Outlook 2007 - "Cannot save free/busy information"

[Allen C.]

Hello,

I'm having a grand old time with Outlook 2007 and the "cannot save free/busy
information" error. Any assistance on this would be GREATLY appreciated.

SCENARIO:
I have a corporate Dell Win XP SP2 laptop that was shipped to me with Office
2003 Pro pre installed via a corp image. I run a local PST file. When I
received the laptop I uninstalled Office 2003, installed Office 2007 Pro (did
this because of a customer support issue), ran Office Update, connected to
our Exchange server with Cached Exchange Mode enabled, set up my PST file
(backed up from my old laptop), and everything worked fine.

After using the system for some time I ran into some issues and the laptop
was reimaged. After the system was re-imaged I again uninstalled Office
2003, installed Office 2007 Pro (did this because of a customer support
issue), ran Office Update, connected to our Exchange server with Cached
Exchange Mode enabled, set up my PST file (backed up from my old laptop), and
I got the dreaded "cannot save free/busy information". Then the fun started.

ATTEMPTED CORRECTIVE ACTIONS:
1) Attempted Start - Run - Outlook.exe /cleanfreebusy
Outlook popped up an error message saying "Cannot clean your local
free/busy information"

2) Deleted OST and DAT files and ran Start - Run - Outlook.exe /cleanfreebusy
Didn't work - cannot save free/busy infor....

3) Turned off "Use Cached Exchange Mode" and ran Start - Run - Outlook.exe
/cleanfreebusy
Outlook started and acted as if the clean worked so I shut outlook back
down, re-enabled cached mode, re-ran Start - Run - Outlook.exe
/cleanfreebusy. Nope, error came back.

4) Created a new profile
a. Added my exchange connection with cached mode on and a new clean OST
- started outlook - outlook worked no problem - shut outlook down
b. Created a PST (new clean) file - started outlook - outlook worked no
problem - shut outlook down
c. Set the local PST file as default - started outlook - cannot save
free/busy - shut outlook down
NOTE: I used Control Panel - Mail to set each of these settings

5) Uninstalled Office 2007 using Add/Remove programs then went in and did a
manual clean up using KB928218 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928218),
reinstalled office 2007, ran Office Update, created a new profile. Set my
exchange server connection with cached mode on and a new OST, created a new
PST file that was set as default - No luck same error.

6) I've tried a number of other options such as MFCMAPI individually and in
concert with repeats of the steps above without any luck.

SUMMARY:
So I have a Outlook 2007 implementation that works fine if I turn 'Use
Exchange Cached Mode' off or if I don't use a local PST file. Unfortunately
neither of these are scenarios I'm need. I just want to use my local PST
file with cached mode on so that my calendars will stay sync'd up.

 

[TJ]

Have you seen this blog entry:
http://wadingthrough.wordpress.com/2006/07/31/unable-to-clean-local-freebusy-information/

It seems to fit your symptoms.

 

[Allen C.]

TJ,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I've tried the steps outlined in that blog too.
I'm game to try pretty much anything but given how the MVPs are all shying
away from my post I think I've run headlong into an Outlook bug and they
don't want to admit it.

My hope was that I had missed something silly and someone would show me up
by pointing it out quickly. No such luck.

 

[Diane Poremsky {MVP}]

oh it's not because we know it’s a bug and won't admit it, but because we
don't know have an answer. If it was a bug we know about, we won't be shy
about saying so.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/
Outlook 2007: http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/ol2007/

Outlook Tips by email:
(e-mail address removed)

Exchange Messaging Outlook newsletter:
(e-mail address removed)




** Please include your Outlook version, Account type, and Windows Version
when requesting assistance **

 

[Allen C.]

Diane,

Thank you for responding. Just wish you all had an idea of what is going
wrong or at least some suggestions for better diagnosing the problem. I'd be
grateful for any constructive ideas.

Right now I'm thinking that given the uninstall/reinstall I either missed a
config setting on my workstation or there is something wrong on the exchange
server.

Appreciate it and have a great day.

S,
Allen

oh it's not because we know it’s a bug and won't admit it, but because we
don't know have an answer. If it was a bug we know about, we won't be shy
about saying so.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/
Outlook 2007: http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/ol2007/

Outlook Tips by email:
(e-mail address removed)

Exchange Messaging Outlook newsletter:
(e-mail address removed)




** Please include your Outlook version, Account type, and Windows Version
when requesting assistance **

TJ,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I've tried the steps outlined in that blog
too.
I'm game to try pretty much anything but given how the MVPs are all shying
away from my post I think I've run headlong into an Outlook bug and they
don't want to admit it.

My hope was that I had missed something silly and someone would show me up
by pointing it out quickly. No such luck.

 

[Diane Poremsky {MVP}]

Does it work for other accts? if so, it could be a corrupt mailbox.

If I understand, it works correctly with only the exchange acct or only the
pst, and only errors if you have both in the profile, correct?

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/
Outlook 2007: http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/ol2007/

Outlook Tips by email:
(e-mail address removed)

Exchange Messaging Outlook newsletter:
(e-mail address removed)




Access this newsgroup directly by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx

Diane,

Thank you for responding. Just wish you all had an idea of what is going
wrong or at least some suggestions for better diagnosing the problem. I'd
be
grateful for any constructive ideas.

Right now I'm thinking that given the uninstall/reinstall I either missed
a
config setting on my workstation or there is something wrong on the
exchange
server.

Appreciate it and have a great day.

S,
Allen

oh it's not because we know it’s a bug and won't admit it, but because we
don't know have an answer. If it was a bug we know about, we won't be shy
about saying so.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/
Outlook 2007: http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/ol2007/

Outlook Tips by email:
(e-mail address removed)

Exchange Messaging Outlook newsletter:
(e-mail address removed)




** Please include your Outlook version, Account type, and Windows Version
when requesting assistance **

TJ,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I've tried the steps outlined in that blog
too.
I'm game to try pretty much anything but given how the MVPs are all
shying
away from my post I think I've run headlong into an Outlook bug and
they
don't want to admit it.

My hope was that I had missed something silly and someone would show me
up
by pointing it out quickly. No such luck.

:

Have you seen this blog entry:
http://wadingthrough.wordpress.com/2006/07/31/unable-to-clean-local-freebusy-information/

It seems to fit your symptoms.

:

Hello,

I'm having a grand old time with Outlook 2007 and the "cannot save
free/busy
information" error. Any assistance on this would be GREATLY
appreciated.

SCENARIO:
I have a corporate Dell Win XP SP2 laptop that was shipped to me
with
Office
2003 Pro pre installed via a corp image. I run a local PST file.
When
I
received the laptop I uninstalled Office 2003, installed Office 2007
Pro (did
this because of a customer support issue), ran Office Update,
connected
to
our Exchange server with Cached Exchange Mode enabled, set up my PST
file
(backed up from my old laptop), and everything worked fine.

After using the system for some time I ran into some issues and the
laptop
was reimaged. After the system was re-imaged I again uninstalled
Office
2003, installed Office 2007 Pro (did this because of a customer
support
issue), ran Office Update, connected to our Exchange server with
Cached
Exchange Mode enabled, set up my PST file (backed up from my old
laptop), and
I got the dreaded "cannot save free/busy information". Then the fun
started.

ATTEMPTED CORRECTIVE ACTIONS:
1) Attempted Start - Run - Outlook.exe /cleanfreebusy
Outlook popped up an error message saying "Cannot clean your
local
free/busy information"

2) Deleted OST and DAT files and ran Start - Run - Outlook.exe
/cleanfreebusy
Didn't work - cannot save free/busy infor....

3) Turned off "Use Cached Exchange Mode" and ran Start - Run -
Outlook.exe
/cleanfreebusy
Outlook started and acted as if the clean worked so I shut
outlook
back
down, re-enabled cached mode, re-ran Start - Run - Outlook.exe
/cleanfreebusy. Nope, error came back.

4) Created a new profile
a. Added my exchange connection with cached mode on and a new
clean OST
- started outlook - outlook worked no problem - shut outlook down
b. Created a PST (new clean) file - started outlook - outlook
worked no
problem - shut outlook down
c. Set the local PST file as default - started outlook - cannot
save
free/busy - shut outlook down
NOTE: I used Control Panel - Mail to set each of these settings

5) Uninstalled Office 2007 using Add/Remove programs then went in
and
did a
manual clean up using KB928218
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928218),
reinstalled office 2007, ran Office Update, created a new profile.
Set
my
exchange server connection with cached mode on and a new OST,
created a
new
PST file that was set as default - No luck same error.

6) I've tried a number of other options such as MFCMAPI individually
and in
concert with repeats of the steps above without any luck.

SUMMARY:
So I have a Outlook 2007 implementation that works fine if I turn
'Use
Exchange Cached Mode' off or if I don't use a local PST file.
Unfortunately
neither of these are scenarios I'm need. I just want to use my
local
PST
file with cached mode on so that my calendars will stay sync'd up.

 

[Allen C.]

Diane,

There are other accounts on the exchange server and they are working
properly. As for me, this is the only account I have and as such it is the
only account set up on my PC.

And yes, you understand it correctly "it works correctly with only the
exchange acct or only the pst, and only errors if you have both in the
profile". If I turn of "Use Cached Exchange Mode" then all it well except I
don't get sync'd calendars. If I use only an Exchange account (cached or
not) then everything is okay. If I set up a PST only then I don't get any
errors. Also, if I turn off cached mode then I can successfully run the
/cleanfreebusy switch.

Sincerely,
Allen

Does it work for other accts? if so, it could be a corrupt mailbox.

If I understand, it works correctly with only the exchange acct or only the
pst, and only errors if you have both in the profile, correct?

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/
Outlook 2007: http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/ol2007/

Outlook Tips by email:
(e-mail address removed)

Exchange Messaging Outlook newsletter:
(e-mail address removed)




Access this newsgroup directly by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx

Diane,

Thank you for responding. Just wish you all had an idea of what is going
wrong or at least some suggestions for better diagnosing the problem. I'd
be
grateful for any constructive ideas.

Right now I'm thinking that given the uninstall/reinstall I either missed
a
config setting on my workstation or there is something wrong on the
exchange
server.

Appreciate it and have a great day.

S,
Allen

oh it's not because we know it’s a bug and won't admit it, but because we
don't know have an answer. If it was a bug we know about, we won't be shy
about saying so.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/
Outlook 2007: http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/ol2007/

Outlook Tips by email:
(e-mail address removed)

Exchange Messaging Outlook newsletter:
(e-mail address removed)




** Please include your Outlook version, Account type, and Windows Version
when requesting assistance **


TJ,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I've tried the steps outlined in that blog
too.
I'm game to try pretty much anything but given how the MVPs are all
shying
away from my post I think I've run headlong into an Outlook bug and
they
don't want to admit it.

My hope was that I had missed something silly and someone would show me
up
by pointing it out quickly. No such luck.

:

Have you seen this blog entry:
http://wadingthrough.wordpress.com/2006/07/31/unable-to-clean-local-freebusy-information/

It seems to fit your symptoms.

:

Hello,

I'm having a grand old time with Outlook 2007 and the "cannot save
free/busy
information" error. Any assistance on this would be GREATLY
appreciated.

SCENARIO:
I have a corporate Dell Win XP SP2 laptop that was shipped to me
with
Office
2003 Pro pre installed via a corp image. I run a local PST file.
When
I
received the laptop I uninstalled Office 2003, installed Office 2007
Pro (did
this because of a customer support issue), ran Office Update,
connected
to
our Exchange server with Cached Exchange Mode enabled, set up my PST
file
(backed up from my old laptop), and everything worked fine.

After using the system for some time I ran into some issues and the
laptop
was reimaged. After the system was re-imaged I again uninstalled
Office
2003, installed Office 2007 Pro (did this because of a customer
support
issue), ran Office Update, connected to our Exchange server with
Cached
Exchange Mode enabled, set up my PST file (backed up from my old
laptop), and
I got the dreaded "cannot save free/busy information". Then the fun
started.

ATTEMPTED CORRECTIVE ACTIONS:
1) Attempted Start - Run - Outlook.exe /cleanfreebusy
Outlook popped up an error message saying "Cannot clean your
local
free/busy information"

2) Deleted OST and DAT files and ran Start - Run - Outlook.exe
/cleanfreebusy
Didn't work - cannot save free/busy infor....

3) Turned off "Use Cached Exchange Mode" and ran Start - Run -
Outlook.exe
/cleanfreebusy
Outlook started and acted as if the clean worked so I shut
outlook
back
down, re-enabled cached mode, re-ran Start - Run - Outlook.exe
/cleanfreebusy. Nope, error came back.

4) Created a new profile
a. Added my exchange connection with cached mode on and a new
clean OST
- started outlook - outlook worked no problem - shut outlook down
b. Created a PST (new clean) file - started outlook - outlook
worked no
problem - shut outlook down
c. Set the local PST file as default - started outlook - cannot
save
free/busy - shut outlook down
NOTE: I used Control Panel - Mail to set each of these settings

5) Uninstalled Office 2007 using Add/Remove programs then went in
and
did a
manual clean up using KB928218
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928218),
reinstalled office 2007, ran Office Update, created a new profile.
Set
my
exchange server connection with cached mode on and a new OST,
created a
new
PST file that was set as default - No luck same error.

6) I've tried a number of other options such as MFCMAPI individually
and in
concert with repeats of the steps above without any luck.

SUMMARY:
So I have a Outlook 2007 implementation that works fine if I turn
'Use
Exchange Cached Mode' off or if I don't use a local PST file.
Unfortunately
neither of these are scenarios I'm need. I just want to use my
local
PST
file with cached mode on so that my calendars will stay sync'd up.