Outlook XP won't start for 1 user on a 5 user system

[Olivia_D]

I'm running WinXP Sp1a with Office XP. There are 5 user accounts. 4 of the 5 can access Outlook with no problems other than an intermittent C++ error, which never happens twice in a row, so we just restart and all is well.

The 5th user cannot get Outlook to start. The splash screen comes up, then the main window behind it, followed by an everlasting hourglass. It has tried to start in safe mode with the same result. It has asked if I want to do a detect and repair, with no change. I have used Add/Remove Programs to repair Office, with no luck.

Looking through the posts here, I tried scanpst.exe, with no luck, then renamed outcmd.dat, again with no luck.

What else should I be doing?

Thanks,

Britt Dickson

 

[Chuck Davis]

I'm running WinXP Sp1a with Office XP. There are 5 user accounts. 4 of the
5 can access Outlook with no problems other than an intermittent C++
error, which never happens twice in a row, so we just restart and all is
well.

The 5th user cannot get Outlook to start. The splash screen comes up, then
the main window behind it, followed by an everlasting hourglass. It has
tried to start in safe mode with the same result. It has asked if I want
to do a detect and repair, with no change. I have used Add/Remove Programs
to repair Office, with no luck.

Looking through the posts here, I tried scanpst.exe, with no luck, then
renamed outcmd.dat, again with no luck.

What else should I be doing?

Thanks,

Britt Dickson

At a minimun, install Windows XP's SP2.

 

[Nocturnal]

I concur and do you also update the Office Suite?

At a minimun, install Windows XP's SP2.

 

[Brian Tillman]

The 5th user cannot get Outlook to start. The splash screen comes up,
then the main window behind it, followed by an everlasting hourglass.
It has tried to start in safe mode with the same result. It has asked
if I want to do a detect and repair, with no change. I have used
Add/Remove Programs to repair Office, with no luck.

Try starting with a new mail profile for that user.

 

[Olivia_D]

Brian,

I can't tell from the knowledge base if I'll be able to import the folders and mail
from the old profile to the new one. Can you tell me how to do that before I get started?

Chuck: Thanks for the advice, but I'm holding off on SP2 for a while longer.

Nocturnal: yes, I've kept Office current through Office Update.

Thanks for your replies,

Britt Dickson (for Olivia)

The 5th user cannot get Outlook to start. [snipped]

Try starting with a new mail profile for that user.
--
Brian Tillman

 

[Brian Tillman]

I can't tell from the knowledge base if I'll be able to import the
folders and mail
from the old profile to the new one. Can you tell me how to do that
before I get started?

You don't import anything. When you create the new profile there'll be a
"Data Files" button. You click that and point the new profile at the
currently existing PST(s).

 

[Olivia_D]

The problem now is that when I create a profile the data file location is automatically selected,
so I renamed the actual .pst to the selected one.

Unfortunately, the symptoms are the same: Outlook never finishes starting.

BD

 

[Brian Tillman]

OK, I followed the KB instructions and created a new profile.
HOWEVER, it was still attached to
the old outlook.pst. I used Data Files but it wouldn't let me change
the old one;

If it's already attached to the old one, isn't that what you want? It's
what I suggested.

only add a new one.

Isn't adding a new one "changing" the old one? My understanding of your
post was that you did NOT want to lose the old data.

I then added the correct location,
and tried to delete the old one. It says I can't delete the default
unless I use Tools / Email accounts, which I can't, as Outlook is
still not starting.

If you want to add a new PST and make it the default, you can use the Mail
applet in Control Panel. Open it and click Show Profiles. Select your
profile and click Properties. Use Data Files>Add to add a new PST and use
E-mail Accounts>Next to change your delivery location after adding a new
PST.

Should I go in and delete the .pst file it's trying to use?

No! That will corrupt your new mail profile. Change your default as above,
if that's what you want to do.

 

[Brian Tillman]

The problem now is that when I create a profile the data file
location is automatically selected,
so I renamed the actual .pst to the selected one.

And by doing go, you've probably corrupted your new mail profile.

 

[Olivia_D]

This info is out of date. See my previous post.

And thanks very much for bearing with me on this.

BD

 

[Brian Tillman]

Followed your advice EXACTLY and Outlook is fixed. All old mail was
retained.

That's wonderful.