Okay. Went back & did as instructed, Hid specified files & folders, etc. Applied to all folders. IE browsers are now OK. But, here is where I'm confused. Cannot determine what is meant by "Repeat steps 2-6...."

To rename the Outlook Express folders, perform the following steps:

Click the Start button, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
In the left pane, click the plus (+) sign to expand the following folders:
Program Files
Common Files
Microsoft Shared
Click to highlight the Stationary folder.
Right-click the folder and left-click Rename.
Type a unique name (such as old_stationary) and press the <Enter> key.
Click the minus (-) sign next to the Programs Files folder.
Repeat steps 2-6 for the following folders (where user is your user name)[[I]the user name in this instance being Bill Rummel, my name[/I]]:
c:\Documents and Settings\user\Application Data\Identities
c:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities
c:\Documents and Settings\user\Application Data\Address Book
c:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Address Book

....Application Data\Identities\...has only one folder {4E3254D7-522A-412A-9296-3F4767B3A2CB}.....and this folder has no file in it! Same for Local Settings, only one numeric folder w/o file.

Are you still with me Jephree?

Bill

Yes ... sorry for the lapse I got involved last night with installing the Vista Beta.

Anyway as I read it you rename the folder itself e.g. old_Identities; old_Address Book

Okay...here's what's going on...

I am able to re-name "Doc and Settings/Bill Rummel/Application Data/Identities" alright to "old_Identities". That worked. But, what I'm finding is that I have dual paths to the same folders only in different trees. - two others from Doc & Settings to "All Users" and another from "Default User". In attempting to change the "Identities" to "old Identities" in the Bill Rummel path it tells me no-can-do because the file is write protected or in use by another program (OE is closed).

Any ideas? Maybe this is why my OE is fidgety?

Bill

Just as a corollary Jephree, I get intermittent "Runtime Errors" with OE shutting down. Can't recall the exact terminalogy, but I think they are appearing in a Microsift Virtual Basic + dialog box, or something with a smilar name.

You might try Safe Mode as well as closing all programs including IE.

You might next try finding the specific files and and removing the Read Only tag (if applicable).

As to the Runtime errors here is some reading:

http://groups.google.com/group/micro...+errors&qt_g=1

Of course I have no idea how to find a specific file or remove "read only tags", but I appreciate the suggestion.

When you said:

....Application Data\Identities\...has only one folder {4E3254D7-522A-412A-9296-3F4767B3A2CB}.....and this folder has no file in it! Same for Local Settings, only one numeric folder w/o file.

right click that folder then click Properties then UNclick Read Only

OK. Gotcha. Done. Thanks. What is that supposed to do?

stop this: it tells me no-can-do because the file is write protected