command line argument is not valid

[Guest]

I have one user that cannot run Outlook (2003). When double-clicking on the
shortcut icon or trying to run it directly from the executable, I get the
following message:

Cannot start Microsoft Office Outlook. The command line argument is not
valid. Verify the switch you are using.

However, there is no switch being use. AND, if I go to Start | Run, type in
"outlook" and hit Enter, Outlook runs fine. Help!

Christel Burris

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

Check the properties on the shortcut you're using to see if there's any sort
of command line setup in it.

 

[Guest]

There is nothing in the shortcut but the executable and its path.

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

Do you have more than one Outlook.EXE on your machine?

 

[Guest]

There's one for 2003 and one for 2002. I've tried both executables and they
both do the same thing.

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

Double clicking either causes the error but running Outlook.EXE from the
Start Menu > Run command works? What shows here in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App
Paths\OUTLOOK.EXE

 

[Guest]

default key = c:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\OUTLOOK.EXE
path key = c:\program files\microsoft office\OFFICE11\

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

If you create a fresh shortcut to that file, does it work at all?

 

[Guest]

Nope... doesn't work.

If you create a fresh shortcut to that file, does it work at all?

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

Very, very odd

If you enter the full path to the EXE in the Start Menu > Run dialog, what
happens?

 

[Guest]

Yes, it's very odd and it's driving me crazy.

If I enter the full path plus EXE in the Start | Run dialog box, I get the
error message.

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

Look for Outlook.* on your machine and see how many files get returned.
Since you're entering "Outlook" in the Run command it could be running a few
things that start with Outlook (different extensions).

 

[Guest]

I did that and it didn't come up with any red flags. Is there something you
think I should look for in particular?

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

Not sure but did anything other than Outlook.EXE (in the two locations you
mentioned earlier) show up?