Outlook crashes on startup

[Mechame]

I just installed the Microsoft Office Professional Plus on my computer,
everything is fine except when I start up Outlook it says "A data file did
not close properly last time it was used..." the program then crashes without
sending or recieving. I tried downloading XP updates and Office updates, I
reconfigured and repaired Office, but it still doesn't work. I have not tried
uninstalling then reinstalling the entire suite.

also, the first time I started outlook a window came up that said "the file
'personal folders' is being checked for errors"

any help would be great. thanks

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

try running the inbox repair tool (scanpst.exe) against your *.PST file(s).
(scanpst.exe is under the program files\common files\system\.... area)

 

[Mechame]

I ran scanpst.exe on outlook.pst (%username%/local settings/application
data/microsoft/outlook) and it fixed the file. However, now when I start
Outlook, it simply crashes without giving me a notice.
I am considering reinstalling the entire Office suite... little noob
question: when I uninstall the suite will MS reenable my product key so I can
reinstall it or will I need to get another key?

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

You should be able to reuse the same key since the you are not changing out
any machine components.

Before doing the uninstall/reinstall routine... will Outlook start in safe
mode?

How to:
Start > Run > type: outlook.exe /safe > ok button

 

[Mechame]

I can run outlook in the safe mode. I tried messing with some configuration
options while it was in safe mode, but it still won't work in the normal
mode...
Is there anything I can do to fix this through the safe mode?

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

If it runs in safe mode, then you are on your way of isolating the cause.

Try starting Outlook with the /safe:3 command line switch. (This stops the
loading of addins & extensions)

Try starting Outlook with the /safe:4 command line switch. (This stops the
loading of custom toolbars & *.fav file)

ps - just so you know, these command line switch should be covered in
outlook's online help

 

[Mechame]

I reinstalled office and get the same results.
it crashes in safe3 and safe4.
If there is a site that can help me with this, that would be great. I looked
before I posted but couldn't find anything.
thanks

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

Okay, lets try this with all applications closed.

Start Windows Explorer and navigate to:
\documents and settings\<userid>\application data\microsoft\outlook

You want to delete the following
<profile_name>.xml
<profile_name>.nk2
<profile_name>.srs
outcmd.dat


Navigate to:
\documents and settings\<userid>\application data\microsoft\outlook

Delete the file named extend.dat

 

[Mechame]

Ok. I did that, and now when I start outlook it says "the file C:... cannot
be found." I click ok, and it brings me to a dialogue to direct it to the
..pst file. when I cancel the dialogue Outlook crashes.

 

[Mechame]

ok, I made a profile, (sorry about that last post) but outlook still crashes
in normal, safe3, and safe4 mode.

 

[Mechame]

Help?

Okay, lets try this with all applications closed.

Start Windows Explorer and navigate to:
\documents and settings\<userid>\application data\microsoft\outlook

You want to delete the following
<profile_name>.xml
<profile_name>.nk2
<profile_name>.srs
outcmd.dat


Navigate to:
\documents and settings\<userid>\application data\microsoft\outlook

Delete the file named extend.dat

 

[Ian]

Help?

I am in the same boat here - tried everything a Outlook 2003 keeps crashing
on startup.

It appears their is no answer to the technical side of things - so the only
thing I can do is dump office altogether in disgust.

 

[Ian]

Update on this error..

Ok I was blessed to get free support case with MS here in NZ and spoke with
a great support person in the USA (I think)

In esence here is what we did..

Went to C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\1033

renamed MSMAPI32.DLL to Msmapi.old

Then tried to open Oulook..

It booted windows installer - its looks for your Office CD so put that in
the drive and it installed just that one file MSMAPI32.DLL.

It then booted Outlook all by itself and lo and behold it checked my email
and no error message.

We rebooted and opened Outlook again and it checked my mail again and no
error came up.

Support person said MS thinks this error is caused by installing Office 2007
and that file we replaced with the original on the CD gets corrupted - said
SORRY - I have not done this at all so that was not how this file because
corrupted.

We did do some other tests like not doing a normal start but I think if you
simply replace the file mentioned here the error will go away.

How that helps.

Many thanks and Blessings

 

[Ian]

Update on this error..

Ok I was blessed to get free support case with MS here in NZ and spoke with
a great support person in the USA (I think)

In esence here is what we did..

Went to C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\1033

renamed MSMAPI32.DLL to Msmapi.old

Then tried to open Oulook..

It booted windows installer - its looks for your Office CD so put that in
the drive and it installed just that one file MSMAPI32.DLL.

It then booted Outlook all by itself and lo and behold it checked my email
and no error message.

We rebooted and opened Outlook again and it checked my mail again and no
error came up.

Support person said MS thinks this error is caused by installing Office 2007
and that file we replaced with the original on the CD gets corrupted - said
SORRY - I have not done this at all so that was not how this file because
corrupted.

We did do some other tests like not doing a normal start but I think if you
simply replace the file mentioned here the error will go away.

How that helps.

Many thanks and Blessings

Hey team

Sorry to say - I spoke too soon about this error. It came back again and
after speaking again with MS support all they could come up with is a clean
install of XP Pro and Office 2003. Told them this is a clean install, then
was politely told a supervisor would call me back in three working days. lol
lol

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

I'm back...

Out of curiosity, is this a fairly new Dell machine with Media Direct?

 

[Ian]

I'm back...

Out of curiosity, is this a fairly new Dell machine with Media Direct?

Hey there..

If you are spekaing to me - nope my machine is a clone and has been running
XP Pro and Office 2003 for 12 months. Just recently did a clean install of
both XP Pro and Office 2003 and put all the updates over it.

As far as MS telling me that another piece of software was causing the
issue, this error happened with just XP Pro and Office installed, no other
program.

I think something in one of the updates has caused it. Still has not been
fixed, so I been forced to use an alternate email program.

I am a beta tester so for MS to fob it off and blame something else is not
good practice, they should simply come out and say we do not know what is
causing the issue but we trying to resolve it but have no time frame for a
fix.

Reminds me a a corprate here in NZ putting a spin on their marketing to sell
a product and heaps of people bought into it and then the system behind it
crashes and takes months to fix.

Apologises if I sould a bit frustrated.

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

Just so you know, the MVPs do not work for Microsoft. We are average joes
like yourself that come from all walks of life to just help out others with
problems. With that said, hopefully you are not interpreting that I'm
laying blame elsewhere. Its just that I've seen too many programs interact
in a negative manner. Most blame the app they are looking at and its only
normal because that is the one that is upsetting the apple cart.

By the way... looked at your post again and the steps suggested by NZ
implies that you went from Office 2007 back to 2003. Is this the case? If
yes, a couple of thoughts.

1) Create a new mail profile. (don't copy the existing one. create a new
one and delete the old. Reason why is that mail profiles tend to be version
specific to outlook. this will rule out any oddities when outlook reads the
registry in regards to your account, information store, .etc, settings.)

2) If Outlook 2007 touched the PST file you are working with, I would create
a new PST file for use in 2003. Copy the items over from old one. (This
will rule out any chance that the old version doesn't understand any changes
Microsoft might have made in the PST to support 2007 features [e.g.
search]).

 

[Bubba]

Hi guys,
I'm getting this message on a regular basis on one of my machines. It's not
causing Outlook 2007 to crash, but it sure slows up the process of getting
email! It checks the data file about 60% of the time I log into Outlook. I'
ve scanned the PST (3 times) and it comes back repaired and then crashes.
Any ideas??
Thx

Just so you know, the MVPs do not work for Microsoft. We are average joes
like yourself that come from all walks of life to just help out others with
problems. With that said, hopefully you are not interpreting that I'm
laying blame elsewhere. Its just that I've seen too many programs interact
in a negative manner. Most blame the app they are looking at and its only
normal because that is the one that is upsetting the apple cart.

By the way... looked at your post again and the steps suggested by NZ
implies that you went from Office 2007 back to 2003. Is this the case? If
yes, a couple of thoughts.

1) Create a new mail profile. (don't copy the existing one. create a new
one and delete the old. Reason why is that mail profiles tend to be version
specific to outlook. this will rule out any oddities when outlook reads the
registry in regards to your account, information store, .etc, settings.)

2) If Outlook 2007 touched the PST file you are working with, I would create
a new PST file for use in 2003. Copy the items over from old one. (This
will rule out any chance that the old version doesn't understand any changes
Microsoft might have made in the PST to support 2007 features [e.g.
search]).

Hey there..

If you are spekaing to me - nope my machine is a clone and has been
running
XP Pro and Office 2003 for 12 months. Just recently did a clean install of
both XP Pro and Office 2003 and put all the updates over it.

As far as MS telling me that another piece of software was causing the
issue, this error happened with just XP Pro and Office installed, no other
program.

I think something in one of the updates has caused it. Still has not been
fixed, so I been forced to use an alternate email program.

I am a beta tester so for MS to fob it off and blame something else is not
good practice, they should simply come out and say we do not know what is
causing the issue but we trying to resolve it but have no time frame for a
fix.

Reminds me a a corprate here in NZ putting a spin on their marketing to
sell
a product and heaps of people bought into it and then the system behind it
crashes and takes months to fix.

Apologises if I sould a bit frustrated.