"A data file did not close properly" when Outlook opened

[Guest]

Every time I open Outlook I get a message that "a file did not open properly
the last time it was used and needs to be checked for problems."

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

So do lots of people. Provide some information that would allow us to
determine what your problem is. You've provided none.
The minimum information you should post for a question like this would
include:
1. Outlook version
2. The precise steps you use to produce this error message
3. How you close Outlook
4. Whether you also exit your operating system
5. Add-ins or sync programs that may be preventing Outlook from closing
completely.

 

[Guest]

I have the same problem Russ.
Running Outlook 2003 on Win XP
To close, I usually hit the red X in upper right to close all my programs,
after closing any open windows in the same manner.
Most of the time Outlook opens fine and when it doesn't I take an alternate
route (alternate shortcut) and it usually opens up after checking for errors.
Today, all three routes have the same problem. Today I also rebooted the
computer.
Add-ins or sync programs: Plaxo, which loaded JaJah.
I have run Detect & Repair and I have run scanpst.exe (which found errors
but would not hangs when I press the Repair button, so it hasn't been able to
repair)
Do you think a reinstall of Outlook would be smart?

--
mmman

So do lots of people. Provide some information that would allow us to
determine what your problem is. You've provided none.
The minimum information you should post for a question like this would
include:
1. Outlook version
2. The precise steps you use to produce this error message
3. How you close Outlook
4. Whether you also exit your operating system
5. Add-ins or sync programs that may be preventing Outlook from closing
completely.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Every time I open Outlook I get a message that "a file did not open
properly
the last time it was used and needs to be checked for problems."

 

[junkrick]

So do lots of people. Provide some information that would allow us to
determine what your problem is. You've provided none.
The minimum information you should post for a question like this would
include:
1.Outlookversion
2. The precise steps you use to produce this error message
3. How you closeOutlook
4. Whether you also exit your operating system
5. Add-ins or sync programs that may be preventingOutlookfrom closing
completely.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Every time I openOutlookI get a message that "a file did not open
properly
the last time it was used and needs to be checked for problems."- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I had this problem moving from an XP machine to another Vista machine
- Outlook 2003 to Outlook 2007. I think I got it fixed by changing
the owner of the file. Seems the problem was that the old owner
account from the original machine was not the same as the one on the
new machine even though I was using the same name and so I didn't have
permission to update the outlook data file. I did this: Right click
the partition in <My> Computer, select Properties, click Security tab,
select Advanced button, click Owner tab, select Edit... button, select
'change owner to:' whoever you are, and *Important* check box that
says: 'Replace owner on subcontainers and objects'. Worth a try.

 

[Guest]

I am using a new install of Office Standard 2007, with Outlook and have the
same exact problem. It doesn't matter if I just "close" or "exit" Outlook
itself, or when I go to shutdown the computer. Opening TaskManager shows the
"Outlook" in the running processes. Looking in Event Viewer after the last
computer shutdown is the following entry;

"ID: 6, Application Name: Microsoft Office Outlook, Application Version:
12.0.4518.1014, Microsoft Office Version: 12.0.4518.1014. This session was
terminated unexpectedly."

I have no plug-in's, Sync's or anything else installed or setup and am
running Microsoft Vista Home Premium. I check for updates daily, both
automatically and manually. Have tried starting the computer with and without
the Virus program I have, AVG Pro (not the free version) and still have the
same results.
Both Vista and Outlook are "clean" installs, not updates. Do not appear to
have any issues with Excel, Power Point or Word, just Outlook.
Does that help any? Hope so, if you need more, let me know what youwant
and I can provide it, this is getting to be a pain and paid to much good
money to have this situation continously.
Thanks.

So do lots of people. Provide some information that would allow us to
determine what your problem is. You've provided none.
The minimum information you should post for a question like this would
include:
1. Outlook version
2. The precise steps you use to produce this error message
3. How you close Outlook
4. Whether you also exit your operating system
5. Add-ins or sync programs that may be preventing Outlook from closing
completely.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Every time I open Outlook I get a message that "a file did not open
properly
the last time it was used and needs to be checked for problems."

 

[Guest]

I have exactly the same Problem, and am looking for an answer. Would
appreciate hearing something that will help. Thanks.

I am using a new install of Office Standard 2007, with Outlook and have the
same exact problem. It doesn't matter if I just "close" or "exit" Outlook
itself, or when I go to shutdown the computer. Opening TaskManager shows the
"Outlook" in the running processes. Looking in Event Viewer after the last
computer shutdown is the following entry;

"ID: 6, Application Name: Microsoft Office Outlook, Application Version:
12.0.4518.1014, Microsoft Office Version: 12.0.4518.1014. This session was
terminated unexpectedly."

I have no plug-in's, Sync's or anything else installed or setup and am
running Microsoft Vista Home Premium. I check for updates daily, both
automatically and manually. Have tried starting the computer with and without
the Virus program I have, AVG Pro (not the free version) and still have the
same results.
Both Vista and Outlook are "clean" installs, not updates. Do not appear to
have any issues with Excel, Power Point or Word, just Outlook.
Does that help any? Hope so, if you need more, let me know what youwant
and I can provide it, this is getting to be a pain and paid to much good
money to have this situation continously.
Thanks.

So do lots of people. Provide some information that would allow us to
determine what your problem is. You've provided none.
The minimum information you should post for a question like this would
include:
1. Outlook version
2. The precise steps you use to produce this error message
3. How you close Outlook
4. Whether you also exit your operating system
5. Add-ins or sync programs that may be preventing Outlook from closing
completely.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Every time I open Outlook I get a message that "a file did not open
properly
the last time it was used and needs to be checked for problems."

 

[Guest]

So has anybody found an answer to this problem?
I see lots of post about the data file not closing, And lots of suggestions,
try this try that.

But I don't see any responses that say,Yes that fixed it.

I have Vista Ultimate running Office 2007, Outlook 2007.
I periodically get that message, Maybe every other time I start Outlook.
Today it's all I get and I can't read my email.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Not yet. There appear to be myriad causes for the message and no consistent
cause or solution. Some things that have helped:
1. If you did an upgrade installation, make sure you create a new Outlook
profile from scratch.
2. If you migrated a previous PST file, make sure you did so correctly (open
the file in Outlook, do not use WET or import).
3. Run the Inbox Repair Tool on the file manually repeatedly until no error
messages are found.
4. Make sure Outlook is exiting completely before you relaunch it.
5. Ignore the message. It is harmless and often goes away after a while.

 

[Guest]

I have Vista Premium and Outlook 2007. I am experiencing exactly the same
issue. Leaving Outlook open for 1o mins corrects the problem but this is
painful.

Not yet. There appear to be myriad causes for the message and no consistent
cause or solution. Some things that have helped:
1. If you did an upgrade installation, make sure you create a new Outlook
profile from scratch.
2. If you migrated a previous PST file, make sure you did so correctly (open
the file in Outlook, do not use WET or import).
3. Run the Inbox Repair Tool on the file manually repeatedly until no error
messages are found.
4. Make sure Outlook is exiting completely before you relaunch it.
5. Ignore the message. It is harmless and often goes away after a while.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

So has anybody found an answer to this problem?
I see lots of post about the data file not closing, And lots of
suggestions,
try this try that.

But I don't see any responses that say,Yes that fixed it.

I have Vista Ultimate running Office 2007, Outlook 2007.
I periodically get that message, Maybe every other time I start Outlook.
Today it's all I get and I can't read my email.

 

[Ty]

Fix for me: The error message began for me after switching from Windows
Sidebar to Google sidebar, and I suspect the problem may have to do with
Google trying to continue its indexing function and locking the outlook data
file. Running Outlook 2007 on Vista Home Premium-fully updated.

In OL2007, I went to Tools/Trust Center/Add-Ins/Manage COM Add-Ins (at the
bottom of the dialog box) and disabled the 'Google Desktop Outlook Toolbar'.
With crossed fingers, I've had no more error dialog boxes in the last 24
hours. Hope this may help some out there.

I have Vista Premium and Outlook 2007. I am experiencing exactly the same
issue. Leaving Outlook open for 1o mins corrects the problem but this is
painful.

Not yet. There appear to be myriad causes for the message and no
consistent
cause or solution. Some things that have helped:
1. If you did an upgrade installation, make sure you create a new Outlook
profile from scratch.
2. If you migrated a previous PST file, make sure you did so correctly
(open
the file in Outlook, do not use WET or import).
3. Run the Inbox Repair Tool on the file manually repeatedly until no
error
messages are found.
4. Make sure Outlook is exiting completely before you relaunch it.
5. Ignore the message. It is harmless and often goes away after a while.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

So has anybody found an answer to this problem?
I see lots of post about the data file not closing, And lots of
suggestions,
try this try that.

But I don't see any responses that say,Yes that fixed it.

I have Vista Ultimate running Office 2007, Outlook 2007.
I periodically get that message, Maybe every other time I start
Outlook.
Today it's all I get and I can't read my email.

 

[Guest]

I am running a newly installed Office 2007 under XP home and think I have
fixed the problem too. I have disabled Google's desktop search indexing.
Its a pity because Google's utility is far superior to Microsoft's search
facility.

Fix for me: The error message began for me after switching from Windows
Sidebar to Google sidebar, and I suspect the problem may have to do with
Google trying to continue its indexing function and locking the outlook data
file. Running Outlook 2007 on Vista Home Premium-fully updated.

In OL2007, I went to Tools/Trust Center/Add-Ins/Manage COM Add-Ins (at the
bottom of the dialog box) and disabled the 'Google Desktop Outlook Toolbar'.
With crossed fingers, I've had no more error dialog boxes in the last 24
hours. Hope this may help some out there.

I have Vista Premium and Outlook 2007. I am experiencing exactly the same
issue. Leaving Outlook open for 1o mins corrects the problem but this is
painful.

Not yet. There appear to be myriad causes for the message and no
consistent
cause or solution. Some things that have helped:
1. If you did an upgrade installation, make sure you create a new Outlook
profile from scratch.
2. If you migrated a previous PST file, make sure you did so correctly
(open
the file in Outlook, do not use WET or import).
3. Run the Inbox Repair Tool on the file manually repeatedly until no
error
messages are found.
4. Make sure Outlook is exiting completely before you relaunch it.
5. Ignore the message. It is harmless and often goes away after a while.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
So has anybody found an answer to this problem?
I see lots of post about the data file not closing, And lots of
suggestions,
try this try that.

But I don't see any responses that say,Yes that fixed it.

I have Vista Ultimate running Office 2007, Outlook 2007.
I periodically get that message, Maybe every other time I start
Outlook.
Today it's all I get and I can't read my email.

 

[UA]

Creating a new profile fixed it for me! (item #2 on Russ's excellent
post)

I was reluctant to create a new profile because I didn't want to mess
anything else up (like HotSyncing with my Treo). But after trying all
the other options and still getting the error, I finally gave it a
try. This is how to do it:

Step 1: Export from current personal folder file.
- Export everything in your current profile using File > Import and
Export.
- Choose "Export to a File"
- Choose "Personal Folder File (.pst)"
- Select the root folder and check "Include subfolders"
- Point to a location and click "Finish"

Step 2: Create a new profile:
- File > New > Outlook Data File...
- Choose a type
- Enter a file name (probably safest to accept default location).
- Enter a display name (this will show in the Folder List).

Step 3: Import into new profile
- In the "Folder List" select the newly created personal folder.
- Click File > Import and Export
- Choose "Import from another program or file"
- Then go through the wizard and select the PST you created in Step 1
- After import is done, click "Data File Management" at the bottom of
the folder list.
- Select the newly created data file and click "Set as Default".

This is roughly the process; I'm just going based off of memory, so
don't jump on me if it's off! It's probably wise to keep the old
personal folder around for a while, until you're satisfied everything
is working properly.

For me, this process finally got rid of the annoying "Data file not
closed properly..." message!!! As always, YMMV.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

For future reference, leave off the import and export part of this process.
Your data is already in Outlook file format. Import and export will only
lose or corrupt that data. Instead, you should just copy and reuse your
Outlook data file when you create a new profile.

 

[UA]

For future reference, leave off the import and export part of this process.
Your data is already in Outlook file format. Import and export will only
lose or corrupt that data. Instead, you should just copy and reuse your
Outlook data file when you create a new profile.

Good tip, that makes it a lot easier! I thought it was a corrupted
data file that was the problem, that's why I did the export/import
steps. Fortunately it worked for me; all my data is intact.

For future reference, maybe you should post step-by-step instructions
on how to create a new profile. It's not so obvious as Outlook doesn't
really use the word "profile" in its user interface.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

It does in all its help files, and that information is widely available:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;829918&Product=out2003

 

[UA]

Well, unfortunately most users don't go to help. As the old usability
saying goes, "If a user can't find it, the feature doesn't exist!"

Thanks for providing the link. It should help those help-adverse
types! ;-)

 

[UA]

Well, unfortunately most users don't go to help. As the old usability
saying goes, "If a user can't find it, the feature doesn't exist!"

Thanks for providing the link. It should help those help-adverse
types! ;-)

 

[UA]

Well, unfortunately most users don't go to help. As the old usability
saying goes, "If a user can't find it, the feature doesn't exist!"

Thanks for providing the link. It should help those help-adverse
types! ;-)

 

[UA]

Well, unfortunately most users don't go to help. As the old usability
saying goes, "If a user can't find it, the feature doesn't exist!"

Thanks for providing the link. It should help those help-adverse
types! ;-)

 

[UA]

Who uses help!? That's what newsgroups are for! ;-)