POP3 e-mail accounts problem..

[Guest]

hello, I have a problem that has stumped me! I'm running OLK2003 SP1, (as
part of OFF Pro; fully auto updated to date) and all was OK until early last
week.. it went wrong very quickly... and not of the back of any other
installation.

I have 6 POP3 email account configured and they all work on send / receive,
however:

1. When I click "New" and the New Mail Message window opens there are no
accounts visible on the "Accounts" drop down -just a small box! They've gone!

2. If to go "Tools" -> "E-Mail Accounts" -> "View or Change..." the
accounts are all there and I can "Test Account Settings", BUT, if I try to
change the default order I get a warning box saying "The specified account
does not exist. It might have been deleted". ???

3. If I go to the Send / Receive" group settings I cannot change or even
access the setting... I click "Edit" and nothing happens!.

4. If I do a reply to an already received e-mail it does not open with an
associated outbound e-mail account (like it normaly does) infact, see point
1!!

So, I have "working" mailboxes, I can get to my mail messages but I cannot
send any mail. At present I am forced into using webmail for sending messages
- quite a bind with 6 business accounts to be juggled all day each day!

Anyway, I have tried: detect and repair; full uninstall / reinstall; various
MAPI repairs; various regedits; deletion of, copying of, new making of
profiles.. infact everything that I can think of. I'm stumped!

Any ideas?

 

[BillR [MVP]]

Is an account functional with a new profile and new email account?

 

[Guest]

BillR,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, or well kinda, is the answer. I can set up a new
profile and add e-mail accounts, and these S/R OK. However, as soon as I
close Outlook and restart it all goes pear shapped again.

Anyway, I have been lucky enough to have been running this system setup for
well over 12months with no issues... but things is a slowin' down... I may
just do a completely clean format / re-install from XP up... this should
frustrate me less and , I hope solve this, and any other issues that may be
lurking.

I'd rather spend time going through this process than I'd spend it getting
frustrated with this particular issue.

Thanks again for the reply.

 

[BillR [MVP]]

wondering if you have any email antivirus integration? If you do then
disable it now or in your new installation. To be honest, Windows XP rarely
needs reinstalling.

 

[Guest]

Yep I agree - complete waste of a life on a basicaly stable system....could
not be bothered to do that... so:

1. Backed up .pst file, mail account settings and activation data file.

2. Uninstalled all MS Office products listed in "Uninstall Programs" list -
I had a few... Office 2000 Pro; Office XP Pro; standalone Outlook 2003; 2003
std (trial); 2003 Pro (retail UPG) and all add-ins - business contact
manager; SMS sender etc

3. Cleaned registry (not manualy!) and renamed / moved any residual office
directories / files. Reinstalled 2003 Pro on its own. Made new Outlook
profile, imported old .pst data, reconfigured e-mail accounts, re-activated
via net and viola! all working again.

Twas all very strange. Must have been something to do with all those
differing Office versions... All working very nicely now.

PS: I also tried changing AV software from NAV2005 to McAfee prior to this
thinking it may have been that... but both suites failed to have any impact
(other than on opening time for attachments) whether checking was enabled or
not. I am sticking with McAfee for the time being as it seems the system is
generaly more responsive.

Thanks again for your help.