OUTLOOK WILL NOT OPEN :(((

This is an internal Outlook problem. I am not an application programming
expert} but an expert user.

SITUATION:
Outlook settings are exported to a pct file on a disc other than C disc
(boot disc). Windows XP operating system is removed and reinstalled on the C
disc. Outlook is installed on the fresh C disc. Outlook happily restores the
backup pst file using the File/Import menu. Everything works fine. Outlook is
using the backup disc to run its Data Files.

PROBLEM:
1) I would prefer that Outlook did not run in the middle of my mission
critical backup disc. When Outlook saves a pst file to the default location
c:\documents and settings\user\local settings\application
data\miucrosoft\outlook
it ignores the corrected setting and continues to use the remote backup disc
to transact Data Files information. Even though a new pst file exists in the
default location.
2) Control Panel/Mail menu/Data Files (also works inside Outlook with
Tools/Options settings for Data Files) opens as expected. A new datasource is
created in the dafault location. Outlook responds by creating two (2)
Contacts lists and when an attempt is made to send any email the Contacts
list cannot be found. KB article is used to temporarily correct this
anomally. But Outlook mail delivery soon fails without any explanation.
Reinstalling the operating system and Office 2003, the pst must run from the
off-disc location. Clear secrity breach, but fine, I purchase a fourth backup
disc.
3) A fresh Windows XP/Office 2003 installation is done. Only now the drive
designation of the backup disc media is changed. Outlook quickly imports the
pst file from the backup disc in its new location (new drive letter
designation). Outlook is closed and fails to restart. A message is provided
that the system administrator [that's me!] should be contacted as I do not
have permission to open the settings file.
There are no registry values linking Outlook to the off-disc pst file. The
corrupting information is stored in (restored from) the pst file. The Control
Panel/Mail console will not let me remove or change the aberrant pst
location. Outlook will not start.

SOLUTION:
1) First, there is one immediate step that should be taken. Verify the
conditions reported above. I have reproduced this error cascade on several
occassions, but cannot attest to its permanence across various system
platforms.
2) Second, create a hotfix for the Outlook product that addresses this
serious internal security issue [LOSS OF DATA].

QUESTION:
Is four years of pst information lost, or has Microsoft recognized and
provided a solution to what is doubtlessly a quirk of the security built into
Outlook 2003? In terms of "robust" performance, this seriously downgrades
corporate use of Outlook to a 1 out of 10.

I eagerly await your assistance. Sorry the outlook on this issue is not any
brighter.

What happens if you make a new profile and import from the back up?
(Although we recommend just using a local copy of the backup copy as the
default delivery location:
http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/connect_pst.htm)


--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)

Outlook Tips: http://www.outlook-tips.net/
Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com
Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/


"Mark" wrote in message
...
This is an internal Outlook problem. I am not an application programming
expert} but an expert user.

SITUATION:
Outlook settings are exported to a pct file on a disc other than C disc
(boot disc). Windows XP operating system is removed and reinstalled on the
C
disc. Outlook is installed on the fresh C disc. Outlook happily restores
the
backup pst file using the File/Import menu. Everything works fine. Outlook
is
using the backup disc to run its Data Files.

PROBLEM:
1) I would prefer that Outlook did not run in the middle of my mission
critical backup disc. When Outlook saves a pst file to the default
location
c:\documents and settings\user\local settings\application
data\miucrosoft\outlook
it ignores the corrected setting and continues to use the remote backup
disc
to transact Data Files information. Even though a new pst file exists in
the
default location.
2) Control Panel/Mail menu/Data Files (also works inside Outlook with
Tools/Options settings for Data Files) opens as expected. A new datasource
is
created in the dafault location. Outlook responds by creating two (2)
Contacts lists and when an attempt is made to send any email the Contacts
list cannot be found. KB article is used to temporarily correct this
anomally. But Outlook mail delivery soon fails without any explanation.
Reinstalling the operating system and Office 2003, the pst must run from
the
off-disc location. Clear secrity breach, but fine, I purchase a fourth
backup
disc.
3) A fresh Windows XP/Office 2003 installation is done. Only now the drive
designation of the backup disc media is changed. Outlook quickly imports
the
pst file from the backup disc in its new location (new drive letter
designation). Outlook is closed and fails to restart. A message is
provided
that the system administrator [that's me!] should be contacted as I do not
have permission to open the settings file.
There are no registry values linking Outlook to the off-disc pst file. The
corrupting information is stored in (restored from) the pst file. The
Control
Panel/Mail console will not let me remove or change the aberrant pst
location. Outlook will not start.

SOLUTION:
1) First, there is one immediate step that should be taken. Verify the
conditions reported above. I have reproduced this error cascade on several
occassions, but cannot attest to its permanence across various system
platforms.
2) Second, create a hotfix for the Outlook product that addresses this
serious internal security issue [LOSS OF DATA].

QUESTION:
Is four years of pst information lost, or has Microsoft recognized and
provided a solution to what is doubtlessly a quirk of the security built
into
Outlook 2003? In terms of "robust" performance, this seriously downgrades
corporate use of Outlook to a 1 out of 10.

I eagerly await your assistance. Sorry the outlook on this issue is not
any
brighter.

Did you read my entire post, Dianne? Yes, importing the pst looking for a
physical drive that does not exist will stop Outlook from opening whatever
profile you use. Curiously, uninstalling the Office product, cleaning out the
registry entries, rebooting and reinstalling Office, the warning prompt still
appears. However, Outlook does not crash and using assorted Data File popups
you can point Outlook to any pst file in the default location. Only it only
seems to want to import the problem pst file. Sadly, you need to hassel with
a manual repair as outlined in KB article 319901 to knock out the extra
Contacts list. But HEY! At least now you can break the frozen link to the
"internally corrupted" pst file and appoint a new data source. Which we did.
Immediately. Another quarter hour down the drain. L¤L's

Let's hope this is corrected in Office 2006 or whenever!

Mark Stewart )ooo)

"Diane Poremsky [MVP]" wrote:

What happens if you make a new profile and import from the back up?
(Although we recommend just using a local copy of the backup copy as the
default delivery location:
http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/connect_pst.htm)


--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)

Outlook Tips: http://www.outlook-tips.net/
Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com
Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/


"Mark" wrote in message
...
This is an internal Outlook problem. I am not an application programming
expert} but an expert user.

SITUATION:
Outlook settings are exported to a pct file on a disc other than C disc
(boot disc). Windows XP operating system is removed and reinstalled on the
C
disc. Outlook is installed on the fresh C disc. Outlook happily restores
the
backup pst file using the File/Import menu. Everything works fine. Outlook
is
using the backup disc to run its Data Files.

PROBLEM:
1) I would prefer that Outlook did not run in the middle of my mission
critical backup disc. When Outlook saves a pst file to the default
location
c:\documents and settings\user\local settings\application
data\miucrosoft\outlook
it ignores the corrected setting and continues to use the remote backup
disc
to transact Data Files information. Even though a new pst file exists in
the
default location.
2) Control Panel/Mail menu/Data Files (also works inside Outlook with
Tools/Options settings for Data Files) opens as expected. A new datasource
is
created in the dafault location. Outlook responds by creating two (2)
Contacts lists and when an attempt is made to send any email the Contacts
list cannot be found. KB article is used to temporarily correct this
anomally. But Outlook mail delivery soon fails without any explanation.
Reinstalling the operating system and Office 2003, the pst must run from
the
off-disc location. Clear secrity breach, but fine, I purchase a fourth
backup
disc.
3) A fresh Windows XP/Office 2003 installation is done. Only now the drive
designation of the backup disc media is changed. Outlook quickly imports
the
pst file from the backup disc in its new location (new drive letter
designation). Outlook is closed and fails to restart. A message is
provided
that the system administrator [that's me!] should be contacted as I do not
have permission to open the settings file.
There are no registry values linking Outlook to the off-disc pst file. The
corrupting information is stored in (restored from) the pst file. The
Control
Panel/Mail console will not let me remove or change the aberrant pst
location. Outlook will not start.

SOLUTION:
1) First, there is one immediate step that should be taken. Verify the
conditions reported above. I have reproduced this error cascade on several
occassions, but cannot attest to its permanence across various system
platforms.
2) Second, create a hotfix for the Outlook product that addresses this
serious internal security issue [LOSS OF DATA].

QUESTION:
Is four years of pst information lost, or has Microsoft recognized and
provided a solution to what is doubtlessly a quirk of the security built
into
Outlook 2003? In terms of "robust" performance, this seriously downgrades
corporate use of Outlook to a 1 out of 10.

I eagerly await your assistance. Sorry the outlook on this issue is not
any
brighter.