Signature Button is missing from Outlook 2007

have you tried uninstalling the hotfix?

I uninstalled the Hot Fix (Hotfix KB961752) and the signature button is now back. The problem is the Hot Fix was to stop Outlook from crashing and it had worked so far, do you have any other suggestions as to how I can get the signature button back. The Hotfix is on a couple hundred machines so other than writing another more difficult script to remove it there isn't much in the way of other option.  

Do you also have SP1 installed:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=9EC51594-992C-4165-A997-25DA01F388F5&displaylang=en

Yes  the 2007 Microsoft Office Suite Service Pack 1 (SP1) is installed.

If you close Outlook and re-open it using

Start>Run>outlook.exe /cleanprofile

Or

Start>Run>Outlook.exe /safe

Is it there?

When Outlook.exe /safe is run the signature button is there.  

On a Side Note:

Did you have this crashing problem on ALL your PCs, or was it just a handful?
As this Hotfix Should only be installed on PCs that display the issues listed
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/961752

There was, and still is, a known issue in Oultook 2007 that does cause it to crash and the most common solution can be found below:

Outlook is crashing

Disable add-ins. If you have Adobe Acrobat 6 installed, disable it's add-in first. SnagIt's addin will also crash Outlook. If Outlook crashes when you attempt to disable the addins, you'll need to edit the registry. Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Outlook\Addins and change the load behavior for Acrobat, SnagIt or other non-Microsoft add-ins to 0.

The Outlook crashing problem was happening on about 5-10 machines that we were made aware of. Others were having the problem and just not telling us the Administrators about it.

"When Outlook.exe /safe is run the signature button is there."

Outlook /safe Starts Outlook without Microsoft Exchange Client Extensions (ECE), the Reading Pane, or toolbar customizations. Component Object Model (COM) add-ins are turned off.


Might then check to see if there are any Add Ins that are stoping the Signature button from appearing:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Outlook\Addins

As above set all non microsoft add ins to 0 and restart Outlook and see if this option comes back.

The two add ins you described we do not actually have. In the registry we have only one non Microsoft add in and when that was set to 0 the signature button did not return.  

Okay then.

Run the following command line switches to see if the option is available:
All Starting with Outlook Closed

Start>Run>outlook.exe /safe:1
Start>Run>outlook.exe /safe:3
Start>Run>outlook.exe /safe:4
Start>Run>outlook.exe /noextensions

just trying to narrow down where the problem is so we have an idea of what needs to be fixed.

What they do:
/safe:1
 Starts Outlook with the Reading Pane off.
 
/safe:3
 Starts Outlook with Microsoft Exchange Client Extensions (ECE) turned off, but listed in the Add-In Manager. Component Object Model (COM) add-ins are turned off.
 
/safe:4
 Starts Outlook without loading outcmd.dat (customized toolbars).
 
/noextensions
 Starts Outlook with extensions turned off, but listed in the Add-In Manager.
 

All 4 start>run options resulted in the Signature button still being missing.

But it was available in /safe? Strange....

Running out of ideas here.

If you havent already, might try running Office Diagnostics.
In Outlook go to HELP>Office Diagnostics
See if that helps.

Otherwise, might just try to Rename or delete outcmd.dat, extend.dat, views.dat and frmcache.dat.
Outlook will recreate these files as needed.

Look for these files at the following locations in Windows XP and Vista:

Outcmd.dat:
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook

Extend.dat:
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

Frmcache.dat:
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\FORMS

Views.dat:
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

If that doesnt do it, it would be interesting to know if a re-install or Repair of Office from the Office 2007 Media will resolve the issue. (obviously only testing on one machine here, not all)

After running Office Diagnostics and then closing and reopening Outlook the signature is back. But after a reboot of the machine the button disappears again.  

With the .dat files they were not in the locations you suggested. I look around a bit more and still didn't find them. Although Outcmd.dat and in the path C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook. I changed that to a different name and the button is still msissing.

Obviously seems to be an force external to Outlook that is disabling this Signature Option.

Have a look in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook  and see if there are any possible references to disabling Outlooks Signature.

Otherwise, I might just try an uninstall and re-install of Office 2007 to see if this repairs it.

There was nothing in the Registry to do with signatures.

Also uninstalling Office really isn't an option considering this problem is over 150 or so machines.  

"If that doesnt do it, it would be interesting to know if a re-install or Repair of Office from the Office 2007 Media will resolve the issue. (obviously only testing on one machine here, not all)"

Not an option on over 150 machines, but testing this on one machine wouldnt hurt.

Could also just try a repair using the Office 2007 Media CD

If that doesnt work, you really dont have many other options here.

Option 1: Uninstalling the Hotfix on all Machines, and then reapplying only to those with the issue.
Then at least a majority of the organization will have the Signature functionality back.

Option 2: Contacting Microsoft on this issue as there does not to appear to be any history of the problem you are having after installing the Hotfix and seems to be specific to your case.

They do state in the HOTFIX:

Note: If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)


However, I have a feeling they may also tell you the Hotfix should have only been applied to the machines exhibiting the the initial problem as opposed to all machines.
So if you choose this option and it comes up. Only tell them you applied this Hotfix to the machines with the problem. Otherwise, they may charge for the support.