error msg "Cannot perform the requested operation .."

[Ludwig]

Full error msg is "Cannot perform the requested operation. The command is not
valid for this recipient. The operation failed."

I receive this when I use a distribution list in an email and press the + to
expand the group members. I tried this because all of a sudden Outlook
(2003) refuses to send any email where I use a distribution list - it give me
the error message "An unexpected error has occurred".

Earlier tonight it started giving me the error message "an internal support
function returned an error" - so I restarted my machine but still the same.
Then after searching this form for ideas I removed the Outlook address book
from the directories (under Tools \ Email Accounts \ Directories), restarted
Outllok, and then put it back. Now I get "An unexpected error has occurred".

I can manually select the peopl in my distribution list and successfully
send the email, but I don't want to have to keep doing that forever.

I recently moved the mail file from the C: drive onto my D: drive but seeing
my contacts are within the outlook PST file that shouldn't matter - if it
does what do I need to do to fix it?

I have tried setting up a brand new dist list - that fails too.

What do i need to do to fix it?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You very likely forgot to reset your Outlook Address Book Service after you
moved your data file and it is now corrupt. It is not unusual for the
Outlook Address Book to "lose track" of the connection to its Contacts
Folder when you move or import your PST or update your Outlook version or
operating system. Use the following steps to reset the connection. Note that
in some instances you may actually have to remove the Outlook Address Book
completely from your Profile, close Outlook, and then re-add it before you
can get it to work.

Make sure the Contact folder is enabled as an email address book. Right
click the Contacts folder, choose Properties then Outlook Address Book. Is
the box to enable as email address book checked?
If this is grayed out...Go to Tools | Email Accounts, choose View or change
existing directories or address book. Is the Outlook Address Book present?
If it isn't listed, add it and close and restart Outlook. If it is listed,
then remove it and close then restart Outlook and repeat these steps to add
it.

More details available here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287563&Product=ol2002

 

[Ludwig]

Thanks for the suggestions Russ which I followed but they made no difference.
Even after exporting all contents into a new Outlook PST file (this time
2003 format rather than XP) it still happened.

Found a simple solution though, at least it seemed to cure it today. I
flushed the cached values for the distribution lists (start typing the list
name & when it comes up as a possible selection, delete it), and suddenly
they work again.

 

[vitalijsp]

Found a simple solution though, at least it seemed to cure it today. I

flushed the cached values for the distribution lists (start typing the list
name & when it comes up as a possible selection, delete it), and suddenly
they work again.

works for me as well