Cannot open my contacts!

[Kevin]

When I try to double-click on a contact in my 'Contacts' folder, it gives me
the error message "The messaging interface has returned an unknown error. If
the problem persists, restart Outlook." But not only does the problem
persists after I restart Outlook, it persists after I restart my computer!
Another symptom occurs when I open a new e-mail and click on the 'To' field
to view and add recipients; it gives me the same error message.

How can I fix this?

Thanks!
Kevin

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

List the steps that produced this problem.
Include your Outlook version and information store.

 

[Kevin]

Russell,

Thanks for helping me out.

My version of Outlook is XP, but I’m not familiar with what you mean by
“information store.†With regard to the steps that produced the problem: It
has been happening for a few weeks now, so I’m not sure what has been done to
initially create this problem. However, here are the steps that lead to the
error message:

1. I click on ‘Contacts’ to display my contacts list.
2. I double-click on any of the contacts in my contacts list to open it, and
the error message pops up: “Can’t open this item.†On the other hand, if I
create a new mail message and try to click on the ‘To’ button (which should
open a new window which allows me to add/delete recipients from my contacts
list), it pops up an error message: “The messaging interface has returned an
unknown error. If the problem persists, restart Outlook.â€

Any insight?
-kms-

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Information store means where your data is stored: Exchange mailbox or local
PST file.
We need to know at least the basics of your setup.

 

[Tim83]

Russ, I am having a very similar problem:
I get the same error: "The messaging interface has returned an unknown
error. If the problem persists, restart Outlook." when I try to access my
address book or when I try to add an address to an email by clicking on the
"To:" or "CC:" button. I am able to view my Contact folder.

I am using Outlook 2000 SP-3 (9.0.0.6627) Internet Mail Only - Security
Update; Windows XP Pro ver 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600; and my data is
stored in a local pst file.

Tim

Information store means where your data is stored: Exchange mailbox or local
PST file.
We need to know at least the basics of your setup.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russell,

Thanks for helping me out.

My version of Outlook is XP, but I'm not familiar with what you mean by
"information store." With regard to the steps that produced the problem:
It
has been happening for a few weeks now, so I'm not sure what has been done
to
initially create this problem. However, here are the steps that lead to
the
error message:

1. I click on 'Contacts' to display my contacts list.
2. I double-click on any of the contacts in my contacts list to open it,
and
the error message pops up: "Can't open this item." On the other hand, if I
create a new mail message and try to click on the 'To' button (which
should
open a new window which allows me to add/delete recipients from my
contacts
list), it pops up an error message: "The messaging interface has returned
an
unknown error. If the problem persists, restart Outlook."

Any insight?
-kms-

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

IMO mode provides very little opportunity for troubleshooting or repair.
The best that you can hope for is that running the Inbox Repair Tool on your
PST file will clear things up.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ, I am having a very similar problem:
I get the same error: "The messaging interface has returned an unknown
error. If the problem persists, restart Outlook." when I try to access
my
address book or when I try to add an address to an email by clicking on
the
"To:" or "CC:" button. I am able to view my Contact folder.

I am using Outlook 2000 SP-3 (9.0.0.6627) Internet Mail Only - Security
Update; Windows XP Pro ver 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600; and my data
is
stored in a local pst file.

Tim

Information store means where your data is stored: Exchange mailbox or
local
PST file.
We need to know at least the basics of your setup.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russell,

Thanks for helping me out.

My version of Outlook is XP, but I'm not familiar with what you mean by
"information store." With regard to the steps that produced the
problem:
It
has been happening for a few weeks now, so I'm not sure what has been
done
to
initially create this problem. However, here are the steps that lead to
the
error message:

1. I click on 'Contacts' to display my contacts list.
2. I double-click on any of the contacts in my contacts list to open
it,
and
the error message pops up: "Can't open this item." On the other hand,
if I
create a new mail message and try to click on the 'To' button (which
should
open a new window which allows me to add/delete recipients from my
contacts
list), it pops up an error message: "The messaging interface has
returned
an
unknown error. If the problem persists, restart Outlook."

Any insight?
-kms-


:

When I try to double-click on a contact in my 'Contacts' folder, it
gives
me
the error message "The messaging interface has returned an unknown
error.
If
the problem persists, restart Outlook." But not only does the problem
persists after I restart Outlook, it persists after I restart my
computer!
Another symptom occurs when I open a new e-mail and click on the 'To'
field
to view and add recipients; it gives me the same error message.

How can I fix this?

Thanks!
Kevin

 

[Kevin]

Russ,

I'll bypass the embarrassment of not knowing "where my information is
stored" and just go ahead and admit it: I don't know where my information is
stored. I can at least tell you that my e-mails are stored on a university
server until I delete them or move them to a folder in Outlook (it is an IMAP
account). Is this what you mean? I don't expect you to explain what "exchange
servers" or "pst"s are, but is there any different way you can ask the
question to which I may be able to respond meaningfully?

In response to Tim's post: I can view my contacts folder, too--I just can't
open contacts to edit them.

-kevin-

IMO mode provides very little opportunity for troubleshooting or repair.
The best that you can hope for is that running the Inbox Repair Tool on your
PST file will clear things up.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ, I am having a very similar problem:
I get the same error: "The messaging interface has returned an unknown
error. If the problem persists, restart Outlook." when I try to access
my
address book or when I try to add an address to an email by clicking on
the
"To:" or "CC:" button. I am able to view my Contact folder.

I am using Outlook 2000 SP-3 (9.0.0.6627) Internet Mail Only - Security
Update; Windows XP Pro ver 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600; and my data
is
stored in a local pst file.

Tim

Information store means where your data is stored: Exchange mailbox or
local
PST file.
We need to know at least the basics of your setup.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Russell,

Thanks for helping me out.

My version of Outlook is XP, but I'm not familiar with what you mean by
"information store." With regard to the steps that produced the
problem:
It
has been happening for a few weeks now, so I'm not sure what has been
done
to
initially create this problem. However, here are the steps that lead to
the
error message:

1. I click on 'Contacts' to display my contacts list.
2. I double-click on any of the contacts in my contacts list to open
it,
and
the error message pops up: "Can't open this item." On the other hand,
if I
create a new mail message and try to click on the 'To' button (which
should
open a new window which allows me to add/delete recipients from my
contacts
list), it pops up an error message: "The messaging interface has
returned
an
unknown error. If the problem persists, restart Outlook."

Any insight?
-kms-


:

When I try to double-click on a contact in my 'Contacts' folder, it
gives
me
the error message "The messaging interface has returned an unknown
error.
If
the problem persists, restart Outlook." But not only does the problem
persists after I restart Outlook, it persists after I restart my
computer!
Another symptom occurs when I open a new e-mail and click on the 'To'
field
to view and add recipients; it gives me the same error message.

How can I fix this?

Thanks!
Kevin

 

[Brian Tillman]

I'll bypass the embarrassment of not knowing "where my information is
stored" and just go ahead and admit it: I don't know where my
information is stored. I can at least tell you that my e-mails are
stored on a university server until I delete them or move them to a
folder in Outlook (it is an IMAP account).

The IMAP account probably doesn't have a Contacts folder, since IMAP servers
store only mail messages. The Contacts folder you have is probably in a PST
(Personal Folders File) and your best bet is to create a new PST with
File>New>Outlook Data File and then make that PST the delivery location.
You can verify that your Contacts is in a PST by clicking Tools>E-mail
Accounts>Next and looking at the drop-down at the bottom left. Once you
have created the new PST, you can make it the delivery location by chaging
that drop-down. You'll get a brand new set of folders, independent of your
IMAP folders just as they are now. You can then copy or move the contents
of the old PST to the new PST.

If that drop-down indicates Exchange, however (the delivery location will be
"Mailbox - your name"), then you should speak to the Exchange administrators
at the school.

 

[Kevin]

Thanks for clearing up the Exchange/PST issue for me, Brian.

The answer to your question then, Russ, would be that my contacts data is in
a PST. It is a subfolder within my 'Personal Folders' folder.

-kevin-

 

[Brian Tillman]

The answer to your question then, Russ, would be that my contacts
data is in a PST. It is a subfolder within my 'Personal Folders'
folder.

Well, I gave you my idea on how to correct yiour problem.

 

[Kevin]

Brian,

I'm sorry. I thought that your explanation was just to clarify the
difference between Exchange and PST.

Now that I re-read it... If the 'Contacts' folder is already a PST, how
would making a new PST "the delivery location" fix it? Would I be exporting
them to that location or something? I don't understand the significance of
the "delivery location" wording.

When I try File>New>Outlook Data File, it gives me an error message: "An
unknown error occurred, error code 0x80070002."

Also, I did the Tools>E-mail Accounts>Next thing, and the lower left
drop-down indicates that it is "delivering new mail to Personal Folders."
Bear in mind that when I get new mail, however, it leaves them on the server
(and does NOT deliver them to a PST folder) until I either delete them or
move them to a PST folder manually.

Does this clarify anything for you?

Thanks for your help!
-kevin-

 

[Brian Tillman]

Now that I re-read it... If the 'Contacts' folder is already a PST,
how would making a new PST "the delivery location" fix it?

It appeared you had a problem with your current PST in that you could read
it but not update it. I suggested creating a new PST (that wouldn't have
the problem) and copying your old data to the new PST.

Would I be
exporting them to that location or something? I don't understand the
significance of the "delivery location" wording.

The delivery location specifies which PST Outlook considers "Outlook Today"
and where it will place new items you create or store any incoming messages.

When I try File>New>Outlook Data File, it gives me an error message:
"An unknown error occurred, error code 0x80070002."

Perhaps, then, your PST isn't the problem. Open Control Panel and locate
the Mail applet. You should be able to create a new PST there with the Data
Files button. If that doesn't work, a new mail profile may be in order or
it may be time for Help>Detect and Repair in Outlook.

Also, I did the Tools>E-mail Accounts>Next thing, and the lower left
drop-down indicates that it is "delivering new mail to Personal
Folders." Bear in mind that when I get new mail, however, it leaves
them on the server (and does NOT deliver them to a PST folder) until
I either delete them or move them to a PST folder manually.

The "Deliver new mail" setting designates your default folder set and if
were were using a POP or Exchange server for incoming mail, the Inbox in
that folder set would be the place where new messages would arrive. Since
you're using a IMAP server, that's not the case. IMAP accounts are a tad
different. It doesn't change what folders Outlook uses for the Contacts,
Calendar, Tasks, Sent Items, Journal, and so on, though. Those are all
still in the Personal Folders PST.

Does this clarify anything for you?

I could ask the same.

 

[Brian Tillman]

The delivery location specifies which PST Outlook considers "Outlook
Today" and where it will place new items you create or store any
incoming messages.

For any Exchange or POP accounts. IMAP works differently, using its own,
separate Inbox. The Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, and so on remain in the PST,
just to be very explicit.

 

[Kevin]

Does that clarify anything for me? Ehhhh.... Well, if I read it and re-read
it and re-read it, perhaps 'yes'.

First let me get the gist of what you're wanting me to accomplish firmly
established in my mind; then I can look into actually DOING something. So
you're wanting me to create a new PST folder (named "Contacts 2" or
something) in the same location where the original, problematic 'Contacts'
folder is now (i.e., as a subfolder in 'Outlook Today--Personal Folders'). Is
that right? If 'yes', can you give me the steps to go about doing that? (I
know you might have in a previous post, but I was unclear WHERE I needed to
put the new data file.)

I would say "thanks" again, but I have a feeling I'll need to say it to you
a few more times, so I'll save all of the "thanks"es for the end...
-kevin-

 

[Brian Tillman]

firmly established in my mind; then I can look into actually DOING
something. So you're wanting me to create a new PST folder (named
"Contacts 2" or something) in the same location where the original,
problematic 'Contacts' folder is now (i.e., as a subfolder in
'Outlook Today--Personal Folders'). Is that right?

No. A PST is not a folder, it is a file that contains folders. "Outlook
Today - Personal Folders" is a PST, a file that contains folders. All
folders in Outlook, Calendar, Inbox, Outbox, Contacts, etc., are usually all
in a single PST. If a folder in a PST fals for some reason, often it can be
corrected by creating a new PST, replacing ALL your folders with new ones,
moving the data from the old ones to the new ones.

If 'yes', can you
give me the steps to go about doing that? (I know you might have in a
previous post, but I was unclear WHERE I needed to put the new data
file.)

You can put a PST in any Windows file system folder to which you have
permission. When you click File>New>Outlook Data File in Outlook, you'll
get a browser window that allows you to choose the location and name of the
new PST.

 

[Kevin]

Brian,

I think I've got a handle on what you want me to do. Here's the lates and
greatest problem: When I do 'File>New>Outlook Data File', it pops up an error
message that says, "An unknown error occurred, error code: 0x80070002." This
error window only has an 'OK' button, and when I click 'OK', it pops up
another window whose title bar is 'New Outlook Data File'. In the window
there is only one user entry field that says 'Types of storage:'. Underneath
this, there is a word 'Description', which I assume just gives a description
of whatever storage type the user selects. HOWEVER... In the 'Types of
storage:' field, there is nothing from which to choose (i.e., it is
completely blank). I get the feeling that there should be some choices in
that field, because when I click my cursor in it, I cannot even type anything.

What do you make of that?
-kevin-

 

[Brian Tillman]

When I do 'File>New>Outlook Data File', it pops
up an error message that says, "An unknown error occurred, error
code: 0x80070002." This error window only has an 'OK' button, and
when I click 'OK', it pops up another window whose title bar is 'New
Outlook Data File'. In the window there is only one user entry field
that says 'Types of storage:'. Underneath this, there is a word
'Description', which I assume just gives a description of whatever
storage type the user selects. HOWEVER... In the 'Types of storage:'
field, there is nothing from which to choose (i.e., it is completely
blank). I get the feeling that there should be some choices in that
field, because when I click my cursor in it, I cannot even type
anything.

I'm afraid there's more wrong on your PC than I can handle. Some references
to that error point to the Windows Security Provider. Here's one of those
references from Microsoft:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310794 . Some point to problems in 8.3
file name creation. Here's one that is Office-specific:
http://www.tech-archive.net/Archive/Office/microsoft.public.office.setup/2004-08/0330.html

 

[Kevin]

That's wonderful news. I'm grinning ear to ear!!!

Damn it.

 

[Kevin]

Brian,

I just did a simple "Detect & Repair"--as accessed from the 'Help' menu in
Outlook--and after it was done, I can open my contacts and everything seems
to be fine.

-kevin-

 

[Brian Tillman]

I just did a simple "Detect & Repair"--as accessed from the 'Help'
menu in Outlook--and after it was done, I can open my contacts and
everything seems to be fine.

Great news. I'm glad you've resolved the issue.