> I appear to have lost the option to select Outlook Express as my preferred email software.
> My Outlook Express (version 5) is running fine as is IE5 but it will only open MS Outlook 2000 as the email software.

In IE 5, go to the "Tools" menu, choose "Internet Options...", click on the "Programs" tab, and you should have a selection box where you can choose your default mail client.

If this isn't your problem, then you might try looking at repairing your installation of Internet Explorer or Outlook Express from the Add/Remove Programs control panel. It tends to make things sane for IE and OE again.

--Seoman