Outlook Error: This item cannot be displayed in the reading pane. open the item to read its contents.

We just had a similar post not too many days ago.  Had to do with McAfee AntiVirus.

What is your AV?  Can you disable and try again?

I am using ESET Smart Security Business Edition. I have set the firewall to interactive mode to observe if it is calling for access. you think i should remove it temporarily?

Well, the last problem (which may not be related) had to do with the McAfee agent.

Some other things to try:

FIRST: Is it something that "needs" to be opened?  or are we opening Pandora's box?
Can you open/view in OWA (Outlook Web Access) if Exchange on backend?
Can you highlight the item in the email list and click File Save? (what extension is it?) (can you open that in notepad or maybe Outlook Express?)
Can you scan it with AntiVirus first? (not sure how to do that with your software)
Lastly, try disabling the antivirus and open (if you are caching Outlook, you may want to disconnect from the network when you do this part).

I can access the email fine from OWA. If i open the mailbox from the Administrators account on the server that email is accessible with problem. If i right click and choose to forward or reply, i get another error;

Microsoft Word is set to be your e-mail editor. However, Word is unavailable, not installed, or is not the same version as Outlook. The Outlook e-mail editor will be used instead.

press ok

the crash; The messaging interface has returned an unknown error. If the problem persists, restart Outlook.

i then tried the following with outlook shut down:

start>run>
outlook.exe /safe
outlook.exe /cleanprofile
outlook.exe /firstrun

same problem again. Also i tried to right click the email and view options. i cannot see the message headers. this is very weird.

Is Word the same version as Outlook?
can you open Word?

sorry for the type, i meant that i can access the email from the server without problem

i can open word fine. Aswell as excel, pwerpoint etc. in the help menus of each program they belong to office professional product.

So OWA is fine, another Outlook is fine?

Try a Repair on Outlook?
What about the Antivirus test?

Check your security settings in Outlook. Go to Tools > Options > Security and see if the security settings are allowing you to open all messages in the reading pane.

I have now removed the antivirus software, and i still get the same error. i was hoping that would do it.

I tried to access zone security but was not allowed in. I then attempted to access internet option from the control panel, but it would not open. I opened Internet Explorer and tried to open it from there but was told;

This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator. I am logged in as the administrator here, and this machine is not on a domain. Why does it seem Windows is throwing me every error message it has.

It sounds like that computer has local security policy restrictions. I would go through those and start checking to see if restrictions have been enabled under the local security policy.

Ok so now i have uninstalled IE7. I have now regained access to internet options settings, which is a relief. I went to security zones and reset all zones to default. but i still cannot open certain email on my computer or look at them in the reading pane.

In Outlook, not internet explorer, go to Tools > Options > Security and check those settings.
If you have Outlook 2007 it will be Tools > Trust Center.
If that doesn't work you could look at a few things. Make sure you have the appropriate updates installed for your version of office.
If that doesn't fix it, run the repair wizard on office to see if that fixes the problem.
If that doesn't fix it, try recreating your profile from scratch.