Generic Outlook Troubleshooting

This article will contain tips for troubleshooting common Microsoft Outlook Issues.

Please refer to the following URL for Outlook

troubleshooting: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook

Outlook Will Not Start

If no error: Launch Task Manager and check for multiple instances of OUTLOOK.EXE running. Kill the extra instances of the process.
If getting error “Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook”, this is usually due to Outlook not shutting down properly. Go to Start > Run and enter “outlook.exe /resetnavpane” and hit OK. Outlook should now start.
Run Outlook in Safe Mode: Go to Start > Run and enter “outlook.exe /safe” and hit OK. Once Outlook starts, disable any unnecessary Add-Ins that may be causing Start-Up issues.

Damaged PST File

Use the Outlook Inbox Repair Tool:

Exit Outlook if it is running.
Double-click Scanpst.exe, located atdrive:\Program Files\Microsoft Oﬃce\OFFICE12.
In the Enter the name of the file you want to scan box, enter the name of the .pst or .ost ﬁle that you want to check or click browse to search for the ﬁle.
To specify the scan log options, click Options, and then click the option that you want.
Click Start.
If errors are found after the scan is complete, you will be prompted to start the repair process to ﬁx the errors. A backup ﬁle is created during the repair process. To change the default name or location of this backup ﬁle, in the Enter name of the backup ﬁle box, enter a new name, orclick Browse to look for the ﬁle that you want to use.
Click Repair.
Start Outlook by using the proﬁle that contains the .pst ﬁle that you tried to repair.
On theGomenu, click Folder List.

In the Folder List, you may see a folder named Recovered Personal Folders that contains your default Outlook folders or a Lost and Found folder.
The recovered folders are usually empty, because this is a rebuilt .pst ﬁle.
The Lost and Found folder contains the folders and items recovered by the Inbox Repair tool.
Items that are missing from the Lost and Found folder cannot be repaired.

10. If you see a Recovered Personal Folders folder, you can create a new .pst ﬁle, and drag the items in the Lost and Foundfolder into the new .pst ﬁle. When you have ﬁnished moving all the items, you can remove the Recovered Personal Folders(.pst) ﬁle, including the Lost and Found folder, from your proﬁle.

Mail Client Error/Repair Outlook Installation

Go to Start > Regedit and navigate to the following

Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Microsoft Outlook

2. Delete Microsoft Outlook and close the Registry Editor

3. GoTo Start|ControlPanel|ProgramsandFeatures. Select the Oﬃce click "Change". At the last step click on "Repair" followed by clicking the "Continue" button

General Issue Troubleshooting

Run an Oﬃce Diagnostic:

On the Help menu, click Oﬃce Diagnostics
Click Continue, and then click Start Diagnostics

Outlook Crashes or Freezes

Most Outlook crashes or freezes can be attributed to an incompatible or damaged Add-In Follow these steps to Disable them

On theTools menu, click Trust Center, and then click Add-ins.
In the Add-ins box, identify the add-in that you want to enable or disable and note the Add-in type located in theType column.
Select the Add-in type in the Manage box and then click Go.
Select or clear the check box for the Add-in that you want enable or disable and then click OK.

Corrupt Outlook Proﬁle

Excessive crashes and the inability to launch Outlook can be due to a corrupt Outlook Proﬁle. NOTE: Take note of the location of the user's PST ﬁle location(s) and group mailboxes as you will need to re-add the user’s PST ﬁles and any group mailboxes they will need access to.

To create a new email proﬁle in Outlook 2010, Outlook 2007 and in Outlook 2003, follow these steps:

1. Click Start > Control Panel.

Open the Mail Setup dialog box:

For Windows 7:

If Control Panel is in either Large icons or Small icons view, click Mail. The Mail Setup dialog box appears.
If Control Panel is in Category view, under View by, click to select either Large icons or Small icons, and then click Mail. TheMail Setup dialog box appears.

For Windows Vista or Windows XP:

If Control Panel is in Classic View, double-click Mail. The Mail Setup dialog box appears.
If Control Panel is in Category View, under Control Panel, click Switch to Classic View for Windows XP, or clickClassic View for Windows Vista, and then double- click Mail. The Mail Setup dialog box appears.

In the Mail Setup dialog box, click Show Profiles.
On the General tab, under When starting Microsoft Office Outlook, use this profile, click Prompt for a profile to be used, and then click Add.
In the Profile Name box, type the name that you want to use for the new email proﬁle, and then clickOK.
In the E-mail Accounts dialog box, click Add a new e-mail account, and then click Next.
Click the appropriate server type for your new email account, and then click Next.
Type your account information in the required boxes, and then click Next.
Click Finish, and then click OK.

Email Attachments Are Being Received as Winmail.dat ﬁles

If Outlook sends a message using the RTF format (which is not very common outside Outlook) for bold text and other text enhancements, it includes the formatting commands in the winmail.dat ﬁle. Receiving email clients that do not understand the code therein display it as a stale attachment. To make matters worse, Outlook may also pack other, regular ﬁle attachments in the winmail.dat ﬁle.

To prevent Outlook from attaching winmail.dat when you send an email:

SelectTools | Options...from the menu.
Go to the Mail Format tab.
Under Compose in this message format:, make sure either HTML or Plain Text is selected.
Click Internet Format.
Make sure either Convert to Plain Text format or Convert to HTML format is selected under When sending Outlook Rich Text messages to Internet recipients, use this format:
Click OK. Click OK again.

Disable Winmail.dat Stubbornly Going to Particular Recipients No Matter the Default

Search for the desired contact in your OutlookContacts.
Double-click the contact's email address. Alternatively, click on the desired email address with the right mouse button and select Outlook Properties... from the menu.
Make sure either Let Outlook decide the best sending format or Send Plain Text only is selected under Internet format:.
Click OK