tim2002

Thanks to all, I used the XP restore function which does (as you probably know but I did not) tell you once you start it that it will not touch your data or email files. It worked perfectly. Unfortunately I committed the cardinal afterwards of opening outlook as per normal. It immediately created a nice blank outlook .pst file, of the same name as my existing one, thereby overwriting all 200Mb of my old data, much gnashing of teeth. Still I have learnt something and will be wiser for next time. Thanks for helping guys.

I know my limitations and playing about with the registry was always beyond me, hence that is one thing I don't try to modify. However, if there is a way to edit out the corrupt entries and repair the database I would like to know about it. Since I made the common mistake of setting myself, the only user as the administrator, I have also wiped all the rights of the administrator so the damage is even greater. Can someone who has used the restore function advise me if this will erase any changes to data and email files to the restore date or whether it only restores data files ?????? Thanks again Tim - even more perplexed than before. I am backing up all the data files now ready for a rebuild but hoping there is a quicker way.

Thanks for your ideas Rick. I checked the XP restore function and it told me that the last saved restore point was 8 weeks ago. In terms of config this is no problem but I was not sure if that means that data files and especially the Outlook .pst files would also roll back 8 weeks, hence I refrained from using this. Does it keep the data files and only roll back config files or will I lose 8 weeks work as well ? Yes, I appreciate I am a dork for not backing up since 8 weeks. I was so relieved to have rebuilt the thing from the install disk 12 weeks ago that I lost the will to live ! But now I am getting the punishment. Cheers

I closed down as per normal last night but this morning the laptop took a long time and much disc read/write to bring up the desktop after my user password was entered. All my files, icons, rights and attributes had disappeared and I was now logged on as my name(temp) instead of just my name. On checking the Error log it tells me "wondows unable to load the registry. Detail - the configurations registry database is corrupt for C\Documents & Settings\username\ntuser.dat" It also said that therefore the machine had created a temporary new account in my name which would be deleted once the original s recovered. So how do I recover / repair the old corrupt registry ? Any offers. Most damaging is that I cannot access my outlook email files since I have lost access rights. I am as you can probably tell not the most XP gifted person but just struggling to keep head above water. Thanks if you can shed some light ....... Sorry forgot to add my config info. OS - XP Home Using Office XP with Frontpage Fujitsu laptop Owner a technical moron ! Yes, that's me.

Thanks Xperties, you have led me to a temp solution. It seems that if mail is received from ISP1 it has to be replied to via ISP1 and when dialled into ISP1 only and same with ISP2. I know not why but that seems to be the case. Seriously inconvenient really.

I have recently had to change ISP's and now have two POP3 email accts. I can originate new messages but cannot reply or forward incoming ones. I get "553 sorry, that domain isn't in my list of allowed rcpthosts (#5.7.1)" returned from System Administrator each time I use ISP1(default) if received via ISP 2. Is this a feature or my setup ?