Outlook 97

This location may have the answers you need:

www.slipstick.com/problems/scanpst.htm

C:/windows/application data/identities/{4CESTT????/microsoft/outlook express/

this is the path to restore your mails

You want to do a find to locate your PST file. This holds all of you email and your contacts.

Then run scanpst.exe on the PST file(you can use the find again to locate this program)

You should not need to reinstall Outlook but you might have to recreate your profile. This can be done by going into the Control Panel and finding Mail and Fax.