Error Message: Unable to Start Application...

ID: q161639

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Internet Mail and News version 1.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Outlook Express version 4.0 for Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you start Internet Mail or Internet News or Outlook Express, you may receive the following error message:

Unable to Start Application. Some components may be busy or missing.


CAUSE

This error message can occur if any of the following conditions exist:

  • The Windows Address Book (WAB) file is damaged or the WAB file and the Wab32.dll file versions are mismatched.


  • The Gapia32.dll, Htmledit.dll, or Wabmig.exe file is damaged.


  • You installed the stand alone version of Internet Mail and News and you installed only the Internet News component.


  • You installed Internet Explorer and did not install the Internet Mail component.


  • You installed Microsoft Windows 98, and then uninstalled Windows 98.


  • There is not enough free space on your hard disk to allocate swap file usage.



RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the appropriate method.

Damaged WAB File or Mismatched WAB File and Wab32.dll File

Method 1

Install the updated version 1.0 of Internet Mail and News. The updated version handles this issue in a more robust manner and updates the WAB file and Wab32.dll file.

For information about obtaining the updated version 1.0 of Internet Mail and News for Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q154457 Availability of Microsoft Internet Mail and News

Method 2

Rename the <user name>.wab file, where <user name> is the appropriate user name, and then start Internet Mail or Internet News again.

Damaged Gapia32.dll, Htmledit.dll, or Wabmig.exe File

Rename these files and then reinstall Internet Mail and News. To rename a file:

  1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.


  2. Type the name of the file in the Named box, and then click Find Now.


  3. Right-click the file in the results window, and then click Rename.


  4. Type <file name>.xxx, where <file name> is the original file name, and then press ENTER. For example, if you are renaming the Gapia32.dll file, type gapia32.xxx, and then press ENTER.


  5. On the File menu, click Close.


Installed Internet News Only

Install the updated version 1.0 of Internet Mail and News as described in the "Damaged WAB File or Mismatched WAB File and Wab32.dll File" section above.

Installed Microsoft Internet Explorer Without Internet Mail

Reinstall Internet Explorer and install the Internet Mail component.

Windows 98 Installed and Uninstalled

To resolve this issue, see the "Internet Mail and News for Internet Explorer 3.02 Does Not Work" section of the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q190672 Troubleshooting Windows 98 Uninstall Problems

There Is Not Enough Free Space on Your Hard Disk

If there is not enough free space, you may receive "Unable to start the program" or "Riched32 failed to load" error messages, followed by "this note could not be displayed due to an initialization error."

To resolve this issue free enough space on your hard disk for the swap file to be allocated properly.


MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q220610 Outlook Express 4 May Not Run After Internet Explorer 5 Removed
WAB files are stored in the Windows folder with a name of <user name>.wab, where <user name> is your logon name. If this file becomes damaged, or if the format of the file is changed, it no longer matches the version of the Wab32.dll file and Internet Mail and News is unable to run. The WAB file and the Wab32.dll file must be from the same version of Internet Mail and News.

Additional query words: 1.00 outlook express

Keywords : kbenv kberrmsg inetnews inetmail
Version : WINDOWS:1.0,4.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: October 25, 1999
© 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.