Outlook 2003 and computer "not responding"

[DJ Somers]

This week I have had MAJOR problems with Outlook 2003 and hope someone can
help me. When I try to "reply" to an email, my laptop freezes up and the only
thing that works is to completely turn off the computer. "alt-crtl-delete"
won't work to open up the Task Manager to end the program either. Sometimes
in the "Reply" message window I am able to type a couple of words before it
stops responding; other times as soon as the "reply" message opens it
freezes. Any ideas???? BTW, the laptop doesn't freeze up with other programs
- just Outlook. I'm using Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 2, if that
makes a difference. Thanks in advance!

 

[DL]

In the first instance run OL Detect/Repair, then
With OL closed locate and run scanpst.exe, the inbox repair tool. Run it
several times if it detects & repairs any errs.

 

[DJ Somers]

Thanks for this idea! Where do I find OL Detect/Repair? I looked on my Office
installation disk but did not see anything that looked like it there, looking
at file names. I searched for it on the OL 2003 site but it only referenced
2007 and how Detect/Repair had been changed to OL Diagnostics in 2007, with
nothing about D/R in 2003. Thanks!

 

[DL]

Either Open OL, Help>Detect/Repair
Or via Add/Remove dialogue, or insert your Office cd, it should run/open and
have a repair option

 

[DJ Somers]

DL, Thanks for your suggestions, and your patience!
I didn't get anywhere opening "Help" in OL.

In Add/Remove Software, under MS Office, I was afraid to click the "Change"
button, not knowing what it would do or where it would take me.

I found scanpst.exe on the Office CD. Got the message to put it in folder
for the file to be unzipped. Did this and when I clicked on the .exe file the
window popped up saying "Windows cannot open this file and needs to know what
program created it." When I chose the online option to find the program, I
got nowhere. I don't understand why the .exe file did not open.

Thanks once again!

 

[WZ]

Hello fellow frustrated Outlok 2003 users:

I too have been experiencing the "not responding" dilemma for the past two
weeks. However, I think I may have found the problem and possible fix. I
just uninstalled an automatic update from mid-December -- KB943649. It was
for Outlook 2003; purpose to better sync up Windows Live mail with Outlook.
Since uninstalling it this evening, I haven't had a "not responding"
incident. See if that works for you.

Happy New Year!

 

[DJ Somers]

Thanks for trying to help. I "Searched" for this file and couldn't find it on
my laptop. I then went to the Office Update site and checked to see if it had
been downloaded and it had not. I was SO hoping this was the root of my
problem. Maybe I SHOULD d/l it - it may correct my problem in the reverse of
yours! It can't make it any worse. Thanks!

 

[DL]

You have to expand / scroll down the Help menu Detect/Repair is toward the
bottom

Selecting change in Add/remove dialogue brings up options to
remove/repair/modify
It is the same options as if you used the office cd

Scanpst.exe should allready be located in C:\Program Files\Common
Files\System\MSMAPI\1033

 

[DJ Somers]

Thanks! I found D/R and ran it. I couldn't tell what it did or if it found
any problems but I tried to reply to 2 emails and they went through. Was the
1st time I'd been able to do this in at least 4 days, so MAYBE the problem is
resolved. Either way, I really appreciate your help and suggestions (and
instructions).

I'll check back in a couple of days to let you know if the "fix" really
worked! Happy New Year.

 

[DJ Somers]

Well, I guess it is an Office problem rather than an Outlook problem. I went
into MS Word to write an important paper and IT froze up on me. I did think
to "save", thank goodness, but in My Documents the blue "W" box for a Word
document is grayed out and the name of the document is saved in a different
format "~$re" instead of the word "Care". I noticed several other documents
are also like this. When I went back into today's doc, I got the message to
install a converter, which I did , but the preview of the doc showed all
kinds of gobbly-gook.

I think I'm to the point of not using Office or taking the laptop to a
computer shop, or buying another one ASAP.

Thanks to all for trying to help...

 

[DL]

Then run a repair of Office
Also check in Event Viewer for any err's