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Outlook displays error at startup

Hello all,

I have the following problem with Outlook 2003 (exact version: 11.5608.5703, running on WinXP Pro SP1):

Most of the times, when I run Outlook I get a popup box saying: "The data file 'Personal Folders' was not closed correctly." and then Outlook proceeds to check the outlook.pst file for errors and displays a progress bar undeneath. It takes between 10 secs to 90 secs to finally open.

The thing is that I do close Outlook propary (Alt+F4 or click on the X button), so this error is really out of whack. I've googled the error but nothing came up. Any ideas?

Thanks,
George


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sirbounty
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First try Help/Detect and repair
Failing that, a repair of your data file may resolve this: http://www.slipstick.com/problems/scanpst.htm
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infolord

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SirBounty: I will try to repair the PST file and get back to you if it finds an error.

Sunray_2003: I've compacted the PST file, it's a little over half a gigabyte now, and the PST file has never reached more than 1 GB (I use Outlook a lot and I knew about the 2GB limitation so I was keeping an eye on it)
Try recreating the default profile and then import your PST back to see if that would help

Take a backup of all emails and go to control panel ---> mail --> delete the profile and recreate one again.
Once going inside outlook , goto file --> open --> outlook data file and import the PST file.
Check now by closing outlook


SR
I've cleaned the PST file, and it's been a while that I've not had this error.

But now I get this error when closing Outlook (rarely, but I do):

DDE Server Window: OUTLOOK.EXE - Application Error

The instruction at "0x00f30293" referenced memory at "0x98f4364a". The memory could not be "written".

Click on OK to terminate the program
Click on CANCEL to debug the program


I would think it is time for reinstalling outlook
Try looking to see if addins are disabled (Goto help\About Microsoft Office Outlook\Click the disable items button).If you see anything that is disabled, unistall that application and try to start Outlook again.If the data file check is still a problem goto tools\options\other and click the advanced options button and then click the addin manager button.From what I've seen It's corruption one of these addins that will make outlook always check the .pst file(s) every time you start Outlook. Hope this helps.
Did you upgrade from Outlook 2002, outlook xp or earlier to outlook 2003 ? Because if that is the
case, you may still be looking against the 2 Gb limit. Outlook 2003 than still uses the old .pst file.
You can check this by going to control panel, double click "mail" and than "data files". If outlook is using the old .pst file you will see it there.
Thanks, I have everything on a new computer now and it works fine (no upgrades from the old Office).