Outlook 2003 rules and alerts "you are currently working offline"

Does the problem follow the user to another machine?

Simon.

Try to open up Outlook with the /cleanrules switch. The existing rules will be deleted and you will have to re-create them.

Start --> Run --> Outlook /cleanrules

Thanks,
vasanth.

Hi davidfriend,

The user has some client side rules. He has to connect to the server for them to run.

cheers,
frankco

Hi davidfriend,

Actually, since the user is connected, I'd go with vasanthgnb's suggestion.
There's probably a bad rule somewhere.

cheers,
frankco

This issue happens for all new users and will follow from machine to machine.

also, since the users are new... there are no previous rules set up.

another thing.

an install of outlook 2000 will be fully functional with any new user.  however, an upgrade or clean install of outlook 2003 will have the limited functionality where users can send and receive mail but can not use the rules wizard.

This question was asked a while ago, you may want to read this one:

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21580177/Offline-reported-when-not-offline-Outlook-2003-Rules-Wiz.html

When you setup new users, do you change anything from the default settings?

Simon.

^
i read that thread before i posted this one, i couldnt seem to find anything that helped out the situation

also...

several years ago the primary domain controller hosted the exchange server as well.  eventually the exchange server was migrated to its own dedicated box.  this is not a recent change.

whenever i set up a new user, i have to use the name of the primary domain controller to get a mailbox name to resolve within the client's outlook in order for them to be able to receive mail.

also...
the connectivity status within the outlook client shows that the mail server is connected, but it reports that the directory server is disconnected.

any thoughts on that?

i think i would have to agree with you on that one

unfortunately, i inherited this set up.  most of the troubleshooting revolves around figuring out how things were done before i got here.

if the domain controller was the source of the issue...

would that affect how current installs of outlook behave?  all current installs have full functionality. (these are installs that were done after the exchange server was migrated off the  pdc)

new installs are the only ones without the rule wizard functionality.

the thing that seems weird to me is that outlook 2000 will install with full functionality while outlook 2003 will only install with mail functionality.

Exchange and Outlook use the domain controllers heavily. If the domain controllers are playing up then you get some weird happenings. Existing installations will work because once Outlook has fully connected its references to the domain controller are limited.
If you are using Outlook 2003 in cached mode, then that uses the offline address book. The OAB may not be being generated correctly due to the domain controller issues.

Simon.

outlook 2007 also works will full functionality