S
SG
This is on a Dell Latitude CPiA running Win 98, with
Office 97 Pro SR2. I have used MS-Outlook (97) without
problems for 4 years, to access my POP3/SMTP mail. It has
always been configured with an Exchange Server service
running (in Tools/Services or Control Panel/Mail) because
Outlook 97 will not run with just an Internet Mail service
enabled. In Tools/Services I had Exchange Server, Internet
Mail, Personal Address Book, Personal Files and Outlook
Address Book running. In Tools/Options/General I left
Exchange Server unchecked so whenever I hit F5 it would
connect only to the Internet Mail service and get/send
mail via POP3/SMTP.
This system worked flawlessly for 4 years. A week day ago
I applied SR2 to Office 97 and everything worked fine
until last weekend. Now when I open Outlook this is what I
see.
"The set of folders could not be opened. The file
c:\windows\Outlook.ost cannot be accessed. You must
connect to your Microsoft Exchange Server computer at
least once before you can use your offline folder file."
At this point Outlook will run, but not show any of my
stored mail, calendar, notes, tasks etc. It will not
receive or send any new mail, showing the message above if
I try to compose.
Here is what I have tried since. Opened the Exchange
client instead of Outlook (exchng32.exe), same error
message. Reinstalled Outlook and Exchange (client and
server components) from the original Office 97 CD, no
change. Removed my profile from control panel/mail,
restarted, and added my profile and OUTLOOK.OST as they
were configured before. No change.
Finally I looked up MSvknowledge base and ran
programs/accessories/system tools/inbox repair tool on
outlook.ost. Said it found a problem and fixed it very
quickly (this is a 100mb .OST file). As soon as I run
either client - Outlook or exchng32 - I get the same error
message, and the next time I run Inbox Repair Tool it says
there was an error found, and it fixes it successfully....
and so on.
My understanding from all this is that the clients are
fine. Outlook and Exchng32 could not both be giving the
same error message without reason. Something is corrupting
OUTLOOK.OST as soon it is accessed, and I would suspect it
is a component that tries to connect with Exchange server.
Since I have never connected to Exchange server in 4 yrs
and received/sent Internet mail fine, the problem cannot
be just a periodic connection with Exchange server.
I have looked in knowledge base, called Dell, trolled the
web etc. I need access to 4 yrs worth of mail, and
somewhat urgently because of employment contact info in
there. This used to be my primary email/contacts/calendar
repository. If anybody can help it would be much
appreciated.
-SG
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
Office 97 Pro SR2. I have used MS-Outlook (97) without
problems for 4 years, to access my POP3/SMTP mail. It has
always been configured with an Exchange Server service
running (in Tools/Services or Control Panel/Mail) because
Outlook 97 will not run with just an Internet Mail service
enabled. In Tools/Services I had Exchange Server, Internet
Mail, Personal Address Book, Personal Files and Outlook
Address Book running. In Tools/Options/General I left
Exchange Server unchecked so whenever I hit F5 it would
connect only to the Internet Mail service and get/send
mail via POP3/SMTP.
This system worked flawlessly for 4 years. A week day ago
I applied SR2 to Office 97 and everything worked fine
until last weekend. Now when I open Outlook this is what I
see.
"The set of folders could not be opened. The file
c:\windows\Outlook.ost cannot be accessed. You must
connect to your Microsoft Exchange Server computer at
least once before you can use your offline folder file."
At this point Outlook will run, but not show any of my
stored mail, calendar, notes, tasks etc. It will not
receive or send any new mail, showing the message above if
I try to compose.
Here is what I have tried since. Opened the Exchange
client instead of Outlook (exchng32.exe), same error
message. Reinstalled Outlook and Exchange (client and
server components) from the original Office 97 CD, no
change. Removed my profile from control panel/mail,
restarted, and added my profile and OUTLOOK.OST as they
were configured before. No change.
Finally I looked up MSvknowledge base and ran
programs/accessories/system tools/inbox repair tool on
outlook.ost. Said it found a problem and fixed it very
quickly (this is a 100mb .OST file). As soon as I run
either client - Outlook or exchng32 - I get the same error
message, and the next time I run Inbox Repair Tool it says
there was an error found, and it fixes it successfully....
and so on.
My understanding from all this is that the clients are
fine. Outlook and Exchng32 could not both be giving the
same error message without reason. Something is corrupting
OUTLOOK.OST as soon it is accessed, and I would suspect it
is a component that tries to connect with Exchange server.
Since I have never connected to Exchange server in 4 yrs
and received/sent Internet mail fine, the problem cannot
be just a periodic connection with Exchange server.
I have looked in knowledge base, called Dell, trolled the
web etc. I need access to 4 yrs worth of mail, and
somewhat urgently because of employment contact info in
there. This used to be my primary email/contacts/calendar
repository. If anybody can help it would be much
appreciated.
-SG
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)