Problems with Outlook starting continued....

[John C]

Thanks Robert,

I'm not too familiar with newsgroup etiquette and realise I should have
replied to the group!

I do not have Outcmd.dat on machine. Folder Options are already configured
that way, and have done a further search of C drive just now.
The only files in folder C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook are -Outlook.NK2
-Outlook.srs
-Outlook.xml
-Outlprint [no extension this file]
Any suggestions from here, or is it the nuclear option? Thanks again.
John Crayton

 

[DL]

outcmd.dat should be within the folder you show.
As I assume this is a start up problem, I not being able to follow the
thread, as youve started a new one.
Have you tried a repair, using the Office/Outlook installation cd?

 

[John C]

Thank you DL

Yes I have tried that. And a reinstall of Office 2003+SP1. And a
SCANPST.EXE of pst file. With no luck whatever. The remainder of the
thread is below if you sort by 'From' you will get an idea of where I have
been. I think that there are three post icluding this one. The nuclear
option is - get the pst file on to CD, reinstall WinXP+SP1, lose much data
along the way

I am at a loss to know what has caused this. Machine is otherwise stable,
and I tend to refrain from playing around with kit that is working half
decently.

Any other ideas, please?

Thanks.

John Crayton

outcmd.dat should be within the folder you show.
As I assume this is a start up problem, I not being able to follow the
thread, as youve started a new one.
Have you tried a repair, using the Office/Outlook installation cd?

Thanks Robert,

I'm not too familiar with newsgroup etiquette and realise I should have
replied to the group!

I do not have Outcmd.dat on machine. Folder Options are already configured
that way, and have done a further search of C drive just now.
The only files in folder C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook are -Outlook.NK2
-Outlook.srs
-Outlook.xml
-Outlprint [no extension this file]
Any suggestions from here, or is it the nuclear option? Thanks again.
John Crayton

 

[DL]

A bit of a puzzle, often with OL startup probs you delete/rename this file
and it is reinstated when OL is started. -outcmd.dat file, its the tool bars
file.
A forelorne hope, you searched yr sys for outcmd.dat file?
One wonders is there any virus?

Thank you DL

Yes I have tried that. And a reinstall of Office 2003+SP1. And a
SCANPST.EXE of pst file. With no luck whatever. The remainder of the
thread is below if you sort by 'From' you will get an idea of where I have
been. I think that there are three post icluding this one. The nuclear
option is - get the pst file on to CD, reinstall WinXP+SP1, lose much data
along the way

I am at a loss to know what has caused this. Machine is otherwise stable,
and I tend to refrain from playing around with kit that is working half
decently.

Any other ideas, please?

Thanks.

John Crayton

outcmd.dat should be within the folder you show.
As I assume this is a start up problem, I not being able to follow the
thread, as youve started a new one.
Have you tried a repair, using the Office/Outlook installation cd?

Thanks Robert,

I'm not too familiar with newsgroup etiquette and realise I should have
replied to the group!

I do not have Outcmd.dat on machine. Folder Options are already configured
that way, and have done a further search of C drive just now.
The only files in folder C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook are -Outlook.NK2
-Outlook.srs
-Outlook.xml
-Outlprint [no extension this file]
Any suggestions from here, or is it the nuclear option? Thanks again.
John Crayton

 

[John C]

Yes, whole sys, 350GB of files, folders, data. Grrrr. There IS one
outcmd.dat, with a June date on it, on another drive - I got a new HDD in
the summer - I don't want to make the prob any worse, but I have a thought
in my mind that it must be a "valid" one, could I maybe rename it to change
its date, then plant it in the right folder? I've even been scratching
around in the cab files on the install disk to try and conjure up a
solution

It's pretty late at night - I'm in the UK - I think I'll sleep on it. If
you have any more thoughts I would be most grateful. Virus protection is up
to date, and I have done a scan of the system that turned up nothing at all,
so don't think the prob is in that area.

I'll come back to this when it does get solved, but all thoughts welcome.

Thanks for all your help.

John Crayton

A bit of a puzzle, often with OL startup probs you delete/rename this file
and it is reinstated when OL is started. -outcmd.dat file, its the tool bars
file.
A forelorne hope, you searched yr sys for outcmd.dat file?
One wonders is there any virus?

Thank you DL

Yes I have tried that. And a reinstall of Office 2003+SP1. And a
SCANPST.EXE of pst file. With no luck whatever. The remainder of the
thread is below if you sort by 'From' you will get an idea of where I have
been. I think that there are three post icluding this one. The nuclear
option is - get the pst file on to CD, reinstall WinXP+SP1, lose much data
along the way

I am at a loss to know what has caused this. Machine is otherwise stable,
and I tend to refrain from playing around with kit that is working half
decently.

Any other ideas, please?

Thanks.

John Crayton

outcmd.dat should be within the folder you show.
As I assume this is a start up problem, I not being able to follow the
thread, as youve started a new one.
Have you tried a repair, using the Office/Outlook installation cd?

Thanks Robert,

I'm not too familiar with newsgroup etiquette and realise I should have
replied to the group!

I do not have Outcmd.dat on machine. Folder Options are already
configured
that way, and have done a further search of C drive just now.
The only files in folder C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook are -Outlook.NK2
-Outlook.srs
-Outlook.xml
-Outlprint [no extension this file]
Any suggestions from here, or is it the nuclear option? Thanks again.
John Crayton

 

[DL]

Since outcmd.dat is an intregal part of OL whats it doing on another drive,
and in what folder?
Are there any other files pertaining to OL in this folder?
I guess its allways possible that another app has a file so named, but it
all looks a bit 'sus'
The outcmd.dat file is the toolbars settings file, so it would be either
dated as the installation date or later if you modified yr toolbars.
That however is probably not the problem since if this file becomes corrupt,
preventing OL from starting, you simply rename it eg outcmd.old and then
restart OL. The file is recreated, you just lose any custom tool bar
settings.
Before going nuclear I would suggest MS Email support, accessed via support
pages, I have found them quite quick and helpfull.

Yes, whole sys, 350GB of files, folders, data. Grrrr. There IS one
outcmd.dat, with a June date on it, on another drive - I got a new HDD in
the summer - I don't want to make the prob any worse, but I have a thought
in my mind that it must be a "valid" one, could I maybe rename it to change
its date, then plant it in the right folder? I've even been scratching
around in the cab files on the install disk to try and conjure up a
solution

It's pretty late at night - I'm in the UK - I think I'll sleep on it. If
you have any more thoughts I would be most grateful. Virus protection is up
to date, and I have done a scan of the system that turned up nothing at all,
so don't think the prob is in that area.

I'll come back to this when it does get solved, but all thoughts welcome.

Thanks for all your help.

John Crayton

A bit of a puzzle, often with OL startup probs you delete/rename this file
and it is reinstated when OL is started. -outcmd.dat file, its the tool bars
file.
A forelorne hope, you searched yr sys for outcmd.dat file?
One wonders is there any virus?

Thank you DL

Yes I have tried that. And a reinstall of Office 2003+SP1. And a
SCANPST.EXE of pst file. With no luck whatever. The remainder of the
thread is below if you sort by 'From' you will get an idea of where I have
been. I think that there are three post icluding this one. The nuclear
option is - get the pst file on to CD, reinstall WinXP+SP1, lose much data
along the way

I am at a loss to know what has caused this. Machine is otherwise stable,
and I tend to refrain from playing around with kit that is working half
decently.

Any other ideas, please?

Thanks.

John Crayton
outcmd.dat should be within the folder you show.
As I assume this is a start up problem, I not being able to follow the
thread, as youve started a new one.
Have you tried a repair, using the Office/Outlook installation cd?

Thanks Robert,

I'm not too familiar with newsgroup etiquette and realise I should have
replied to the group!

I do not have Outcmd.dat on machine. Folder Options are already
configured
that way, and have done a further search of C drive just now.
The only files in folder C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook are -Outlook.NK2
-Outlook.srs
-Outlook.xml
-Outlprint [no extension this file]
Any suggestions from here, or is it the nuclear option? Thanks again.
John Crayton

 

[John C]

I think it's there because I reinstalled Office on the new HDD. I did not
reformat the drive it was on previously. Bit sloppy of me maybe?

It's in folder "G:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook" along with same 4 files as below.

I think I'll try copying and renaming it...

Meanwhile, I have been prowling the Windows Registry for clues. I searched
for "outlook.exe" and came across at least a dozen entries that look like
this sample - this is at
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{0006F023-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\LocalServer32

The entry is ']gAVn-}f(ZXfeAR6.jiOUTLOOKFiles>ir@X7cr$%@u$}&V7{4p'

I don't understand the Registry at all and only modify it carefully under
direction, but that looks like junk to me, and I don't recall ever seeing an
entry even vaguely similar.

I have left it where it is for now but there are quite a few similar
entries - I've only quoted the first one.
I'll be up ay 0300 at this rate

John Crayton

Since outcmd.dat is an intregal part of OL whats it doing on another drive,
and in what folder?
Are there any other files pertaining to OL in this folder?
I guess its allways possible that another app has a file so named, but it
all looks a bit 'sus'
The outcmd.dat file is the toolbars settings file, so it would be either
dated as the installation date or later if you modified yr toolbars.
That however is probably not the problem since if this file becomes corrupt,
preventing OL from starting, you simply rename it eg outcmd.old and then
restart OL. The file is recreated, you just lose any custom tool bar
settings.
Before going nuclear I would suggest MS Email support, accessed via support
pages, I have found them quite quick and helpfull.

Yes, whole sys, 350GB of files, folders, data. Grrrr. There IS one
outcmd.dat, with a June date on it, on another drive - I got a new HDD in
the summer - I don't want to make the prob any worse, but I have a thought
in my mind that it must be a "valid" one, could I maybe rename it to change
its date, then plant it in the right folder? I've even been scratching
around in the cab files on the install disk to try and conjure up a
solution

It's pretty late at night - I'm in the UK - I think I'll sleep on it. If
you have any more thoughts I would be most grateful. Virus protection

is

up
to date, and I have done a scan of the system that turned up nothing at all,
so don't think the prob is in that area.

I'll come back to this when it does get solved, but all thoughts welcome.

Thanks for all your help.

John Crayton

A bit of a puzzle, often with OL startup probs you delete/rename this file
and it is reinstated when OL is started. -outcmd.dat file, its the

tool
bars

file.
A forelorne hope, you searched yr sys for outcmd.dat file?
One wonders is there any virus?

Thank you DL

Yes I have tried that. And a reinstall of Office 2003+SP1. And a
SCANPST.EXE of pst file. With no luck whatever. The remainder of the
thread is below if you sort by 'From' you will get an idea of where

I
have

been. I think that there are three post icluding this one. The nuclear
option is - get the pst file on to CD, reinstall WinXP+SP1, lose

much
data

along the way

I am at a loss to know what has caused this. Machine is otherwise stable,
and I tend to refrain from playing around with kit that is working half
decently.

Any other ideas, please?

Thanks.

John Crayton
outcmd.dat should be within the folder you show.
As I assume this is a start up problem, I not being able to follow the
thread, as youve started a new one.
Have you tried a repair, using the Office/Outlook installation cd?

Thanks Robert,

I'm not too familiar with newsgroup etiquette and realise I should
have
replied to the group!

I do not have Outcmd.dat on machine. Folder Options are already
configured
that way, and have done a further search of C drive just now.
The only files in folder C:\Documents and
Settings\user_name\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook are -Outlook.NK2
-Outlook.srs
-Outlook.xml
-Outlprint [no extension this file]
Any suggestions from here, or is it the nuclear option? Thanks again.
John Crayton

 

[DL]

Do I take it you installed win* to a different drive? eg G:

You should find renaming will cure the problem.
Personally I generally leave the registry alone. I've only felt the need to
delve on a couple of occasions when I needed to manually delete and remove
all references to an app. install

I think it's there because I reinstalled Office on the new HDD. I did not
reformat the drive it was on previously. Bit sloppy of me maybe?

It's in folder "G:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook" along with same 4 files as below.

I think I'll try copying and renaming it...

Meanwhile, I have been prowling the Windows Registry for clues. I searched
for "outlook.exe" and came across at least a dozen entries that look like
this sample - this is at
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{0006F023-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\LocalServer32

The entry is ']gAVn-}f(ZXfeAR6.jiOUTLOOKFiles>ir@X7cr$%@u$}&V7{4p'

I don't understand the Registry at all and only modify it carefully under
direction, but that looks like junk to me, and I don't recall ever seeing an
entry even vaguely similar.

I have left it where it is for now but there are quite a few similar
entries - I've only quoted the first one.
I'll be up ay 0300 at this rate

John Crayton

Since outcmd.dat is an intregal part of OL whats it doing on another drive,
and in what folder?
Are there any other files pertaining to OL in this folder?
I guess its allways possible that another app has a file so named, but it
all looks a bit 'sus'
The outcmd.dat file is the toolbars settings file, so it would be either
dated as the installation date or later if you modified yr toolbars.
That however is probably not the problem since if this file becomes corrupt,
preventing OL from starting, you simply rename it eg outcmd.old and then
restart OL. The file is recreated, you just lose any custom tool bar
settings.
Before going nuclear I would suggest MS Email support, accessed via support
pages, I have found them quite quick and helpfull.

is at
all, this
file

where

I

have
been. I think that there are three post icluding this one. The nuclear
option is - get the pst file on to CD, reinstall WinXP+SP1, lose much
data
along the way

I am at a loss to know what has caused this. Machine is otherwise
stable,
and I tend to refrain from playing around with kit that is working half
decently.

Any other ideas, please?

Thanks.

John Crayton
outcmd.dat should be within the folder you show.
As I assume this is a start up problem, I not being able to

follow
the

thread, as youve started a new one.
Have you tried a repair, using the Office/Outlook installation cd?

Thanks Robert,

I'm not too familiar with newsgroup etiquette and realise I should
have
replied to the group!

I do not have Outcmd.dat on machine. Folder Options are already
configured
that way, and have done a further search of C drive just now.
The only files in folder C:\Documents and
Settings\user_name\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook are -Outlook.NK2
-Outlook.srs
-Outlook.xml
-Outlprint [no extension this file]
Any suggestions from here, or is it the nuclear option? Thanks
again.
John Crayton

 

[Brian Tillman]

Yes, whole sys, 350GB of files, folders, data. Grrrr. There IS one
outcmd.dat, with a June date on it, on another drive - I got a new
HDD in the summer - I don't want to make the prob any worse, but I
have a thought in my mind that it must be a "valid" one, could I
maybe rename it to change its date, then plant it in the right
folder? I've even been scratching around in the cab files on the
install disk to try and conjure up a solution

The only place Outlook will look for the outcmd.dat file is
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Outlook. You could certainly try placing that file in
the proper folder, but I don't know what good that will do, since Outlook
should recreate it if it isn't there in the first place. If it simply won't
appear, try creating a new mail profile.

 

[John C]

Yes Win* was previously installed on G. Renaming has not cured it, nor has
uninstalling Office2003+SP1 followed by reinstalling Office2003 without SP1.
I also bashed the Registry into insensibility prior to the reinstall...

What is REALLY peculiar is that, just before the tile appears I SEEM to have
a working app and can click between folders as if app was fine. I stop
clicking, or go to Send/Receive, and up comes the tile, freezing the app.
Maximum grrrr.

I think that it's the nuclear option for me. Things were fine until this
ocurred - out of nowhere

Do I take it you installed win* to a different drive? eg G:

You should find renaming will cure the problem.
Personally I generally leave the registry alone. I've only felt the need to
delve on a couple of occasions when I needed to manually delete and remove
all references to an app. install

I think it's there because I reinstalled Office on the new HDD. I did not
reformat the drive it was on previously. Bit sloppy of me maybe?

It's in folder "G:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook" along with same 4 files as below.

I think I'll try copying and renaming it...

Meanwhile, I have been prowling the Windows Registry for clues. I searched
for "outlook.exe" and came across at least a dozen entries that look like
this sample - this is at

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{0006F023-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\LocalServer32

The entry is ']gAVn-}f(ZXfeAR6.jiOUTLOOKFiles>ir@X7cr$%@u$}&V7{4p'

I don't understand the Registry at all and only modify it carefully under
direction, but that looks like junk to me, and I don't recall ever

seeing

an
entry even vaguely similar.

I have left it where it is for now but there are quite a few similar
entries - I've only quoted the first one.
I'll be up ay 0300 at this rate

John Crayton

Since outcmd.dat is an intregal part of OL whats it doing on another drive,
and in what folder?
Are there any other files pertaining to OL in this folder?
I guess its allways possible that another app has a file so named, but it
all looks a bit 'sus'
The outcmd.dat file is the toolbars settings file, so it would be either
dated as the installation date or later if you modified yr toolbars.
That however is probably not the problem since if this file becomes corrupt,
preventing OL from starting, you simply rename it eg outcmd.old and then
restart OL. The file is recreated, you just lose any custom tool bar
settings.
Before going nuclear I would suggest MS Email support, accessed via support
pages, I have found them quite quick and helpfull.

Yes, whole sys, 350GB of files, folders, data. Grrrr. There IS one
outcmd.dat, with a June date on it, on another drive - I got a new

HDD
in

the summer - I don't want to make the prob any worse, but I have a thought
in my mind that it must be a "valid" one, could I maybe rename it to
change
its date, then plant it in the right folder? I've even been scratching
around in the cab files on the install disk to try and conjure up a
solution

It's pretty late at night - I'm in the UK - I think I'll sleep on

it.
If

you have any more thoughts I would be most grateful. Virus

protection
is

up
to date, and I have done a scan of the system that turned up nothing at
all,
so don't think the prob is in that area.

I'll come back to this when it does get solved, but all thoughts welcome.

Thanks for all your help.

John Crayton
A bit of a puzzle, often with OL startup probs you delete/rename this
file
and it is reinstated when OL is started. -outcmd.dat file, its the tool
bars
file.
A forelorne hope, you searched yr sys for outcmd.dat file?
One wonders is there any virus?

Thank you DL

Yes I have tried that. And a reinstall of Office 2003+SP1. And a
SCANPST.EXE of pst file. With no luck whatever. The remainder

of
the

thread is below if you sort by 'From' you will get an idea of

where

I
have
been. I think that there are three post icluding this one. The
nuclear
option is - get the pst file on to CD, reinstall WinXP+SP1, lose much
data
along the way

I am at a loss to know what has caused this. Machine is otherwise
stable,
and I tend to refrain from playing around with kit that is working
half
decently.

Any other ideas, please?

Thanks.

John Crayton
outcmd.dat should be within the folder you show.
As I assume this is a start up problem, I not being able to follow
the
thread, as youve started a new one.
Have you tried a repair, using the Office/Outlook installation cd?

Thanks Robert,

I'm not too familiar with newsgroup etiquette and realise I should
have
replied to the group!

I do not have Outcmd.dat on machine. Folder Options are already
configured
that way, and have done a further search of C drive just now.
The only files in folder C:\Documents and
Settings\user_name\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook are -Outlook.NK2
-Outlook.srs
-Outlook.xml
-Outlprint [no extension this file]
Any suggestions from here, or is it the nuclear option? Thanks
again.
John Crayton

 

[John C]

OK, I finally have a little progress. Outlook will now start in Safe
Mode....
I am not sure how that limits it's functionality, but it's progress of a
sort.

I have installed a system upgrade from WinXP Pro with SP1, to WinXP Pro with
SP2. I have just seen your post Brian, thanks. Creating a new mail profile
has now been tried, with exactly the same results; to reiterate, I have
fully uninstalled Office 2003 with SP1, reinstalled Office 2003 and got SP1
from the MS Office Update site. Prior to the system upgrade I had hacked
the Windows Registry to its knees out of sheer frustration.

I have tried the alluring "Detect and Repair" without success

Due to my lack of knowledge, what do the "%" actually represent in your
suggestion, please?
These are the pleas of a desperate man, as you can detect, no doubt

TIA for anything else you can suggest,

John Crayton

 

[John C]

OK, I finally have a little progress. Outlook will now start in Safe
Mode....
I am not sure how that limits it's functionality, but it's progress of a
sort.

I have installed a system upgrade from WinXP Pro with SP1, to WinXP Pro
with SP2. I have just seen your post Brian, thanks. Creating a new mail
profile has now been tried, with exactly the same results; to reiterate, I
have fully uninstalled Office 2003 with SP1, reinstalled Office 2003 and
got SP1 from the MS Office Update site. Prior to the system upgrade I had
hacked the Windows Registry to its knees out of sheer frustration.

I have tried the alluring "Detect and Repair" without success

Due to my lack of knowledge, what do the "%" actually represent in your
suggestion, please?
These are the pleas of a desperate man, as you can detect, no doubt

TIA for anything else you can suggest,

John Crayton

 

[Brian Tillman]

Due to my lack of knowledge, what do the "%" actually represent in
your suggestion, please?

Windows maintains several environment variables. Environment variables have
existed since DOS V3 (or maybe before) days. If you ever has a DOS or
Windows 3.1 through Windows 98 system, you might recall the SET PATH
command in AUTOEXEC.BAT. To reference an envoronment variable, you surround
it with percents. So, to reference the PATH variable, you specified %PATH%.
In my example, %APPDATA% references X:\Documents and
Settings\{user}\Application Data, where "X" is the drive on which the
current Windows instance is installed and "{user}" is the current username
logged into Windows. Windows itself initializes the APPDATA variable, aong
with ProgramFiles, WinDir, OS, SystemRoot, SystemDrive, Path, and others.
Open a command line window and enter SET, followed by <Enter> and you'll see
all of the current environment variables.