2003 Outlook slow

[susan]

Since the beginning of June 2007 Outlook has become unresponsive, slowing
down, not reacting to clicks or right-clicks and sometimes freezing
completely.

Sending report (automatically) to MS obtains no reply.

Running detect and repair fixes the problem but I have to run it everytime I
open the application.

 

[K. Orland]

If you use Internet Explorer 7, please read the following to see if anything
applies to you:

http://www.outlook-tips.net/archives/2007/20070619.htm

Please post back and let me know how you make out.

 

[susan]

This post answers the question, but it does not solve the problem.

I disagree that an action by the 'user' is causing the problem.
This seems to be an interaction of two Microsoft Products: Outlook 2003 and
Internet Explorer.

My thoughts below.

Thanks,
Susan


<It's amazing how often a seemingly innocent action by the user and an
update for a program can affect negatively another. In this case, it's
MS07-027: Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer, released in
mid-May. After installing that update, Outlook 2003 responds very slowly when
typing HTML messages.
The problem is two-fold. First, users either added a large number of sites
to IE's restricted zone or installed a "security" application (of the spybot
type) that added them. The cumulative security update then changed the way
the Internet Explorer 7 rendering engine interacts with the Restricted Sites
zone and this change causes Outlook to pause after each keystroke while the
IE7 rendering engine checked the sites in the zone.>

The user has several options to fix this issue:

1. Remove the security update.

**I did not try this for obvious reasons**

2. Switch to plain text formatted messages. Using RTF message format will
fix the problem but should only be used when all of your recipients use
Outlook.

**I tried this and it worked BUT with all the non-graphic text makes
incoming email 'buttons' impossible to use.**

3. Remove all of the unnecessary sites from the Restricted zone.

** Internet Explorer is not my 'browser of choice', but I have to have
loaded to access updates and use this discussion group.
I do use Spybot, but obviously this problem did not exist before mid-May.
It is not clear to me the process to delete all the items in the 'Restricted
zone'. RIES is supposed to only be used with a completely bummed browser.
Or is there a way to go back to IE6 and avoid the problem?**

4. Use Word as the email editor.
**I do not use this product.**

Of these options, removing the security update should be the last resort.
Editing out the chaff in the Restricted zone would be my first choice since
too many users load it with sites they are unlikely to ever come across and
which may no longer be "live". Reset the IE security defaults to clear the
list quickly.

MS07-027: Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=931768

 

[susan]

Two quick questions.
Is a fix in the works?

Why does detect and repair work?

Thanks,

Susan

 

[K. Orland]

Remove all of those entries in the Restricted Sites Zone - a quick way to do
this is to reset Internet Explorer's settings (Tools, Internet Options,
Advanced tab)

Stop using HTML (switch to Plain Text instead)

Use Word as Outlook's email editor.

***DO NOT*** to set Outlook to run in the Internet Zone.

If you're using any antivirus to scan incoming and outgoing email, that could
be the culprit. It won't compromise your security to give that a try. Your
real time scanner will catch anything.

There are some inherent differences in Outlook 2003 compared to earlier
versions. Try the following:

Turn off "instant messaging" Q290025 (See instructions below)

Uncheck all planner options per article Q324374

Create hosts file on client IF you're connected to a network Q258495

Change rpc binding order, remove every protocol that you are not
using and have tcp/ip first. Q163576

Is the PC infected with spyware and/or viruses?

(1) Remove the link between Outlook 2003 and MSN Messenger, perform the
following steps:

1. Start Outlook.
2. From the Tools menu, select Options.
3. Select the Other tab.
4. Clear the "Enable the Person Names Smart Tag" check box in the Person
Names section, then click OK.
5. Close and restart Outlook for the change to take effect.

(2) Turn Off Speech Recognition

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options.
3. Click Regional and Language Options.
4. On the Languages tab, click Details.
5. Under Installed services, click Speech Recognition, click Remove,
and then click OK.
6. Click OK to apply all the changes. You may have to restart your
computer.

Please let me know if any of that helped or not. You may want to restart
Outlook and test inbetween the two suggestions to see if performance has
improved before continuing to the second suggestion.

If the above makes no measurable difference to performance, do you see any
improvement if you open Outlook in safe mode (Start > Run > outlook.exe
/safe)?

A workaround to KB934708 is to have Outlook use Outlook Today as the default
startup folder.

 

[susan]

Thanks Karen,
My responses to suggestions start with ** as appeared in prior 'message'
above.

1. Remove the security update.

**I did not try this for obvious reasons**

2. Switch to plain text formatted messages. Using RTF message format will
fix the problem but should only be used when all of your recipients use
Outlook.

**I tried this and it worked BUT with all the non-graphic text makes
incoming email 'buttons' impossible to use.**


4. Use Word as the email editor.
**I do not use this product.**

Remove all of those entries in the Restricted Sites Zone - a quick way to do
this is to reset Internet Explorer's settings (Tools, Internet Options,
Advanced tab)

**** I have now done this.
Internet Explorer is not my 'browser of choice', but I have to have
loaded to access updates [since my computer uses Windows XP] and use this
discussion group.
I do use Spybot, but obviously this problem did not exist before mid-May.

Or is there a way to go back to IE6 and avoid the problem?**

***DO NOT*** to set Outlook to run in the Internet Zone.

If you're using any antivirus to scan incoming and outgoing email, that could
be the culprit. It won't compromise your security to give that a try. Your
real time scanner will catch anything.

There are some inherent differences in Outlook 2003 compared to earlier
versions. Try the following:

Turn off "instant messaging" Q290025 (See instructions below)

**done-don't know why this should make a difference-it is not a service I
use.**

** RE suggestions listed below: Some are beyond me.
I am not on a network.
I use McAfee, which says I have no viruses and the system is up to date.
Spybot showed spyware which I have deleted.

I use a voice recognition program, so cannot delete that service, per your
suggestion. BUT it is not something that has changed since June!**


**If using 'Detect and Repair' in Outlook solves the problem, [at least it
works for me-it's just a hassle to use it ever ytime I open the Outlook]
surely there should be a work around for whatever problem evolved from the
'Security Update' that was issued in May 07.**

 

[susan]

Scott,

Yes, and I called her Karen instead of Kathleen!
I did both of the suggestions you list and it seems to have taken care of
the problem.

Susan

Susan,

Your problem is very similar to mine, which I was experiencing on two
separate, non-networked computers - slowness began about the same time and
using "Detect and Repair" at Outlook startup.

I reset IE7 settings and unchecked "Enable the Person Names Smart Tag",
though I do not use Messenger either. Outlook appears to be working properly
now on both computers.

Have you had any success with Kathleen's suggestions?

Thanks Karen,
My responses to suggestions start with ** as appeared in prior 'message'
above.

1. Remove the security update.

**I did not try this for obvious reasons**

2. Switch to plain text formatted messages. Using RTF message format will
fix the problem but should only be used when all of your recipients use
Outlook.

**I tried this and it worked BUT with all the non-graphic text makes
incoming email 'buttons' impossible to use.**


4. Use Word as the email editor.
**I do not use this product.**

Remove all of those entries in the Restricted Sites Zone - a quick way to do
this is to reset Internet Explorer's settings (Tools, Internet Options,
Advanced tab)

**** I have now done this.
Internet Explorer is not my 'browser of choice', but I have to have
loaded to access updates [since my computer uses Windows XP] and use this
discussion group.
I do use Spybot, but obviously this problem did not exist before mid-May.

Or is there a way to go back to IE6 and avoid the problem?**

***DO NOT*** to set Outlook to run in the Internet Zone.

If you're using any antivirus to scan incoming and outgoing email, that could
be the culprit. It won't compromise your security to give that a try. Your
real time scanner will catch anything.

There are some inherent differences in Outlook 2003 compared to earlier
versions. Try the following:

Turn off "instant messaging" Q290025 (See instructions below)

**done-don't know why this should make a difference-it is not a service I
use.**

** RE suggestions listed below: Some are beyond me.
I am not on a network.
I use McAfee, which says I have no viruses and the system is up to date.
Spybot showed spyware which I have deleted.

I use a voice recognition program, so cannot delete that service, per your
suggestion. BUT it is not something that has changed since June!**


**If using 'Detect and Repair' in Outlook solves the problem, [at least it
works for me-it's just a hassle to use it ever ytime I open the Outlook]
surely there should be a work around for whatever problem evolved from the
'Security Update' that was issued in May 07.**

Uncheck all planner options per article Q324374

Create hosts file on client IF you're connected to a network Q258495

Change rpc binding order, remove every protocol that you are not
using and have tcp/ip first. Q163576

Is the PC infected with spyware and/or viruses?

(1) Remove the link between Outlook 2003 and MSN Messenger, perform the
following steps:

1. Start Outlook.
2. From the Tools menu, select Options.
3. Select the Other tab.
4. Clear the "Enable the Person Names Smart Tag" check box in the Person
Names section, then click OK.
5. Close and restart Outlook for the change to take effect.

(2) Turn Off Speech Recognition

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options.
3. Click Regional and Language Options.
4. On the Languages tab, click Details.
5. Under Installed services, click Speech Recognition, click Remove,
and then click OK.
6. Click OK to apply all the changes. You may have to restart your
computer.

Please let me know if any of that helped or not. You may want to restart
Outlook and test inbetween the two suggestions to see if performance has
improved before continuing to the second suggestion.

If the above makes no measurable difference to performance, do you see any
improvement if you open Outlook in safe mode (Start > Run > outlook.exe
/safe)?

A workaround to KB934708 is to have Outlook use Outlook Today as the default
startup folder.

--
Kathleen Orland - MVP Outlook

http://www.howto-outlook.com/



:

Two quick questions.
Is a fix in the works?

Why does detect and repair work?

Thanks,

Susan

:

Since the beginning of June 2007 Outlook has become unresponsive, slowing
down, not reacting to clicks or right-clicks and sometimes freezing
completely.

Sending report (automatically) to MS obtains no reply.

Running detect and repair fixes the problem but I have to run it everytime I
open the application.