Outlook 2003 will not connect to mailbox

[Kevin B.]

We have a problem with SBS 2000. Clients with Outlook 2002 or older can open
their mailboxes. Clients with Outlook 2003 get the error "Unable to open your
default e-mail folders. The Microsoft Exchange Server computer is not
available. Eithe there are network problems or the Microsoft Exchange Server
comptuer is down for maintenance." Everything was working on the server until
it got a virus. Here is what has been done. The virus was cleaned. SBS 2000
was repaired. Exchange part of SBS 2000 has been reloaded. All clients can
use Web Mail to access their mailboxes with no problems. We removed Outlook
2003 and installed Outlook 2002 on a client and then the client could connect
to the mailbox without problems. Also one other thing we tried was using a
PST file on the Outlook 2003 client. This also works without problems. Only
when Outlook 2003 is configured to use the Mailbox directly is there an
issue.

Thanks for any suggestions in advance,
Kevin

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Depends on the method you used to restore the Exchange server. From the
information provided I would reckon that renaming the ost-file to .old on
the Outlook 2003 clients will solve it.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----
We have a problem with SBS 2000. Clients with Outlook 2002 or older can open
their mailboxes. Clients with Outlook 2003 get the error "Unable to open
your
default e-mail folders. The Microsoft Exchange Server computer is not
available. Eithe there are network problems or the Microsoft Exchange Server
comptuer is down for maintenance." Everything was working on the server
until
it got a virus. Here is what has been done. The virus was cleaned. SBS 2000
was repaired. Exchange part of SBS 2000 has been reloaded. All clients can
use Web Mail to access their mailboxes with no problems. We removed Outlook
2003 and installed Outlook 2002 on a client and then the client could
connect
to the mailbox without problems. Also one other thing we tried was using a
PST file on the Outlook 2003 client. This also works without problems. Only
when Outlook 2003 is configured to use the Mailbox directly is there an
issue.

Thanks for any suggestions in advance,
Kevin

 

[Kevin B.]

Thanks for the advice but caching is not being used and there is no ost files
on the clients.

Kevin

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Then it sounds like you have a DNS issue. Unlike previous versions Outlook
2003 relies on DNS for name resolving. This would clarify why it works when
you install Outlook 2002.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----
Thanks for the advice but caching is not being used and there is no ost
files
on the clients.

Kevin

 

[Kevin B.]

Yes, that is what I was thinking but the clients can resolve the name of the
Exchange server by using the nslookup command. So it appears that DNS is
working. Any other suggestions?

Thanks again,
Kevin

Then it sounds like you have a DNS issue. Unlike previous versions Outlook
2003 relies on DNS for name resolving. This would clarify why it works when
you install Outlook 2002.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----
Thanks for the advice but caching is not being used and there is no ost
files
on the clients.

Kevin

Depends on the method you used to restore the Exchange server. From the
information provided I would reckon that renaming the ost-file to .old on
the Outlook 2003 clients will solve it.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

-----
We have a problem with SBS 2000. Clients with Outlook 2002 or older can
open
their mailboxes. Clients with Outlook 2003 get the error "Unable to open
your
default e-mail folders. The Microsoft Exchange Server computer is not
available. Eithe there are network problems or the Microsoft Exchange
Server
comptuer is down for maintenance." Everything was working on the server
until
it got a virus. Here is what has been done. The virus was cleaned. SBS
2000
was repaired. Exchange part of SBS 2000 has been reloaded. All clients can
use Web Mail to access their mailboxes with no problems. We removed
Outlook
2003 and installed Outlook 2002 on a client and then the client could
connect
to the mailbox without problems. Also one other thing we tried was using a
PST file on the Outlook 2003 client. This also works without problems.
Only
when Outlook 2003 is configured to use the Mailbox directly is there an
issue.

Thanks for any suggestions in advance,
Kevin

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Start Outlook with the /rpcdiag switch to see connection details.
I still expect your server configuration isn't healthy. Check the Exchange,
DNS and AD service logs for errors.

Just for fun did you try recreating the mail profile on a client already?
http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/newprofile.htm
What error do you get then?

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----
Yes, that is what I was thinking but the clients can resolve the name of the
Exchange server by using the nslookup command. So it appears that DNS is
working. Any other suggestions?

Thanks again,
Kevin

Then it sounds like you have a DNS issue. Unlike previous versions Outlook
2003 relies on DNS for name resolving. This would clarify why it works
when
you install Outlook 2002.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----
Thanks for the advice but caching is not being used and there is no ost
files
on the clients.

Kevin

Depends on the method you used to restore the Exchange server. From the
information provided I would reckon that renaming the ost-file to .old
on
the Outlook 2003 clients will solve it.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

-----
We have a problem with SBS 2000. Clients with Outlook 2002 or older can
open
their mailboxes. Clients with Outlook 2003 get the error "Unable to open
your
default e-mail folders. The Microsoft Exchange Server computer is not
available. Eithe there are network problems or the Microsoft Exchange
Server
comptuer is down for maintenance." Everything was working on the server
until
it got a virus. Here is what has been done. The virus was cleaned. SBS
2000
was repaired. Exchange part of SBS 2000 has been reloaded. All clients
can
use Web Mail to access their mailboxes with no problems. We removed
Outlook
2003 and installed Outlook 2002 on a client and then the client could
connect
to the mailbox without problems. Also one other thing we tried was using
a
PST file on the Outlook 2003 client. This also works without problems.
Only
when Outlook 2003 is configured to use the Mailbox directly is there an
issue.

Thanks for any suggestions in advance,
Kevin

 

[Kevin B.]

I started Outlook with the /rpcdiag switch and it connected to the exchange
server with no fails. I clicked reconnect and it will reconnect with no
fails. I am going to check the logs tonight when I have access to the server
again and will let you know what I find.

Kevin

Start Outlook with the /rpcdiag switch to see connection details.
I still expect your server configuration isn't healthy. Check the Exchange,
DNS and AD service logs for errors.

Just for fun did you try recreating the mail profile on a client already?
http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/newprofile.htm
What error do you get then?

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----
Yes, that is what I was thinking but the clients can resolve the name of the
Exchange server by using the nslookup command. So it appears that DNS is
working. Any other suggestions?

Thanks again,
Kevin

Then it sounds like you have a DNS issue. Unlike previous versions Outlook
2003 relies on DNS for name resolving. This would clarify why it works
when
you install Outlook 2002.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

-----
Thanks for the advice but caching is not being used and there is no ost
files
on the clients.

Kevin

Depends on the method you used to restore the Exchange server. From the
information provided I would reckon that renaming the ost-file to .old
on
the Outlook 2003 clients will solve it.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

-----
We have a problem with SBS 2000. Clients with Outlook 2002 or older can
open
their mailboxes. Clients with Outlook 2003 get the error "Unable to open
your
default e-mail folders. The Microsoft Exchange Server computer is not
available. Eithe there are network problems or the Microsoft Exchange
Server
comptuer is down for maintenance." Everything was working on the server
until
it got a virus. Here is what has been done. The virus was cleaned. SBS
2000
was repaired. Exchange part of SBS 2000 has been reloaded. All clients
can
use Web Mail to access their mailboxes with no problems. We removed
Outlook
2003 and installed Outlook 2002 on a client and then the client could
connect
to the mailbox without problems. Also one other thing we tried was using
a
PST file on the Outlook 2003 client. This also works without problems.
Only
when Outlook 2003 is configured to use the Mailbox directly is there an
issue.

Thanks for any suggestions in advance,
Kevin

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Alright, sounds like some good progress

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----
I started Outlook with the /rpcdiag switch and it connected to the exchange
server with no fails. I clicked reconnect and it will reconnect with no
fails. I am going to check the logs tonight when I have access to the server
again and will let you know what I find.

Kevin

Start Outlook with the /rpcdiag switch to see connection details.
I still expect your server configuration isn't healthy. Check the
Exchange,
DNS and AD service logs for errors.

Just for fun did you try recreating the mail profile on a client already?
http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/newprofile.htm
What error do you get then?

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----
Yes, that is what I was thinking but the clients can resolve the name of
the
Exchange server by using the nslookup command. So it appears that DNS is
working. Any other suggestions?

Thanks again,
Kevin

Then it sounds like you have a DNS issue. Unlike previous versions
Outlook
2003 relies on DNS for name resolving. This would clarify why it works
when
you install Outlook 2002.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

-----
Thanks for the advice but caching is not being used and there is no ost
files
on the clients.

Kevin

Depends on the method you used to restore the Exchange server. From
the
information provided I would reckon that renaming the ost-file to .old
on
the Outlook 2003 clients will solve it.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

-----
We have a problem with SBS 2000. Clients with Outlook 2002 or older
can
open
their mailboxes. Clients with Outlook 2003 get the error "Unable to
open
your
default e-mail folders. The Microsoft Exchange Server computer is not
available. Eithe there are network problems or the Microsoft Exchange
Server
comptuer is down for maintenance." Everything was working on the
server
until
it got a virus. Here is what has been done. The virus was cleaned. SBS
2000
was repaired. Exchange part of SBS 2000 has been reloaded. All clients
can
use Web Mail to access their mailboxes with no problems. We removed
Outlook
2003 and installed Outlook 2002 on a client and then the client could
connect
to the mailbox without problems. Also one other thing we tried was
using
a
PST file on the Outlook 2003 client. This also works without problems.
Only
when Outlook 2003 is configured to use the Mailbox directly is there
an
issue.

Thanks for any suggestions in advance,
Kevin