My Outlook database has a problem, but using the database utility as requested stalls at step 4 [-1800]

If I create a new identify and basically start from scratch rather than try and copy folders one by one (trying to avoid the corrupted one) into the new database what affect would this have on my wife's working outlook when she logs in to her desktop account? Is there a way of preserving her currently working Outlook whilst trying to repair or start again with mine?

Many thanks

Doug