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General discussion

Issue with Outlook 2002

Dec 1, 2005 1:44PM PST

Ok here goes...I'm going to try and explain this in the most detail possible...I'm going to try and give you guys a scenario of what I do when I get problems...

So I decide to get on my computer...I turn it on and log in (I have XP Professional). I log into my McAfee profile. Then I want to get into my outlook...I click it, it prompts me to choose my name (both me and my wife have our own email). So I do what I have to do on my email...I leave it open for a while.

Then my wife wants to check her email...she closes Outlook, waits a bit then re-opens it so she can check her email...She clicks on her name and then gets this error message

''Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. The file C:\Documents and Settings\Edgar & Jess\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\outlook2.pst is in use and cannot be accessed. Close any application that is using this file and try again.''

Not until I restart the computer can I get into the email again. Its pretty weird because sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't (works just fine between users).

I'm thinking I should re-install MS Office? Will I lose all the emails we have in our inboxes? HEEEELLLP! Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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An enduring bug.
Dec 1, 2005 10:15PM PST

Our Outlook 2000's at the office do something similar. If you look at the task manager, Outlook is still running but there is nothing on the taskbar. The workarounds are the reboot and the one we use is to endtask Outlook.

This bug survives to this day with no fix I can find. Since it's well known to us we just endtask it and move along.

Bob

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yeah I noticed it
Dec 1, 2005 10:32PM PST

in my task manager and I end the task, but when I click it again, I'm still unable to open outlook again, not until I re-start my PC does it work normally.

The thing that gets me is that it doesn't happen all the time...I had my email open for some hours last night, then it was closed and I re-opened it with no problems this morning. I've noticed when I switch users in my email, is when it starts acting up and gives me that error message.

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New info? ". I've noticed when I switch users in my email
Dec 1, 2005 11:02PM PST

Why was this not in your first post? Just asking.

But "switching users" is done by logging out of XP and back in on the other account. If you are using any other method, it is known to be buggy.

Let me be clear here. This issue was not resolved in Outlook 2000, 2002 and from what we've seen, still can happen in Outlook 2003. It seems to be something that Microsoft can't commit to fixing.

Bob

PS. There are other bugs like this one. Hint: the normal.dot issue in Microsoft Word.

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more clarification...
Dec 2, 2005 3:51AM PST

I thought I did mention when I would switch users...

Let me clarify...my wife and I both have the same user login for Windows XP...When I click on Outlook it pops a window asking which email to open, mine or my wife's. The problem happens when we try switching from one email to the other, all the time staying logged on to Windows...(the only way I know to switch emails is to close out outlook, wiat a minute for it to close out, then re-open it...sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't) Hope this helps clear things up?

-Edgar

My first thought would be to reinstall Office, but seems like that's not gonna work, or would it?

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That's buggy.
Dec 2, 2005 10:50AM PST

"my wife and I both have the same user login for Windows XP...When I click on Outlook it pops a window asking which email to open, mine or my wife's. The problem happens when"

Sorry, I've never seen this working 100% of the time.

You've found the weak spot. Consider using XP and Outlook in the way it really works...

Bob

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you mean...
Dec 3, 2005 4:05AM PST

"You've found the weak spot. Consider using XP and Outlook in the way it really works..."

You're reffering to having a seperate log in for each of us? Thus eliminating the need to choose when opening Outlook...I think I get it.

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Exactly.
Dec 3, 2005 4:24AM PST

I've seen Outlook do better with this configuration.

Bob

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That's what Bob means indeed.
Dec 3, 2005 4:26AM PST

You would still have separate emails, BUT you would also have separate desktops and separate My Documents/My Music etc. Of course, if you're both administrator, you can read and change each others files, but you can also decide to make common folders (like Our Documents) and use those for things you want to share, and each keep your own My Documents for things you don't want or need to share. If you make them 'private' (a Windows XP feature) you wife can't even see your documents, even if she's an administrator (unless she knows how to take the ownership of the folders or guesses your password).

You can also change things the other way around. Just share one email-box (in Outlook) with your wife (you still can have separate emailaddresses, all writing to the same Inbox), then make separate folders like Mail_mary and Mail_john and Mail_mary_and_john. No need to logon, but little privacy, because everything is wide open for both of you.

The best arrangement depends on what you want. Sharing things is nice, but there is no objection to some privacy, even in a happy marriage, I think (this is not a computer advice, just a amateur private opinion). You might like to consult Dr. Phil on the subject.

Hope this helps.


Kees

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Thanks for the feedback
Dec 6, 2005 6:20AM PST

Oh believe me we did this to just simplify things and not have multiple user names and more file clutter. I can really care less if she sees my stuff and I have no need/reason to try and keep track of my wife's activities. But seeing as how Outlook has this weak spot I'll split up the log'ins and do it like this.

Thanks for all the feedback guys, its appreciated.