unable to send email from other applications through outlook

[Pax]

I use Outlook 2002. the messaging client works fine when
I send email from itself.
However, if I try to send email from other applications
like photo-sharing or even Access or Word, if get an
error message that says "Oulook has encountered a problem
and has to close ....
the details of the message refers to a atl.dll problem.
It is also found that if I keep Outlook open and do the
same thing all is well.
Can someone tell me where the problem is and how to solve
it?
Pax