outlook 2003 / exchange 5.5/ not closing

[RS]

I cannot figure out why Outlook 2003 will not close. It is staying in the
taskbar as an icon. That would be fine except that I cannot reopen it via
the icon. It gives the usual error "Outlook is not responding. If you are
using an exchange server e-mail account, you can cancel pending server
requests by clicking the Outlook icon in the notifications area, and then
clicking cancel server request on the shortcut menu."

I could understand if something was keeping it open, of which I cannot
find...I've heard that solution.

However, it doesn't matter as to open Outlook I have to go to task manager,
kill the process, and then reopen. I would have no problem with it staying
open if it would open upon request.

I am staying connected via network to the Exchange server, so it isn't an
issue of losing the connection.

I was hoping to roll out to our company, but can't do it this way.

Thanks for any suggestions. All are welcome.

Ryan

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

Sounds like you have a 3rd party application installed that is keeping
Outlook resident in memory. Some of the apps that I am aware of that cause
this is WinFax, ActiveSync, Antivirus (e.g. Norton), and using Word as your
e-mail editor (Word is still open when Outlook closes). So what do you have
installed that uses, syncs, or protects Outlook data?

 

[RS]

That info doesn't really help me much. Why can't I just reopen it if it is
staying in memory? I figured there was some random program keeping it
alive....MS can't do everything right.

 

[Andy David - Exchange MVP]

Do you have any Outlook add-ons installed?
(Lookout, Anti-spam etc...)

 

[RS]

I think we're still not on the same page. What I have running on my
computer cannot be changed (except outlook). So, whatever is keeping it
open is a necessary program (maybe NAV...that's all it really could be, but
it doesn't scan mail).

Either way, if Outlook is "staying open", why can't I reopen it?..I just get
the error. That would be a solution I could deal with. But it won't
happen.

 

[Ben Winzenz [Exchange MVP]]

Have you tested this on other computers as well, or just your computer?
Regardless of whether you think the programs are "necessary", what are they?
It could be a known issue, but unless we know what programs are installed
(and versions), it's a bit hard to tell.

As far as your assumption that you should be able to re-open Outlook - that
kind of depends on the state of the process. It would appear from your
posts that Outlook.exe is in a hung state (not responding), so not being
able to re-open Outlook doesn't sound unusual to me. Have you tried
uninstalling Office completely, then reinstalling Office, or have you even
tried simply reinstalling, or repairing Office? What about Office Service
Packs and patches? SP1 for Office 2003 is out - is it applied?

Think of it this way. If one of your users came up to you and said "My
Outlook isn't closing. It stays in the taskbar as an icon and I can't
re-open it" - what would your response be? Would that be enough information
for you to begin troubleshooting, or do you think you would need additional
information? This obviously isn't a common issue - if it was, no one would
be buying Office. So, in that respect, tell us what is unique about your
configuration.

 

[Carol Chisholm]

I have seem this when the same mailbox is opened by Outlook 2000 and
Outlook 2003 (say on different computers). They seem to interfere with
each other.
I have found no solution apart from Task manager and End Process.

 

[Ken Slovak]

Outlook 2003 SP1 and the latest Exchange 5.5 hot fixes prevents the problem
from happening. To fix the problem after it occurs start Outlook with the
/resetfolders switch.

The problem is due to an extra field in free/busy information added in
Outlook 2003 that makes Outlook 2000 nuts. Then Outlook 2000 can only close
from the task manager. However, with the latest fixes I can now open my EX
5.5 mailboxes on both Outlook 2000 and 2003 at the same time and not have
any problems with Outlook 2000.