Outlook 2003 crashes

[budkoch]

Whenever I launch Outlook 2003, I get "Microsoft Office Outlook has
encountered a problem and needs to close". this started a day ago. It will
run OK in safe mode, but not normal mode. I have tried everything I can think
of to fix this with no luck. These include:
- detect and repair from Outlook.
- detect and repair from the Office installer
- reinstalling Outlook after deleting
- deleting all of Office 2003 and reinstalling
- running scanpst.exe several times
- running my virus checker, spyware checker, and norton windoctor
- using a backed-up outlook.pst file from a week ago, before the problem
- creating and using a new profile
- turning off all add-ins and extensions
- creating a new outllook.pst file that is empty
- deleting all files relating to outlook and letting the appln re-create them

Nothing works. I am going crazy with this.
So, what have I done to my PC lately that could have caused this? Here is a
list:
- installed ".net" from MS. I have since uninstalled it
- installed the latest MS Win XP updates
- installed the latest MS Office updates.

I am out of ideas. Can anybody help, please?

Thanks
Bud Koch

 

[Patricia Cardoza [Outlook MVP]]

This has probably been taken care of with the uninstalls you've done, but
try to find and delete the files extend.dat and outcmd.dat. They might be
hidden files in Windows XP so make sure you include hidden and system files
when you're searching for them.

you also don't say if you've created a new profile. this can often help the
issue as well. Within Control Panels, go to Mail. Then click the Show
Profiles button. Create a new profile and make sure Outlook is either set to
use that profile or to prompt you to choose a profile. Then try to restart
Outlook.

--
Patricia Cardoza
Outlook MVP
Author - Special Edition Using Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
Lead Author - Access 2003 VBA Programmer's Reference
Author - Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft OneNote 2003

http://blogs.officezealot.com/cardoza
http://www.cardozasolutions.com

 

[budkoch]

omigod, you are super! Thanks for the quick and accurate suggestion. The
problem was the outcmd file. I didn't see it in Documents and settings-local
applications-....-Outlook, so I never tried deleting it. After reading your
remarks, I searched for that file, found and deleted it. Outlook now works
fine.

btw, I did try a new profile. I guess I forgot to mention it.

Thanks again.
Bud

 

[Patricia Cardoza [Outlook MVP]]

Glad to help!

--
Patricia Cardoza
Outlook MVP
Author - Special Edition Using Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
Lead Author - Access 2003 VBA Programmer's Reference
Author - Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft OneNote 2003

http://blogs.officezealot.com/cardoza
http://www.cardozasolutions.com

 

[Craig Mathison]

Patricia,

I've got the same problem as Bud Koch did. In addition to most of the
actions that Bud did before you gave him your advice, I have:
-deleted extend.dat and outcmd.dat
-created a new profile and told Outlook to always use it
-done every Office & Windows update available
-detect & repair utility

I am still getting the "Microsoft Office Outlook has encountered a problem
and needs to close" error message.

Any other ideas?

CGM

 

[mccarty6608]

I has much the same problem as you and neither Outlook or Outlook express
would work until I used the procdudure in this link
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=318378) worked for me. I did
have to put in the XP CD

Windows XP and Windows XP SP1: Reinstall or repair Windows XP
To repair or reinstall Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows XP,
complete the following procedure while you are logged on as an administrator:
1. Use the System File Checker tool to scan all of the protected files on
your computer: a. Click Start, and then click Run.
b. In the Open box, type sfc /scannow, and then click OK.

Note that you may be prompted for the Windows XP or Windows XP Service Pack
1 installation media.

2. Test to determine if the issue is resolved. If the issue is resolved,
skip the remaining steps. If the issue is not resolved, continue to the next
step.
3. Complete an in-place upgrade of Windows XP, a repair of Windows XP, or
reinstall Windows XP. For additional information about how to complete an
in-place upgrade or repair of Windows XP, click the following article number
to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
315341 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341/) How to perform an in-place
upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
4. To reinstall Windows XP updates, visit the following Microsoft Windows
Update Web site:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

 

[MalteseParrot]

After reading of all your troubles when installing this upgrade I have
concluded all upgrades are not worth the trouble. I had to have my previous
computer stripped naked after installing SP 2. Now I don't dare install
anything my microsoft post-production for fear of being bald. Why don't they
make stuff work the way it should before releasing it? Or at least only
release "fixes" that WORK?

 

[Ron]

I have done all of the above and Outlook still hangs and restarts in safemode
but now I get a event
(this first)
Hanging application OUTLOOK.EXE, version 11.0.8010.0, hang module hungapp,
version 0.0.0.0, hang address 0x00000000.
(then this)
Fault bucket 262152128.

 

[Paul]

I had a similar problem and fixed it by compacting the .ost and .pst files

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/289987/EN-US/