Outlook 2007 fails to configure and becomes unresponsive

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Peter C. - 26 Jun 2007 17:31 GMT

Newly installed Office 2007 Standard version, replacing previously installed
Office 2003, using Windows XP Professional on a defragmented and MS cleaned
40 GB hard drive with 36% free after installation. SDRAM is 1.25 GB.

After easy typical installation of the Office suite, other programs started
correctly (Excel and Word) and are operative.

Outlook 2007 fails to open correctly, despite several "repairs" and
reinstallations and verification by the included program. It shows the
opening title screen, with the additional "Configuring Outlook" box covering
the top left-hand corner of the Outlook pane. Then it hangs, becomes
non-responsive and will not return to Windows without being closed using the
red X in the top right-hand of the top ribbon.

Additional information: I have the old PST files stored in their original
positions, as well as backup PST files on a separate drive. I noted that when
Outlook 2007 briefly opened, the Calendar information for today was showing,
Then, of course, it ceased to function. Just as it did under Office 2003 (see
previous question in June under Office 2003). Are the problems I had then and
those I have now linked in any way?

Any help would be most welcome. Thanks to all those who reply.

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Diane Poremsky - 28 Jun 2007 13:48 GMT

Have you tried a new profile? How about deleting outcmd.dat and extend.dat
(and 2 other files)? Those two files should be enough, but if not or you
don't know where they are, all 4 and their locations are at
http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/ol2007/slow.htm - see solution 1.

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Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/
Outlook 2007: http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/ol2007/

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> Newly installed Office 2007 Standard version, replacing previously
> installed
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> Any help would be most welcome. Thanks to all those who reply.

Reply to this Message

Peter C. - 29 Jun 2007 11:36 GMT

God morning Diane,

Firstly, sincere thanks for your suggestions. I have tried your first idea
(removing outcmd.dat and extend.dat) to no avail. I will try the extended
suggestions later, but I feel I should be more precise as to the problem. Let
me explain.

When I try to open Outllo 2007 from either the icon on my desktop or from
the Windows XP program list, the initial Outllook 2007 screen appears,
centred on the screen in a reduced size. There is no information on the
Outlook screen, but the day's calendar appears almost immediately and it
reflects what i had previously planned to do very accurately, so I guess the
information is coming from the PST file stored in its correct place, as under
Outlook 2003 (which I have removed from my PC).

To the upper left of the Outlook 2007 screen appeaars a small window
entitled Configuring Office. This window contains three lines of information,
the uppermost line being in bold and the hourglass shows that something is
happening. However, there is no sign of harddisk activity. If I click on the
Outlook title bar, making it a deep blue, rather than a washed-out blue, the
title bar indicates "not responding" after the title Outlook. A message alert
appears over the Outlook screen showing that "Failed to register a VB Script
DLL. Reinstall or run Regsvr32.exe Vbscript.dll to self register".

My next move, while all this appears on my screen, is to Run Regsvr32.exe
Vbscript.dll from the Windows Run command. This appears to function and the
message appears saying it was run successfully. I then click on the "Failed
to register a VB etc." close button, and immediately a notice appears saying
Operation Failed.

If I close this notice, Outlook closes completely without any action by
myslef and I can go no further. I am back to square one.

Having just deleted the two files shown in your suggestion, nothing changes.

I believe that, while I have registered my Office 2007 suite with MS, and
individually registered Word and Excel online, Outlook 2007 fails to register
and therefore allows no further action or activity, including configuration
of Outlook. I may be mistaken, but this effectively prevents me using the
essential component of Office 2007.

Any further help you can offer, Diane, would be heartily appreciated. Thanks
again.

Peter C.

> Have you tried a new profile? How about deleting outcmd.dat and extend.dat
> (and 2 other files)? Those two files should be enough, but if not or you
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
> >
> > Any help would be most welcome. Thanks to all those who reply.

Reply to this Message

Diane Poremsky - 29 Jun 2007 15:58 GMT

usually the problem when its stuck on the configuring screen is problems
converting the old profile - I'd try deleting the remaining 2 files
(views.dat and frmscache.dat) and if that fails, make a new profile - or
just make a new profile.

not sure if this might apply to your situation
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/280925 - it might be the problem if you
aren't using the default install location.

Signature

> God morning Diane,
>
[quoted text clipped - 99 lines]
>> >
>> > Any help would be most welcome. Thanks to all those who reply.

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