OLEXP: Error Message: Msimn.exe Has Generated Errors and Will Be Closed by Windows (258034)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows Millennium Edition SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows Millennium Edition SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows Millennium Edition SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows Millennium Edition SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 98 Second Edition SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 98 Second Edition SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.02 for Windows 98 Second Edition SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows 98 Second Edition SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 98 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 98 SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows 98 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows 98 SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 95 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 95 SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows 95 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows 95 SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 2000 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 for Windows 2000 SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 for Windows 2000 SP 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows XP
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows 98
This article was previously published under Q258034
For information about the differences between Microsoft Outlook Express and Microsoft Outlook e-mail clients, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

257824 OL2000: Differences Between Outlook and Outlook Express

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you use Outlook Express, you may receive any of the following error messages:
Msimn.exe has generated errors and will be closed by Windows. You will need to restart the program. An error log is being created.
-or-
MSIMN caused an invalid page fault in module MSOE.DLL.

CAUSE

This error may be a result of one of the following circumstances:
  • Your .DBX files are marked as Read Only.
  • Your Identities key in the registry is damaged.

RESOLUTION

Before you resolve this problem, it is recommended that you back up your messages and addresses. For additional information about backing up messages and addresses, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

270670 How to Back Up and Recover Outlook Express Data

175017 How to Import and Export Address Books in Outlook Express

To resolve this issue, first ensure that your .DBX files are not Read Only. If the issue remains unresolved, then regenerate the identities registry key. The steps to do this follow.

Ensure that your .DBX files are not Read Only

Your .DBX files are the store files for your Outlook Express folders. If your files are marked as Read Only, they cannot be accessed. An example of a cause of this would be if you recently restored the files from a backup on a CD-ROM. To remove the Read Only attribute, perform the following steps:
  1. Click Start, click Find (or Search) and then click Files and Folders.
  2. In the Name field, type *.dbx, and then set the search to include local hard drives.
  3. Click Find Now or Search Now, and when the results are displayed, click the In Folder column heading to group items by location. Note the locations of the files found and then use Windows Explorer to navigate to the directory that contains your current store.
  4. Right click the first file in the folder, click Properties, on the General tab, click to uncheck the Read Only check box, and then click OK.
  5. Repeat step 4 for each file in the folder and test Outlook Express.
NOTE: By default, the files are stored in an Identities folder under a path similar to one of the following:

Drive:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{114378F3-CC8A-4992-B5B4-CCEA0A42A2B6}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

-or-

Drive:\Windows\Application Data\Identities\{114378F3-CC8A-4992-B5B4-CCEA0A42A2B6}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

where Drive is the letter of the drive.

The GUID number above, {114378F3-CC8A-4992-B5B4-CCEA0A42A2B6}, is an example only. Your findings will vary.

Regenerating the Identities Registry Key

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.

To regenerate the Identities registry key:
  1. Click the Start button, click Run, and then type regedit. Click OK.
  2. Browse through the registry to the following registry key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Identities

  3. On the Registry menu, click Export Registry File.
  4. In the Save In box, click Desktop.
  5. In the File Name box, type Identities, and then click Save.
  6. In Registry Editor, right-click the Identities key, and then click Delete.
  7. Quit Registry Editor, and then start Outlook Express to test functionality.
You can now restore your mail, addresses, and account settings.

MORE INFORMATION

In the event that multiple Identities exist on your system, use the following steps to determine the GUID number (such as the one displayed above {114378F3-CC8A-4992-B5B4-CCEA0A42A2B6} as an example):
  1. Click Start, click Run,type regedit, and then click OK.
  2. Browse through the registry to the following registry key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Identities

  3. Click the "+" (plus sign) next to Identities.
  4. To determine which GUID belongs to which Identity, click the GUID on the left side window. In the right side window, look for the data name "User Name" - this is the name of the Outlook Express Identity.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/24/2004
Keywords:kbprb KB258034
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.