Can't open Outlook 2003 - "The set of folders could not be opened"

[Roger Austin]

Hi.

I am running Outlook 2003 on Windows XP Professional using Hosted Exchange.

I had been using it for over a year without any problems. However,
something went wrong last week: my Inbox and certain other folders seemed to
clone themselves so there was two of each. In addition, certain other
folders appeared in the Deleted Items box which I had not deleted (or even
previously created). I ran a full virus scan, but nothing was detected.

I then tried setting up a new profile, which linked into the correct
Exchange Server. When I tried to run Outlook through this new profile, I got
the error "Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Unable to open Outlook window. The
set of folders could not be opened.". I then deleted the original profile,
but still encountered the same error on the new profile.

I then reinstalled the full MS Office package including all updates, but got
the same error when trying to start Outlook.

Please help: MS Outlook is critical to my business.

Many thanks.

Roger.

 

[Francine Otterson]

Please read this appears to address you issue

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822503/en-us

Best Regards,

Francine Otterson


Roger Austin wrote on Tue, 19 February 2008 07:19

 

[Roger Austin]

Hi Francine,

Thanks for the suggestion. The error I get isn't quite the same as this (my
error doesn't have the last two sentences ie it doesn't have "The server...if
this condition persists.").

Also, when I installed MS Office 2003, I didn't use the Custom Installation
Wizard (and didn't have to specify a pst folder)...I just use the normal
installation process.

In addition, I don't know how to get into the Custom Installation Wizard
mentioned in the Resolution (eg it talks about page 10 of 24, but how do I
get into it in the first place?).

Any other thoughts that may help?

Many thanks.

Roger.

 

[Roger Austin]

Here is an update:

I managed to get Outlook to open. I'm not sure precisely what I did, but I
think it was along the lines of pressing cancel when requested for my
Exchange password, which then allowed me to get in to work off-line, and when
I removed the tick from off-line it loaded up and seemed to be working OK. I
then closed it and tried to go in again, and it let me in.

However, there is still one (major) problem. My sent items folder now
appears in the Deleted Items folder. When I try to move it out of deleted
items, Outlook gives me the message that you can't move certain folders
(Inbox, Sent items, etc). When I send items, they are still appended to the
Sent Items folder which is now effectively a sub-folder of Deleted Items.

How do I resolve this?

Please help - I can't take much more of this: I have effectively lost over
three working days trying to resolve this whole problem!

Thanks.

Roger.

 

[Brian Tillman]

However, there is still one (major) problem. My sent items folder now
appears in the Deleted Items folder. When I try to move it out of
deleted items, Outlook gives me the message that you can't move
certain folders (Inbox, Sent items, etc). When I send items, they
are still appended to the Sent Items folder which is now effectively
a sub-folder of Deleted Items.

How do I resolve this?

Try starting Outlook once with the /resetfolders command switch.

 

[Roger Austin]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the suggestion. How do I do this (sorry if it is obvious, but I
am not an expert!).

Many thanks.

Roger.

 

[Brian Tillman]

Thanks for the suggestion. How do I do this (sorry if it is obvious,
but I am not an expert!).

Click Start>Run. In the Open field, enter

outlook.exe /resetfolders

Click OK. Make sure you include the space before the slash.

 

[Roger Austin]

Hi Brian,

I tried this, but there were no obvious changes: my Sent Items is still a
subfolder within Deleted Items.

Do you have any other ideas?

Thanks.

Roger.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I tried this, but there were no obvious changes: my Sent Items is
still a subfolder within Deleted Items.

Do you have any other ideas?

Can yuo connect to your Hosted Exchaneg Server using Outlook Web Access? If
so, OWA might be able to move the folder back. If that doesn't work, you'll
have to get the server admins involved.