# I deleted Outlook Express & my CD player from my home computer... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 17, 2006, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-deleted-outlook-express-my-cd-player-from-my-home-computer/348823 "2006-03-17T22:58:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-deleted-outlook-express-my-cd-player-from-my-home-computer/348823/1 "2006-03-17T22:58:50Z")
I was trying to make some space on my hard-drive on my home confuter, because it’s full. Because I’m a confuter-illeterate moron, I deleted outlook express & my CD player (yes, I know a CD player is hardware and not soft ware, but the confuter can’t find it anymore). Anyone have any thoughts as to how I can get these things back? I recognize that this is sort of a long shot… FWIW - I tried to download outlook from the MSN site but dont’ know what the hell I’m looking for. (If I did, I wouldn’t have deleted it in the first place). Finally, yes, I know I’m dumb. Very, very dumb. Please help me. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-deleted-outlook-express-my-cd-player-from-my-home-computer/348823/2 "2006-03-17T23:07:31Z")
If you have your Windows installation CD, you can reinstall them that way. Otherwise, you should be able to get it from the MS website. If you can’t find them there, which version of Windows are you using? I, or someone else, can find it for you. If you have your CD, just pop it in. A screen will come up with some choices, one of which will be to add or remove windows components. That’s the one you want. If you’re using 2000 (or ME?) and up, Outlook Express is bundled with Internet Explorer, so reinstalling that will restore OE. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-deleted-outlook-express-my-cd-player-from-my-home-computer/348823/3 "2006-03-17T23:22:16Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > If you have your Windows installation CD, you can reinstall them that way. Otherwise, you should be able to get it from the MS website. If you can’t find them there, which version of Windows are you using? I, or someone else, can find it for you. > > If you have your CD, just pop it in. A screen will come up with some choices, one of which will be to add or remove windows components. That’s the one you want. If you’re using 2000 (or ME?) and up, Outlook Express is bundled with Internet Explorer, so reinstalling that will restore OE. I actually think I threw the CD in the garbage in a fit of cleaning. Yes, I’m a big fat idiot. I have Windows 2000. ---
**Author:** ![Squee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@Squee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squee)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-deleted-outlook-express-my-cd-player-from-my-home-computer/348823/4 "2006-03-17T23:36:17Z")
Just for clarification, you deleted the actual files and/or directories? Or just the shortcuts to those files? I just checked my Windows 2000 (Advanced Server) machine and the file locations are: %SystemRoot%\system32\cdplayer.exe C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\MSIMN.EXE ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-deleted-outlook-express-my-cd-player-from-my-home-computer/348823/5 "2006-03-17T23:43:45Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > I have Windows 2000. In that case, download the standalone installer for OE 6.0 [here](http://www.tucows.com/preview/194179). I couldn’t find it on the MS site–it was all bundled with IE. There are a whole bunch of freeware CD playing programs available, that are generally far better than the Windows version. Try Download.com–they might even have the Windows accessory, if you prefer it. ---
**Author:** ![Squee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@Squee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squee)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-deleted-outlook-express-my-cd-player-from-my-home-computer/348823/6 "2006-03-17T23:44:40Z")
BTW, I concur about reinstalling or repairing IE to get Outlook Express back. Try doing a repair install of Internet Explorer from the Add/Remove Programs first. It will give you an option of repairing IE or restoring to a previous configuration… choose the Repair option. I’ve done it before and I don’t think I’ve ever been prompted for the media (CD or download location). If for some reason it does prompt you for the CD, you can always download IE from Microsoft: [http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1e1550cb-5e5d-48f5-b02b-20b602228de6&DisplayLang=en](http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1e1550cb-5e5d-48f5-b02b-20b602228de6&DisplayLang=en) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-deleted-outlook-express-my-cd-player-from-my-home-computer/348823/7 "2006-03-17T23:46:36Z")
> [@Squee](#): > > Just for clarification, you deleted the actual files and/or directories? Or just the shortcuts to those files? Very good sugggestion. I keep forgetting people do that and think they’ve deleted the actual _program_. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-deleted-outlook-express-my-cd-player-from-my-home-computer/348823/8 "2006-03-18T05:06:41Z")
I think I managed to delete the actuall program, 'cus when I click on outlook I get a message saying: > [@Squee](#): > > C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\MSIMN.EXE is missing. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-deleted-outlook-express-my-cd-player-from-my-home-computer/348823/9 "2006-03-18T05:11:02Z")
One additional thought: did you check your Recycle Bin? If you deleted the file manually, but you never emptied the Bin, it’s still in there. Open the Recycle Bin, and if you see it there, you can left-click on it and select Restore to put it back where it belongs. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-deleted-outlook-express-my-cd-player-from-my-home-computer/348823/10 "2006-03-18T05:12:27Z")
That should be **right** -click. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-deleted-outlook-express-my-cd-player-from-my-home-computer/348823/11 "2006-03-18T07:11:08Z")
gah! So I tried your link **QED** but apparently there’s a newer version of Explorer on my confuter, so I can’t install that version of outlook. crezap. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-deleted-outlook-express-my-cd-player-from-my-home-computer/348823/12 "2006-03-18T07:18:33Z")
Looks like you’re going to have to download and install the whole IE package, from [here](http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1e1550cb-5e5d-48f5-b02b-20b602228de6&displaylang=en). ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-deleted-outlook-express-my-cd-player-from-my-home-computer/348823/13 "2006-03-18T07:32:16Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Looks like you’re going to have to download and install the whole IE package, from [here](http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1e1550cb-5e5d-48f5-b02b-20b602228de6&displaylang=en). Well slap my face and call me Judy! That actually worked. Thanks Mr. Smarty McSmart 🙂 Now I suppose I need to get to work trying to fix the stupid CD player… I hate this kind of stuff. it makes my head hurt.