"message view" control broken -- can't view any messages in Outloo

[mlevin]

I'm not sure what happened, but I am now unable to view any messages in
Outlook. I'm on XP (SP2) with Outlook 2003 (SP3). Everything was fine until
yesterday, and I swear I didn't install anything new!

In the preview pane, some messages (external/SMTP messages, I think) say
"can't display in reading pane" or something like that and prompt me to open
them in their own window, but when I try that, it says "can't open item."
Other messages (internal/Exchange messages, I think) simply show the headers
but an empty/blank message area in the preview pane, and when I open those, I
also get a blank message area in the full window. But the message area isn't
just "blank" -- it simply doesn't show -- sometimes it shows what was
previously in the background or sometimes is just gray. It's simply not
rendering.

IMAP and OWA work fine, so it is definitely a local problem.

I'm thinking that the message view control, or whatever it is, is really
broken deep within Windows. I'm looking for some help on how to fix this
short of reinstalling XP. I've tried re-registering DLLs, etc. Is it
something in the registry?

The problem has survived the following attempts:

* Several reboots.
* Clearing/deleting the forms cache.
* Removing the local .ost file (I use Exchange in cached mode) and letting
Outlook re-download from the server.
* Removing and re-creating the Outlook account/profile.
* Uninstalling and reinstalling Outlook 2003.
* Upgrading to Outlook 2007.

I'm out of ideas. Any suggestions? I'm stumped. And I really don't want to
reinstall Windows.

Thanks!

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Does it work in Outlook Safe Mode?
Start-> Run; outlook.exe /safe

To determine the scope of the issue;
As you are on Exchange, does it work when you access your mailbox from a
different computer?
Does it work for other users when they logon to the affected computer?

 

[mlevin]

Yes, my mailbox is fine when I use a different computer (or even a
different client -- as I mentioned, I can use OWA or an IMAP client no
problem even from the affected computer). Haven't had someone else try
to log in from my computer, but I will do so.

- m

Does it work in Outlook Safe Mode?
Start-> Run; outlook.exe /safe

To determine the scope of the issue;
As you are on Exchange, does it work when you access your mailbox from a
different computer?
Does it work for other users when they logon to the affected computer?

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

I'm not sure what happened, but I am now unable to view any messages in
Outlook. I'm on XP (SP2) with Outlook 2003 (SP3). Everything was fine
until
yesterday, and I swear I didn't install anything new!

In the preview pane, some messages (external/SMTP messages, I think) say
"can't display in reading pane" or something like that and prompt me to
open
them in their own window, but when I try that, it says "can't open item.."
Other messages (internal/Exchange messages, I think) simply show the
headers
but an empty/blank message area in the preview pane, and when I open
those, I
also get a blank message area in the full window. But the message area
isn't
just "blank" -- it simply doesn't show -- sometimes it shows what was
previously in the background or sometimes is just gray. It's simply not
rendering.

IMAP and OWA work fine, so it is definitely a local problem.

I'm thinking that the message view control, or whatever it is, is really
broken deep within Windows. I'm looking for some help on how to fix this
short of reinstalling XP. I've tried re-registering DLLs, etc. Is it
something in the registry?

The problem has survived the following attempts:

* Several reboots.
* Clearing/deleting the forms cache.
* Removing the local .ost file (I use Exchange in cached mode) and letting
Outlook re-download from the server.
* Removing and re-creating the Outlook account/profile.
* Uninstalling and reinstalling Outlook 2003.
* Upgrading to Outlook 2007.

I'm out of ideas. Any suggestions? I'm stumped. And I really don't wantto
reinstall Windows.

Thanks!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

 

[mlevin]

Oh, and no, safe mode doesn't help. That was one of the first things I
tried (forgot to mention that in my original post).

Does it work in Outlook Safe Mode?
Start-> Run; outlook.exe /safe

To determine the scope of the issue;
As you are on Exchange, does it work when you access your mailbox from a
different computer?
Does it work for other users when they logon to the affected computer?

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

I'm not sure what happened, but I am now unable to view any messages in
Outlook. I'm on XP (SP2) with Outlook 2003 (SP3). Everything was fine
until
yesterday, and I swear I didn't install anything new!

In the preview pane, some messages (external/SMTP messages, I think) say
"can't display in reading pane" or something like that and prompt me to
open
them in their own window, but when I try that, it says "can't open item.."
Other messages (internal/Exchange messages, I think) simply show the
headers
but an empty/blank message area in the preview pane, and when I open
those, I
also get a blank message area in the full window. But the message area
isn't
just "blank" -- it simply doesn't show -- sometimes it shows what was
previously in the background or sometimes is just gray. It's simply not
rendering.

IMAP and OWA work fine, so it is definitely a local problem.

I'm thinking that the message view control, or whatever it is, is really
broken deep within Windows. I'm looking for some help on how to fix this
short of reinstalling XP. I've tried re-registering DLLs, etc. Is it
something in the registry?

The problem has survived the following attempts:

* Several reboots.
* Clearing/deleting the forms cache.
* Removing the local .ost file (I use Exchange in cached mode) and letting
Outlook re-download from the server.
* Removing and re-creating the Outlook account/profile.
* Uninstalling and reinstalling Outlook 2003.
* Upgrading to Outlook 2007.

I'm out of ideas. Any suggestions? I'm stumped. And I really don't wantto
reinstall Windows.

Thanks!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

did you try office diagnostics? Are you using a client side virus or spam
scanner?

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]





EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
(e-mail address removed)

You can access this newsgroup by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx or point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

 

[mlevin]

Yes, I have symantec corporate installed and no, I didn't try office
diagnostics -- where do I find that?

did you try office diagnostics? Are you using a client side virus or spam
scanner?

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Outlook Tips:http://www.outlook-tips.net/
Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center:http://www.slipstick.com

Outlook Tips by email:
(e-mail address removed)

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
(e-mail address removed)

You can access this newsgroup by visitinghttp://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspxor point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

I'm not sure what happened, but I am now unable to view any messages in
Outlook. I'm on XP (SP2) with Outlook 2003 (SP3). Everything was fine
until
yesterday, and I swear I didn't install anything new!

In the preview pane, some messages (external/SMTP messages, I think) say
"can't display in reading pane" or something like that and prompt me to
open
them in their own window, but when I try that, it says "can't open item.."
Other messages (internal/Exchange messages, I think) simply show the
headers
but an empty/blank message area in the preview pane, and when I open
those, I
also get a blank message area in the full window. But the message area
isn't
just "blank" -- it simply doesn't show -- sometimes it shows what was
previously in the background or sometimes is just gray. It's simply not
rendering.

IMAP and OWA work fine, so it is definitely a local problem.

I'm thinking that the message viewcontrol, or whatever it is, is really
broken deep within Windows. I'm looking for some help on how to fix this
short of reinstalling XP. I've tried re-registering DLLs, etc. Is it
something in the registry?

The problem has survived the following attempts:

* Several reboots.
* Clearing/deleting the forms cache.
* Removing the local .ost file (I use Exchange in cached mode) and letting
Outlook re-download from the server.
* Removing and re-creating the Outlook account/profile.
* Uninstalling and reinstalling Outlook 2003.
* Upgrading to Outlook 2007.

I'm out of ideas. Any suggestions? I'm stumped. And I really don't wantto
reinstall Windows.

Thanks!

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Try restarting outlook in safe mode. It may be a problem with a Symantec
update.

Office diagnostics is on the help menu. Oh wait, you are using outlook
2003 - you need Detect and Repair. It's also on the Help menu.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]





EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
(e-mail address removed)

You can access this newsgroup by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx or point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

Yes, I have symantec corporate installed and no, I didn't try office
diagnostics -- where do I find that?

did you try office diagnostics? Are you using a client side virus or spam
scanner?

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Outlook Tips:http://www.outlook-tips.net/
Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center:http://www.slipstick.com

Outlook Tips by email:
(e-mail address removed)

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
(e-mail address removed)

You can access this newsgroup by
visitinghttp://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspxor
point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

I'm not sure what happened, but I am now unable to view any messages in
Outlook. I'm on XP (SP2) with Outlook 2003 (SP3). Everything was fine
until
yesterday, and I swear I didn't install anything new!

In the preview pane, some messages (external/SMTP messages, I think)
say
"can't display in reading pane" or something like that and prompt me to
open
them in their own window, but when I try that, it says "can't open
item."
Other messages (internal/Exchange messages, I think) simply show the
headers
but an empty/blank message area in the preview pane, and when I open
those, I
also get a blank message area in the full window. But the message area
isn't
just "blank" -- it simply doesn't show -- sometimes it shows what was
previously in the background or sometimes is just gray. It's simply not
rendering.

IMAP and OWA work fine, so it is definitely a local problem.

I'm thinking that the message viewcontrol, or whatever it is, is really
broken deep within Windows. I'm looking for some help on how to fix
this
short of reinstalling XP. I've tried re-registering DLLs, etc. Is it
something in the registry?

The problem has survived the following attempts:

* Several reboots.
* Clearing/deleting the forms cache.
* Removing the local .ost file (I use Exchange in cached mode) and
letting
Outlook re-download from the server.
* Removing and re-creating the Outlook account/profile.
* Uninstalling and reinstalling Outlook 2003.
* Upgrading to Outlook 2007.

I'm out of ideas. Any suggestions? I'm stumped. And I really don't want
to
reinstall Windows.

Thanks!