problem opening Calendar, freezes Outlook

[tigrou]

I am having difficulties opening Calendar when in Outlook. Every time I click
on the corresponding icon, it freezes my computer and I end up closing the
program. have tried restart, close and start ... but I still cannot open
Calendar.

 

[Nikki Peterson]

This usually screams "Corrupted Recurring Meeting".

Here's what I used to do, there is probably something easier
out there but I haven't needed it for a while.

To detect the offending item:

1) Open the mailbox in Outlook
2) Create a New folder (Calendar Test)
3) Do an advanced find on the old calendar and sort events by recurrence.

To use ADVANCED FIND it is version specific:

(Outlook 2003 and below) - Press F3 (Outlook 2003 and below)

Outlook 2007) - Select the TOOLS menu
- Select INSTANT SEARCH
- Select ADVANCED FIND

- Change the Look For: text box to Appointments and Meetings
- Click on the Advanced tab
- Click Field
- Select All Appointment fields
- Select Recurring
- Condition: equals
- Value: Yes
- Click the Add to List button
- Click Find Now

Drop and drag from advanced find listed events one at a time to the new
calendar, when you get to the corrupt item it will give you an error
message. (delete this item)

Move all your calendar items from Calendar Test folder back to original
calendar (these are previously dragged over items).

If this does not fix the Calendar Freeze:

Try starting Outlook with the /safe command line switch. Go to the calendar
folder to see if Outlook freezes.

If there is a freeze I would guess one of the following.

1) A reminder or free/busy information couldn't be cleared. Try starting
Outlook with the /cleanfreebusy and /cleanreminders command line switch
while no items are stored in the calendar folder

2) A corrupted view. Try starting Outlook 1 time with the /cleanviews
command line switch

If there is no freeze when starting with the /safe switch -- visit the
folder you moved the items to and see if Outlook freezes. If it does, there
is still a corrupt item that Outlook can't deal with. If there is no
freeze, then I would guess that file outcmd.dat is corrupt. Rename this file
and restart Outlook. Outlook will recreate a new outcmd.dat file on open.

Outside of that --- beware of Offline Storage (*.OST) files. You might have
to create a new profile and temporarily disable Offline Storage while you
troubleshoot this issue.

Nikki

I am having difficulties opening Calendar when in Outlook. Every time I
click
on the corresponding icon, it freezes my computer and I end up closing the
program. have tried restart, close and start ... but I still cannot open
Calendar.