Check and see if you have a preloaded security program. Mine came with McAfee and there is a compatability problem with Outlook Express and the McAfee. I had to remove the McAfee and went with AVG. It is a free program. Do a Google search it is easy to find and works well. McAfee told me their program will work fine. Microsoft told me about the compatability problems. Since the change I have had no more OE problems, so I guess someone was not telling the whole story.

John