Outlook opens Word

[DC]

When I open Outlook, a blank version of Word opens (no toolbars) and
when I get rid of this, Outlook opens but has no toolbars. You can
get the Outlook toolbars back by minimising and maximising the window.

Of course, if you stop Word being the Outlook editor, the problem goes
away. But I have used Outlook with Word as the editor for months
without a problem. It is unclear to me why this problem has arisen.
I reformatted my hdd and reloaded OS (XP Pro) and Office (XP) to get
rid of it. It worked for a while but the problem returned for no
apparent reason. When it returned there were no Office updates
installed so they were not the problem; they were not the solution
either because installing them didn't help. XP updates are installed
but there is no obvious timing link between this and the Outlook/Word
problem reoccurring.

The Word hijacking occurs whether you open Outlook from IE6 or
independently from the Start menu.

There must be a solution other than turning off Word as the Outlook
editor. Grateful to know if anyone knows what it is.

Thanks.

 

[DC]

Thanks for the replies, but I don't think turning off Word as the
editor is the whole answer.

(a) Outlook is designed to use Word as an editor and should be able to
do so without a problem
(b) Outlook has worked fine with Word as editor for me and others for
months without this problem
(c) Since this problem started, even when I stop Word being the
editor, Outlook opens with no toolbars. When I minimize and
re-maximise Outlook, the toolbars return, but when you open a message
the Reply/Reply All/Forward buttons don't work. The only way to get
the reply/reply all/forward buttons to operate is to right click on
the message in the main inbox screen and choose the relevant action.

I was wrong to describe the Word instance that opens as a blank
document. It isn't. It's a screen with a single bar across the top
with the word "Word" in the top left corner, and no buttons but
minimixe, maximize and close at the far right; below is completely
grey. In other words, it is not a blank document.

Lots of people seem to have this problem and there appears to be no
answer to it.

 

[DC]

The solution to this problem turned out to be video card software.
There is an article in the MS Knowledgebase about how ATI multi
monitor drivers cause this problem with Outlook. I use a Matrox P650
card and this also is multi monitor. It turned out that using the
Windows Certified driver for this card - and not the standard
published latest one - solved the problem for me.

 

[DC]

The solution to this problem turned out to be video card software.
There is an article in the MS Knowledgebase about how ATI multi
monitor drivers cause this problem with Outlook. I use a Matrox P650
card and this also is multi monitor. It turned out that using the
Windows Certified driver for this card - and not the standard
published latest one - solved the problem for me.