Cannot Open Outlook or create new account

[Les Ismore]

I recently did a clean install of Windows 7, and then installed Office 2007.
When I tried to set up my company e-mail (Microsoft Exchange) in Outlook
using a .prf file supplied by the company, I kept getting errors. I then
tried to setup the account manually, and at some point in the process of
changing settings and restarting Outlook, I got the message that "The
connection to Microsoft Exchange is unavailable. Outlook must be online or
connected to complete this action". I am online and connected, and all other
programs are working properly. I uninstalled and reinstalled Office, but
would still get the same message every time I try to open Outlook. I
uninstalled Office 07 and installed Office 2010 Beta, and I get the same
thing. All other Office applications work just fine. I also deleted the
Outlook folder in the Apps data folder before the last Office reinstall, but
that had no effect.
I am connected through LAN. I have tried disabling firewall and anti-virus,
but this had no effect. I have tried using the instructions from my company
to manually configure an account, but it always ends the same, with a dialog
box telling me that Outlook must be connected. I have successfully pinged
the server.
I have Outlook (07) installed, configured, and working with this account on
my laptop, and I have tried to replicate the account settings on my desktop
but this doesn't fix the problem.
Any ideas?

 

[LD55ZRA]

The first time you use .prf file, you need to import it or use it as command
line like this:

<outlook.exe /importprf \\server1\share\outlook.prf.>

Where server1 is the location where you have saved your .prf file.

You could also use the same command like this:

<outlook.exe /promptimportprf \\localfolder\outlook.prf>

where local folder could be c:\tmp.

Hope this helps.

hth

 

[Les Ismore]

I tried your suggestions, but I cannot import directly because I cannot open
Outlook to do so. I tried command line, but I keep having syntax errors. I
confess to not knowing the DOS syntax very well.
I have tried opening the .prf file (exchange.prf) by right clicking, and
selecting "Open With> Outlook.exe", but this just brings up the notice
"Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. The command line argument is not valid.
Verify the switch you are using."