Outlook is garbage?

[Uburex]

Of course I should be wrong, but recently Outlook seems to be falling apart.

The infamous 'personal file not shut down properly' message shown usually
(but not always) when I launch Outlook.

Then it takes 3-10 minutes to launch.

Program does not back-up when closed down (I have backup utility installed).

Program does not shut down when closed and is still in File Manager. I
know it is meant to remain for a short while but it just stays there forever
(even after waiting a long time). It then does not usually reopen if I try to
launch it again; it just appears twice in File Manager. I end up using
"Knock-out" to kill one of the processes, and am then told that it hasnt shut
down properly and I have to wait again.

I cannot integrate the BitDefender antispam application as it will not
accept the DLL in the COM add-ins.

Attempts at cure:

Emptied deleted items.
Reinstalled Outlook.
Detect & Repair.
Scan pst.
Safe mode.

Nothing works; maybe I just need to move over to Thunderbird...

 

[Roady [MVP]]

All those issues are not caused by Outlook itself but by 3rd party addins
that you have installed which prevent Outlook from closing completely.

See http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/outlookdoesntclose.htm

 

[Vince Averello]

If you leave it closed, does Outlook.EXE eventually terminate? I've seen it
take up to 15 minutes to terminate if I was in the middle of a send/receive
cycle since Outlook seems to want to finish the cycle and one of the
send/receive groups I've got has 150+ RSS feeds in it.

 

[Uburex]

The article is familiar but unhelpful.

The only third-party add-in which Outlook is admitting to is Microsoft's own
backup tool. I know that isn't the issue since I've removed it. Similarly,
although there is a bit defender antispam tool (partly) installed that is
also not the problem since the issues pre-date this.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

What about other applications that do not show as an addin but do rely on
the outlook.exe process? Fax software, synch software, good old Skype,
etc...

 

[Uburex]

I suppose it may be something else, but I can't think what it might be. I do
have hot sync installed and Skype but none of these are installed by default
but have to be launched separately. in any event, given the prevalence of
these programs, I can't imagine that Outlook is unable to cope with them or
vice versa. The other program that I use a lot is Dragon NaturallySpeaking,
which doesn't appear to have any add-ins installed on Outlook (though it does
affect Word). If it turns out that it is incompatible with Outlook then it is
Outlook that goes to the trash can.

Cheers,
Peter

 

[DL]

The fault is with the third party applications and their hooks into Outlook.
I don't think you mentioned your Version of Outlook, but addins are shown,
depending on version in two different options.
A quick test would be to boot your PC into safe mode, then test Outlook.
If all ok you then know its due to a third party application.
Uninstalling/Reinstalling, or an Outlook repair will have no impact on the
problem

 

[Roady [MVP]]

in any event, given the prevalence of

these programs, I can't imagine that Outlook is unable to cope with them
or
vice versa.

It's not that. What Skype does is reading your contacts from Outlook. By
doing so it needs to run Outlook. You can close Outlook all you want but
that is just a window that you are closing. Skype is preventing Outlook (the
outlook.exe process) from shutting down completely. There are more
applications doing that and since they are external applications they won't
show as addins. There are also Vista SideBar Gadgets that causes the same
issue. If they cannot properly release the outlook.exe process it will get
terminated when you shutdown your PC and you'll get the "Outlook did not
shutdown properly" notification.

See DL's responds to verify.

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

Actually the COM interfaces for Outlook are well known and by following the
rules you don't mess up Outlook.

That there are a lot of addins or integration applications that don't follow
the rules, many from major companies, is not the fault of Outlook or MS. The
only way to prevent that is to not allow any programmability for Outlook at
all.

I've dealt with Skype, Apple, LinkedIn and others on their rule breaking in
their Outlook code and in most cases their developers were completely
clueless about Outlook programming best practices.

 

[DJK]

Outlook would be garbage if EVERYONE experienced the same issue as yours. I
have the same app as you have and have never experienced any of this. So the
Garbage is how you have your computer set up. Outlook can't properly run in
YOUR computer Environment. You have something installed (or improperly
installed) that is preventing Outlook from working as it is supposed to. Of
course you should be wrong and you are. It is not an Outlook issue it is your
overall system. You'll never be able to resolve that in a few mouse clicks.
you'll have to start all over from a fresh setup.
Use Norton Ghost (or other imaging technology) to create your own customized
Restoration Disk. If you are running Vista it could be VISTA screwing up
Outlook. I doubt that Outlook is your real problem in any case. BTW I am
not yelling at you about it either, If it sounds that way, sorry. Outlook
could be called Garbage if WE ALL had those same issues but we don't so it
clearly is Only your Setup that is creating the problem.
Cheers!
Dave