Outlook 2003 Problem

[Acklington]

I have suddenly started to get the following message when I try to open my
Outlook (which I have always only used for contact details):
'Unable to open default email folders. Create a new profile by clicking the
Mail Icon in control Panel, clicking show files and then clicking add. After
creating a new profile. Make it your default by selecting it then clicking
always use this profile' I did that but it made no difference.
So I tried the restore function using the CD. After doing so I got the
following message: 'The extension configuration c:\Program
files\MSOffice\Addins\fldpub.ecf could not be installed. There is an error
in the syntax or format of the file'. Following this, the earlier fault
message appears again. When I close the error message the programme closes
down completely.

 

[CurtechIT.com]

I have received this message recently too. I cannot say what precipitated
the problem but I can tell you that you're not going to like the solution.
Since rebuilding the profile didn't work (and I assume you associated the PST
data files accordingly), then you might want to try PSTFIX. It's a standard
part of Outlook and can be found on your computer's hard drive (check the
microsoft knowledge base for more info). If that doesn't work (which it
didn't for me), you'll need to try a 3rd party Outlook PST recovery program
like the Kernel PST Recovery tool from Nucleus Technologies.com. It didn't
do a great job for me, but it did get me back up and running. The mail box
was a mess as were my contacts, but the notes were supprisingly intact. Good
luck.

 

[Acklington]

Thanks for the tip. I'll go there and see if it helps me. Do you think it
is a bug of some sort then?

 

[Diane Poremsky]

Did you use an Office 2003 cd or office 2000? That file is for netfolders
which are not supported in Outlook 2003. Try detect and repair (Help menu).

Please ignore the other person's comments. there is no PSTFIX application
for outlook and the other stuff he suggested is pure BS.

 

[Diane Poremsky]

He has no clue... don't waste your time with the apps he suggests. The
offending file is used for the old netfolders feature which is not supported
by Outlook 2003.

 

[Acklington]

Hi Diane,

Yes, I used Office 2003. I previously had Office Premium 2000, upgraded to
Office 2003 this year. When I came to do my Christmas card list I couldn't
figure out how to export into Office 2003 as I have done before, and I rather
think this is how the problem began. I didn't bother going back into Outlook
and used last years list instead. It was only when I went to change an
address that I realised this problem.

I have done the repair thing using the 2003 CD, to no avail.

I am so glad I DONT use Outlook for my email, or I'd be in a right pickle.

Any help you can offer will be most gratefully received,

Kind regards

 

[Diane Poremsky]

find and delete extend.dat.
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.asp#fileloc

 

[Acklington]

Hi Diane,

I've done that now, but the problem persists. Same message appears, though
it no longer tells me to go to my control panel to sort out the email thing.
I have also tried, unsuccessfully, to a: reinstall the whole programme and b:
do a system restore, it doesn't complete.

Why on earth is this programme so difficult to work with? My other
Microsoft programmes all work just fine. Again, I'm so glad I don't have to
use it for my email. Its just annoying that I paid all that money and the
programme won't even open for me. I'm not a complete computer dunce, but I'm
also not a 'techie' either. Thanks for taking the time to try to help me,

Kind regards

 

[Diane Poremsky]

Well, it should work and for most people, outlook works just fine. There are
problems when its an upgrade and you use the old profile though.

Go to tools, trust center, addins - is Netfolders listed?

 

[Acklington]

Hi Diane,

Well, I've finally got it working again. Don't quite know how I did it, but
it is now operational again. The interesting thing (to me) is that I found a
third file called extend.dat that I deleted. There were three altogether
with this name. I also went into mail and looked there carefully too,
changing the profile.

Then (probably because I had re-installed my Office 2003) it wanted to
configure the programme as if it were new, asking for the Office 2000 disk to
do so. Once I'd done that the programme runs again, though as Office 2003,
not Office 2000 version. I've had to re-import my contacts from a year old
back up but at least I can once again use my Outlook for contacts. I shall
be very careful with it from now on though.... Thanks a million for your
patience with me, Happy Holidays,

Kind regards

 

[Jolynn]

I have received the same error message w/Outlook 2007. Where do you find the
extend data files? When I hit search for extend.dat nothing is found. When
I hit search for extend, I get multiple finds. The top 2 are extend and
odataext. I deleted them. I still cannot access my outlook. I get same
messages. The extension configuration file...cannot be installed...Then I
get...There is an error in syntax or format of the file. reinstall outlook
now. Then i get "The file CRYPT32.dll is incompatible with Microsoft
Office....I'm going to try restarting my pc. Help if you can.
Jolynn

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]]

I have received the same error message w/Outlook 2007. Where do you find the
extend data files?

On WIndows XP it's in %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook
On Vista and 7, it's in %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Outlook. Just enter one of
these two paths, exactly as written, into Windows Explorer's Address field and
click Go.

Then i get "The file CRYPT32.dll is incompatible with Microsoft
Office....I'm going to try restarting my pc. Help if you can.

See if this helps:
http://microsoft-office-support-1.blogspot.com/2009/04/fix-error-crypt32dll-in-ms-office.html