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Can't change fonts in Microsoft Outlook Express 6?

Dave, I installed Internet Explorer SP2 and every thing works fine, except that now, if I try to change the font in Outlook Express 6 email I get an error message that "An error has oocurred in this dialog. Error: 501. Permission denied". Is it possible to replace the existing Outlook Express 6 without having to completely remove and re-install internet Explorer.


Dave's Answer:

Outlook Express is bundled with Internet Explorer, as you know, so as far as I can tell, it's not really possible to separate the two. But then again, Microsoft said that it couldn't remove Internet Explorer from Windows and somehow managed to create a version of Windows for the European Union with just that characteristic.

Your best bet, however, is to delve into your registry to let you reinstall Outlook Express, frightening though that prospect may be!

What you want to do is edit a specific registry key to allow you to reinstall only Outlook Express. The process is outlined in the Microsoft article How to reinstall or repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows XP.

What I most like is this comment in the article:

"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."

Nonetheless, it seems straightforward. Basically you'll use regedit to modify HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\
Installed Components\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}
so that it lets you reinstall OE without having to reinstall IE6.

As with all hacks to system configuration files, make sure that you save a clean unedited copy of your registry before you make this change with regedit. If things go terribly wrong, you can then restore the older registry settings and, hopefully, be back to a workable environment.

Good luck with this!

Thanks to Tommy Martin for his help with this question


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Comments

This is a known problem that I have been researching for over a year. Re-installing OE will not help. I am able to change the font using the font toolbar only - not through any right-clicking or choosiung fonr from any drop-down menu.

The only solution that I found was to create another Windows user. A new identity does not help.

On my computer, re-installing Windows did not help.

Posted by: Seymour Newman at November 18, 2005 5:45 PM

For over a year, I have been reporting that I was receiving an error 501 font permission denied. At that time, there were only two work-arounds. One was to use the font toolbar and the second was to create a new Windows user.

This morning I read a post with two suggested solutions. They were to change, under advanced options of IE, the following:-
Uncheck Show Friendly URL and uncheck USE HTTP 1.1.

Since I already had the Friendly URL unchecked, I proceeded to uncheck USE HTTP 1.1. I can now change fonts via right-click.
I even restored USE HTTP 1.1 to checked and OE still allows me to change fonts via right-click.

Go figure.

Reference: http://castlecops.com/postlite148110-.html

Posted by: Seymour Newman at March 4, 2006 11:35 AM

Well, how 'bout that! The fix shared by the contributor to Castlecops works just as described! I, also, then Re-set the box to checked, using both 'Apply' and 'OK', for "Use HTTP 1.1", and tested the right-click changing of font. It still worked, and no more error message 501 boxes. Thank you for posting this whole thread.

Posted by: Anon at August 17, 2006 5:37 PM

re: Error 501 font permission denied. I have tried unchecking "Use HTTP 1.1" and "Show friendly URL", but still unable to get past the Error 501 window. I have tried right-clicking on "font", but nothing happens. ???

Posted by: Michael Stapleton at September 28, 2006 1:29 PM

Dave - the solution to the Problem 501 is to be found in the Outlook netframework settings. Goto Control Panel/Internet Settings/Security/Netframework settings and change the values back to default.

Some programs that are automatically downloaded mess with those setting having to do with Font and disable them. Resetting them to default fixes the problem. All this thanks to Vishnu Osham of MS help group in downtwon India somewhere.

Bob Price

Posted by: RBPrice at December 8, 2006 11:12 AM

Here's another possible solution to the "Error 501" font setting problem in Outlook Express.

From the Internet Explorer top menu click: Tools/Internet Options/Security Tab. Then, click the Custom Level button. From the list of settings under Miscellaneous, look for "Navigate sub frames across different domains." This item should be ENABLED. Change this setting for both the Internet and Trusted Sites' zones. When finished, ensure that the security levels for all Internet zones remain set at their default levels.

A simple IE setting change, but it worked for me, and hopefully, it may be of help to others in resolving their "Error 501" problem when trying to change fonts in Outlook Express.


Posted by: Grant at February 18, 2007 6:24 AM

BOB PRICE - thank you so much. Tried all the other suggestions here and yours the only one that worked for me.

Posted by: Raewyn at March 1, 2007 12:40 PM

Thanks to Grant for his solution for the "501' error. I have been trying for hours to get this fixed, your suggestion worked. Thanks so much.

Posted by: brenda at March 3, 2007 4:42 PM

My thanks, Brenda, for the thoughtful message. I'm glad that suggestion was of help to you.

And a BIG thank you must go to Dave for this site where we can share possible solutions to our computer problems.

Posted by: Grant at March 4, 2007 7:34 PM

thanks to Grant...his solution worked for me...FINALLY!!!

Posted by: janice at March 15, 2007 6:44 AM

grants advice did the trick. thanks so much. its bugging me for a week. i think the problem occurred for me when i loaded ie7 and then because it sucks, unistalled back to ie6.
you the man!!!

Posted by: fred at March 15, 2007 8:56 PM

Thanks, Dave!! I used Grant's suggestion for fixing the 501 font error in OE...I tried several fixes and nothing worked...but this did! Thanks to Grant! Ken in Hawaii

Posted by: Ken at March 21, 2007 8:20 PM

I didn't reinstall Outlook Express, but I tried all the other suggestions above and none worked for me. So I phoned HP Tech 'Paid for' tech support and did get a fix. For me, it was: Click on START, Control Panel, Internet Options, select "Accessibility" in the lower right corner. Then remove all checks from the four boxes, exit out and reboot the computer.

Donald Choice, San Diego CA 03/24/2007

Posted by: donald choice at March 24, 2007 8:01 PM

ref the solution to correcting Error 501. I followed the instructions re tools/Internetoptions/Security and changing navigate to sub frames acrooss different domains. It worked. I really appreciate finding this information because I have spent over a week trying to find a solution. One thing though I do not quiet understand what you meant by "When finished, ensure that the security levels for all Internet zones remain set at their default levels.:. I took it to mean to return the Trusted Sige zones to the original selection (Disable). Please let me know if this is correct.

Posted by: Newf at March 27, 2007 6:39 PM

I had the same problem and a friend figured out the SIMPLE solution. Just start an email, then go to VIEW, then TOOLARS, click on that and make sure that FORMATTING BAR is checked.

Posted by: Linda Linn at April 4, 2007 7:05 AM

The solution given by Grant on February 18, worked for me.

Cheers Grant.

Posted by: Zafar at April 12, 2007 9:41 AM

I tried several of the above suggestions. They were either already implemented or had no effect. What worked is: IE/Tools/Internet Options/Program tab. The program listed for E-mail was Microsoft Office Outlook. I changed it to Outlook Express, Apply (this took several seconds), OK. No more error 501. BUT when as a check I returned the program to Microsoft Office Outlook, Error 501 did not return. Strange, but problem solved (unless it re-appears as mysteriously as it appeared the first time.) This is with IE6/XP Home/SP2. Some months ago I installed IE7 and then uninstalled it, but I don't know if that is when the error 501 started.

Posted by: albert at May 28, 2007 5:50 AM

I tried everything above. Nothing worked.

Posted by: Jo at July 6, 2007 7:00 PM

Thanks Dave,
I had the 501 error also and Grant's trick solved the problem for me too. Many thanks.
Hawk

Posted by: Hawk at August 18, 2007 2:53 PM

how can I scan a message from my lexmark printer
without going via od outlook express
Joe

Posted by: Joe Coty at October 9, 2007 4:46 PM

thanks grant ur solution worked for me....

Posted by: kela at June 20, 2008 12:02 PM

Thanks so much Grant yours is a real solution.
It worked for me perfectly well.

Eric

Posted by: Eric at October 16, 2008 5:50 AM


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