There is a known incompatiblity between Outlook 2000 and later versions
related to reminders on meeting requests sent in iCalendar (aka iCal)
format. To resolve this issue, do one of the following:
-- Contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the Outlook 2000
post-SP3 hotfix described in this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=823199
-- Tell the senders to remove any reminder before sending you an iCal
meeting request.
-- Tell the senders to send to you in native Outlook meeting request (RTF)
format, not as iCal.

Signature
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx
> My Office uses office 2000 and office 2003, some meeting emails come
> through
> fine with polling buttons, others come through garbled with no polling
> buttons..
> not using exchange, just corp email server...