Default Mail client error "out of the blue'

[Robert Paul]

I have never had a problem with Outlook2003 but over the last 5 weeks I keep
getting the "Either there is no default mail client or the current mail
client cannot fulfil the messaging request. Please run MS Outlook and set it
as the default mail client' The only other software I've downloaded is
Windows Service PackII. It seems to have started after that but maybe that's
just a coincidence.I have tried all suggestions. Changed from Outlook X and
back in Explorer--etc. etc.--The only thing that temporarily helps is to run
Detect and Repair and that does the trick but only for about 24-36 hours-then
the message pops up again--In fact it just popped up as I was typing this.
Please advise--I'm using WindowsXP, MS Outlook 2003 and also have Act!2005 on
my system--I've done everything within the help suggestions of Act!, Explorer
and Outlook. Thanks in advance --RPS

 

[VS777]

I have exactly the same problem (posted it in Install & Configure forum).
Have seen many users hhaving the same problem - Hope someone offers a
working solution
Vladimir

 

[Robert Paul]

It seems that the issue may be with Act!2005--I have uninstalled that program
and no longer have the Outlook problem---I will now try and contact Act! and
see if they have a patch fix---RPS

 

[Jay]

I have the exact same symptoms but don't have any versions of ACT! installed.
I've done a Repair on Office, made sure Outlook is set as the default mail
client, etc. This only happens after the computer's been running for a day or
two and pops up every 10-20 minutes. It's driving me crazy. XP SP2 and
Outlook 2003 (11.6359.6360) SP1.

Microsoft, please take a look at this issue - there are many posts about
this without any definitive fix and the knowledgebase doesn't directly
address this either. Thanks.

 

[Robert Paul]

I don't think Act!2005 is the issue--I think this error message pops up after
I run a Virus Scan with Norton AV-(which I do weekly) --Perhaps the issue is
with Symantec???--I'll write them as well and get back to this group--In
order to temporarily solve the error, I run Detect and Repair with MS
Outlook--then reboot my computer.--I'm using MS XP--and Outlook 2003 and
Norton Systemworks 2003. Pro.....

 

[Tony F]

Robert... I have been following this and similiar threads since last November
as I have the same exact problem which no one has yet been able to help me
resolve (no Act Installed). Have you had this problem fixed and if so what
was the solution.

 

[jmrzx]

Gentlemen,

Sorry I forgot to post this, but I figured out why I was having this
problem. I have an IBM ThinkCentre running Win XP and Office 2003. I
started stopping processes one at a time until I found the culprit which
turned out to be the IBM ScrollPoint III, ScrollPoint optical, and IBM
optical wheel mouse driver for Windows 2000 and XP . I have no idea why it
was trying to interact with Outlook, but I uninstalled the program a few
months ago and the issue has not returned. Hope this helps.

 

[Robert Paul]

thanks--I'll try that within the next 24hrs and let you both know-I emailed
MS help and I keep getting an email reponse that my case has been
accepted(???)--that's great but I've got no answers other than my case has
been accepted--I'll let you know if your solution helps me--I thought I had
it pinpointed to when I run a weekly Norton Virus scan--but the problem just
came up 5 minutes ago and my scan isn't until later this week--thanx for your
suggestion--RPS

 

[Robert Paul]

guess what?--I don't have either of those drivers(darn--I was hoping your
solution might work)--so I'm back to square 1--Outlook works --it's just that
the error pops up weekly and the only way I can get around it short-term is
to run Detect and Repair--hopefully someone out there can resolve this--like
someone at MS--maybe they'll read these posts and get someone on it---the
problem is, it seems to only be affecting about 5-10 of us---keep me
posted--thanks--RPS

 

[Tony F]

Do you have an IBM ThinkPad as well?

guess what?--I don't have either of those drivers(darn--I was hoping your
solution might work)--so I'm back to square 1--Outlook works --it's just that
the error pops up weekly and the only way I can get around it short-term is
to run Detect and Repair--hopefully someone out there can resolve this--like
someone at MS--maybe they'll read these posts and get someone on it---the
problem is, it seems to only be affecting about 5-10 of us---keep me
posted--thanks--RPS

 

[Robert Paul]

no I don't--I have an IBM Netvista DeskTop--I also run Outlook 2003 on 3
other computers and do not have this issue--all of them have the same OS as
this one--MS XP Home, Service PackII etc. etc.----the only difference with
this computer is that I HAD installed the application Act!2005, --I have
since uninstalled it---I think it was Act!2005 program that was giving me the
problem---I have contacted them and every one of their solutions only gave me
a temporary fix, and then within 1 week to 10 days, I got the same error
message--"Either ...default mail client...blah, blah, blah"--as I said,
Outlook works --it's just the error message popping up (ONLY on this
computer) which is frustrating--I may uninstall Outlook 2003 and the
re-install it again although I don't want to risk screwing things up even
more--what do you think?? --thanx--RPS

 

[Tony F]

This problem has to be related to certain drivers on IBM systems (that are
running outlook 2003 and windows xp) which when upgraded to SP2 creates some
conflict which is causing the problem. Robert Paul, JMRZX, and I all all
running IBM systems with the same software configuration. Other machines we
own are not experiencing the same problem although the software
configurations are the same. What makes these cases unique is that they are
all IBM systems (ThinkCentre, NetVista, and ThinkPad). JMRZX fixed the
problem by removing drivers for the IBM Pointing Devices. By the way JMRZX,
are you still using a mouse? If so, what type and with what drivers?).
Robert Paul, since you did not have IBM Pointing Device Drivers on your
machine what type of mouse are you using and with what drivers? I am going
to remove the drivers to my notebook's pointing devices to see if that
eliminates the problem. I also have a MS Optical Mouse running with my
notebook when connected to my docking station. This is indeed frustrating and
there is no help avilable from MS or IBM with the problem.