Calendar freezes

[RMH]

Hi. I have been using Outlook (2007) for some months very happily. Last
week, when I tried to get calendar view up Outlook stops responding and I
have to close. I can see my appointments for the next 7 days using personal
folders view, and I can add a new appointment from the "mail" tab. I can
also still syncronise my calendar with my blackberry. Has anyone else
experienced this and does anyone have any suggestions? thanks in advance!

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Have you tried resetting the view? If that did not work, have you run
scanpst.exe?

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
ALWAYS post your Outlook version.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, RMH asked:

| Hi. I have been using Outlook (2007) for some months very happily.
| Last week, when I tried to get calendar view up Outlook stops
| responding and I have to close. I can see my appointments for the
| next 7 days using personal folders view, and I can add a new
| appointment from the "mail" tab. I can also still syncronise my
| calendar with my blackberry. Has anyone else experienced this and
| does anyone have any suggestions? thanks in advance!

 

[Nikki Peterson]

This usually screams "Corrupted Recurring Meeting".

Here's what I used to do, there is probably something easier
out there but I haven't needed it for a while.

To detect the offending item:

1) Open the mailbox in Outlook
2) Create a New folder (Calendar Test)
3) Do an advanced find on the old calendar and sort events by recurrence.

- Press F3
- Change the Look For: text box to Appointments and Meetings
- Click on the Advanced tab
- Click Field
- Select All Appointment fields
- Select Recurring
- Condition: equals
- Value: Yes
- Click the Add to List button
- Click Find Now

Drop and drag from advanced find listed events one at a time to the new
calendar, when you get to the corrupt item it will give you an error
message. (delete this item)

Move all your calendar items from Calendar Test folder back to original
calendar (these are previously dragged over items).

Contact Organizer.

If this does not fix the Calendar Freeze:

Try starting Outlook with the /safe command line switch. Go to the calendar
folder to see if Outlook freezes.

If there is a freeze I would guess one of the following.

1) A reminder or free/busy information couldn't be cleared. Try starting
Outlook with the /cleanfreebusy and /cleanreminders command line switch
while no items are stored in the calendar folder

2) A corrupted view. Try starting Outlook 1 time with the /cleanviews
command line switch

If there is no freeze when starting with the /safe switch -- visit the
folder you moved the items to and see if Outlook freezes. If it does, there
is still a corrupt item that Outlook can't deal with. If there is no
freeze, then I would guess that file outcmd.dat is corrupt. Rename this file
and restart Outlook. Outlook will recreate a new outcmd.dat file on open.

Outside of that --- beware of Offline Storage (*.OST) files. You might have
to create a new profile and temporarily disable Offline Storage while you
troubleshoot this issue.

Nikki


Have you tried resetting the view? If that did not work, have you run
scanpst.exe?

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
ALWAYS post your Outlook version.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, RMH asked:

| Hi. I have been using Outlook (2007) for some months very happily.
| Last week, when I tried to get calendar view up Outlook stops
| responding and I have to close. I can see my appointments for the
| next 7 days using personal folders view, and I can add a new
| appointment from the "mail" tab. I can also still syncronise my
| calendar with my blackberry. Has anyone else experienced this and
| does anyone have any suggestions? thanks in advance!

 

[RMH]

Thanks for this really thought out reply. Unfortunately, I must be a
complete cretin because I got stuck at step 3! Opened mailbox and created a
new Calendar test folder. Unfortunately, as soon as I try to open that one
the same thing happens - Outlook crashes and "not responding" so have to
close through task manager. Have also tried finding outlook exe to put a
switch on but cant get my head around that. Any more thoughts and help much
appreciated.
RMH

This usually screams "Corrupted Recurring Meeting".

Here's what I used to do, there is probably something easier
out there but I haven't needed it for a while.

To detect the offending item:

1) Open the mailbox in Outlook
2) Create a New folder (Calendar Test)
3) Do an advanced find on the old calendar and sort events by recurrence.

- Press F3
- Change the Look For: text box to Appointments and Meetings
- Click on the Advanced tab
- Click Field
- Select All Appointment fields
- Select Recurring
- Condition: equals
- Value: Yes
- Click the Add to List button
- Click Find Now

Drop and drag from advanced find listed events one at a time to the new
calendar, when you get to the corrupt item it will give you an error
message. (delete this item)

Move all your calendar items from Calendar Test folder back to original
calendar (these are previously dragged over items).

Contact Organizer.

If this does not fix the Calendar Freeze:

Try starting Outlook with the /safe command line switch. Go to the calendar
folder to see if Outlook freezes.

If there is a freeze I would guess one of the following.

1) A reminder or free/busy information couldn't be cleared. Try starting
Outlook with the /cleanfreebusy and /cleanreminders command line switch
while no items are stored in the calendar folder

2) A corrupted view. Try starting Outlook 1 time with the /cleanviews
command line switch

If there is no freeze when starting with the /safe switch -- visit the
folder you moved the items to and see if Outlook freezes. If it does, there
is still a corrupt item that Outlook can't deal with. If there is no
freeze, then I would guess that file outcmd.dat is corrupt. Rename this file
and restart Outlook. Outlook will recreate a new outcmd.dat file on open.

Outside of that --- beware of Offline Storage (*.OST) files. You might have
to create a new profile and temporarily disable Offline Storage while you
troubleshoot this issue.

Nikki


Have you tried resetting the view? If that did not work, have you run
scanpst.exe?

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
ALWAYS post your Outlook version.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, RMH asked:

| Hi. I have been using Outlook (2007) for some months very happily.
| Last week, when I tried to get calendar view up Outlook stops
| responding and I have to close. I can see my appointments for the
| next 7 days using personal folders view, and I can add a new
| appointment from the "mail" tab. I can also still syncronise my
| calendar with my blackberry. Has anyone else experienced this and
| does anyone have any suggestions? thanks in advance!

 

[Nikki Peterson]

Could be that your views have become corrupt.

I think you should try using the ".../CleanViews" Command-Line
Switch for Outlook. This restores default views. NOTE: All custom
views you created are lost. This is very simple in that all you do is
open outlook, but not by clicking the icon.

Instructions for Outlook 2007

See the following link for information on how to use
this switch:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HP012185891033.aspx

Nikki

Thanks for this really thought out reply. Unfortunately, I must be a
complete cretin because I got stuck at step 3! Opened mailbox and created a
new Calendar test folder. Unfortunately, as soon as I try to open that one
the same thing happens - Outlook crashes and "not responding" so have to
close through task manager. Have also tried finding outlook exe to put a
switch on but cant get my head around that. Any more thoughts and help much
appreciated.
RMH

This usually screams "Corrupted Recurring Meeting".

Here's what I used to do, there is probably something easier
out there but I haven't needed it for a while.

To detect the offending item:

1) Open the mailbox in Outlook
2) Create a New folder (Calendar Test)
3) Do an advanced find on the old calendar and sort events by recurrence.

- Press F3
- Change the Look For: text box to Appointments and Meetings
- Click on the Advanced tab
- Click Field
- Select All Appointment fields
- Select Recurring
- Condition: equals
- Value: Yes
- Click the Add to List button
- Click Find Now

Drop and drag from advanced find listed events one at a time to the new
calendar, when you get to the corrupt item it will give you an error
message. (delete this item)

Move all your calendar items from Calendar Test folder back to original
calendar (these are previously dragged over items).

Contact Organizer.

If this does not fix the Calendar Freeze:

Try starting Outlook with the /safe command line switch. Go to the
calendar
folder to see if Outlook freezes.

If there is a freeze I would guess one of the following.

1) A reminder or free/busy information couldn't be cleared. Try starting
Outlook with the /cleanfreebusy and /cleanreminders command line switch
while no items are stored in the calendar folder

2) A corrupted view. Try starting Outlook 1 time with the /cleanviews
command line switch

If there is no freeze when starting with the /safe switch -- visit the
folder you moved the items to and see if Outlook freezes. If it does,
there
is still a corrupt item that Outlook can't deal with. If there is no
freeze, then I would guess that file outcmd.dat is corrupt. Rename this
file
and restart Outlook. Outlook will recreate a new outcmd.dat file on open.

Outside of that --- beware of Offline Storage (*.OST) files. You might
have
to create a new profile and temporarily disable Offline Storage while you
troubleshoot this issue.

Nikki


Have you tried resetting the view? If that did not work, have you run
scanpst.exe?

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
ALWAYS post your Outlook version.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, RMH asked:

| Hi. I have been using Outlook (2007) for some months very happily.
| Last week, when I tried to get calendar view up Outlook stops
| responding and I have to close. I can see my appointments for the
| next 7 days using personal folders view, and I can add a new
| appointment from the "mail" tab. I can also still syncronise my
| calendar with my blackberry. Has anyone else experienced this and
| does anyone have any suggestions? thanks in advance!

 

[RMH]

Thanks. Still not sure exactly what I have done, but my problem has
resolved. It's just great to know that the help and support is out there.
Thank you!
--
RMH

Could be that your views have become corrupt.

I think you should try using the ".../CleanViews" Command-Line
Switch for Outlook. This restores default views. NOTE: All custom
views you created are lost. This is very simple in that all you do is
open outlook, but not by clicking the icon.

Instructions for Outlook 2007

See the following link for information on how to use
this switch:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HP012185891033.aspx

Nikki

Thanks for this really thought out reply. Unfortunately, I must be a
complete cretin because I got stuck at step 3! Opened mailbox and created a
new Calendar test folder. Unfortunately, as soon as I try to open that one
the same thing happens - Outlook crashes and "not responding" so have to
close through task manager. Have also tried finding outlook exe to put a
switch on but cant get my head around that. Any more thoughts and help much
appreciated.
RMH

This usually screams "Corrupted Recurring Meeting".

Here's what I used to do, there is probably something easier
out there but I haven't needed it for a while.

To detect the offending item:

1) Open the mailbox in Outlook
2) Create a New folder (Calendar Test)
3) Do an advanced find on the old calendar and sort events by recurrence.

- Press F3
- Change the Look For: text box to Appointments and Meetings
- Click on the Advanced tab
- Click Field
- Select All Appointment fields
- Select Recurring
- Condition: equals
- Value: Yes
- Click the Add to List button
- Click Find Now

Drop and drag from advanced find listed events one at a time to the new
calendar, when you get to the corrupt item it will give you an error
message. (delete this item)

Move all your calendar items from Calendar Test folder back to original
calendar (these are previously dragged over items).

Contact Organizer.

If this does not fix the Calendar Freeze:

Try starting Outlook with the /safe command line switch. Go to the
calendar
folder to see if Outlook freezes.

If there is a freeze I would guess one of the following.

1) A reminder or free/busy information couldn't be cleared. Try starting
Outlook with the /cleanfreebusy and /cleanreminders command line switch
while no items are stored in the calendar folder

2) A corrupted view. Try starting Outlook 1 time with the /cleanviews
command line switch

If there is no freeze when starting with the /safe switch -- visit the
folder you moved the items to and see if Outlook freezes. If it does,
there
is still a corrupt item that Outlook can't deal with. If there is no
freeze, then I would guess that file outcmd.dat is corrupt. Rename this
file
and restart Outlook. Outlook will recreate a new outcmd.dat file on open.

Outside of that --- beware of Offline Storage (*.OST) files. You might
have
to create a new profile and temporarily disable Offline Storage while you
troubleshoot this issue.

Nikki


Have you tried resetting the view? If that did not work, have you run
scanpst.exe?

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
ALWAYS post your Outlook version.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, RMH asked:

| Hi. I have been using Outlook (2007) for some months very happily.
| Last week, when I tried to get calendar view up Outlook stops
| responding and I have to close. I can see my appointments for the
| next 7 days using personal folders view, and I can add a new
| appointment from the "mail" tab. I can also still syncronise my
| calendar with my blackberry. Has anyone else experienced this and
| does anyone have any suggestions? thanks in advance!