove any CD-ROMs that may be in your CD-ROM drive.
    
2. Click the Inetcomm.dll file in the Dllcache folder, press F2, rename the file to filename.old (for example, inetcomm.old), and then press ENTER.
    
3. Click the same file in the other folder, press F2, rename the file to filename.old, and then press ENTER.
    
4. When you receive the prompt about Windows file protection, do not insert the Windows 2000 CD-ROM. Instead, click Cancel.
    
5. At the prompt about keeping unrecognized file versions, click Yes.
    
6. Repeat this process with each file in the list.