Outlook Express won't work

[Rhinoceros]

I have Windows XP. I recently downloaded several updates, that the system told me were needed. I am not sure what they all were. After restarting the computer, I saw that it had loaded Outlook 2003 email system. I had been using Outlook Express. I was able to make OE the default system again. And I can receive emails on OE. But I cannot open them, cannot open (create) a new mail message, and cannot send messages. When I try to open an email, I first get a message saying that OE may need to be reloaded. I then get an error message saying it cannot open the email.
I prefer to use OE, rather than the cluttered Outlook.
Any suggestions on how to get OE to work again?

fgsltw7777777@yahoo.com

 

[Peddant]

"What it ended up being was a problem with one of Microsoft's security patches that I
downloaded and installed. After a lot of struggling yesterday and visits to
Microsoft's website (which I find very user unfriendly) I got to thinking about it
this morning and figured I'd try removing the last bunch I put in and
"viola", my Outlook Express works like a charm as it did before.

The culprit was security patch KB911567 that caused a problem here.From - HERE