Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center

Outlook 2003, Vista, and BCC

A hotfix is now available Outlook 2003 users who see raw MIME content in the message body. For more information and to obtain the hotfix, see Description of the Outlook 2003 hotfix package: April 22, 2008 (KB 951982)

Contacts and Instant Search

The Instant Search functionality in Contacts doesn't always seem to work correctly. Unlike the Find pane in earlier versions, Instant Search appears to only search a limited number of fields. However, the problem isn't that it can't search other fields (such as notes) but that the index is bad. Try the search using "All Contact Folders" and if it still fails, you'll need to rebuild the index.  

Contacts and Instant Search

Can't open MSG attachments?

If you receive an error when opening forwarded messages (sent as attachments), uninstall Google Desktop Search or revert to the previously installed version.

Outlook won't open forwarded messages (*.MSG)

2008 Holidays

Outlook 2003's holiday list included dates through 2007. To add holidays between 2008 and 2012, Outlook 2003 users need to download the holiday update file described in KB 924423 then install the Holiday file using Tools, Options, Calendar options, Holidays.

For more information and links to updated holiday lists for older versions of Outlook, see Missing Holidays on our Outlook-Tips website.

Outlook 2007 SP1 Released

Office 2007's Service Pack 1 is now available. Along with security updates, and all previously released fixes, this update fixes calendar printing errors and a spell check bug in Outlook 2007 RTM.

Microsoft Office 2007 Service Pack 1      http://support.microsoft.com/?bid=936982  

Issues that are fixed in Outlook 2007 by 2007 Microsoft Office suites Service Pack 1
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=942384

Calendar Printing Assistant for Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 Service Pack 1    
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/937157  
Calendar Printing Assistant for Outlook 2007 SP1 combines the previously released fixes into one update.

Exchange Server 2007 SP1 Released

Exchange 2007 SP1 is now available. See What’s new in Exchange 2007 Service Pack 1 (from the Nov 29 issue of EMO) for the feature highlights. You can read in more detail all the improvements and additions to Exchange 2007 through Service Pack 1 at the Exchange Tech Center at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb676323.aspx.

Exchange server SP1 download
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx? FamilyId=44C66AD6-F185-4A1D-A9AB-473C1188954C

Outlook ITunes Add-in Bug

Outlook developer Ken Slovak has been working with Microsoft to determine the cause of a bad crash in Outlook 2007 (and hangs on Outlook 2003) caused by Apple's ITunes add-in for Outlook which is used for calendar synching with IPods. Because other vendors are using the same method ITunes uses, there are other add-ins which will need to be fixed. We’re hoping by publishing the problem, vendors will check their code and address the problem.

See An Outlook Add-in Bug for more information.

Outlook 2007 Printing Problems

There are a number of issues with the print functionality in Outlook 2007's calendar. Many of these problems will be addressed in SP1, due out later in the year.

Until SP1 is available, try the Calendar Printing Assistant or other 3rd party printing tools. The CAP and other tools provide better printing capabilities for those who need more than the basics offered by Outlook. See Calendar Printing Tools for Outlook for a list of printing tools available. 

Outlook 2003 SP3

Outlook 2007 Plain Text Spell Check Bug

When you use plain text formatting and set Outlook to check the spelling before sending, it goes through the motions of running spell check but the sent item and the recipients copy contain spelling errors.

Until a fix is available, use F7 to initiate a spell check before sending the message. 

Recurring Meeting Bug

If your Outlook seems possessed and turns all of your meeting requests into recurring meetings, you have a Dell laptop with MediaDirect.

There is a bug in the add-in that reads Outlook meetings so Media Direct's Instant Office can display then without fully booting into Windows. You'll need to uninstall or disable the add-in called "Outlook Setup Addin (Cyberlink)" to put an end to the errant recurring meetings.

http://www.slipstick.com/emo/2007/up070315.htm#2

Outlook 2007 is slow

Daylight Saving Time Updates

There are daylight time changes coming in mid March and you need to update your system so your computer time is correct. Once you do, appointments falling in the affected periods will be off an hour (Mar 11 - Apr 1 and the first week of Nov).

Windows update will install a patch that reflects the new daylight times, on Windows XP and 2003 systems. Users of older OS's will need to make the changes themselves. (Vista has the changes included.)

If you use Outlook 2007, it should offer to fix your appointment times on the next restart after the time zone update is installed. If you use an older version of Outlook there is a tool you can download to fix your appointments. (These tools are also good for changing appointments if you move to a new time zone.)

The time zone update tool is found in Outlook 2007's Tools, Options, Calendar options dialog or can be downloaded from Microsoft.

More info and links to the Outlook update tool (works with v. 2000 to 2007) and the Exchange Server Time Zone Update Tool are at
http://www.slipstick.com/emo/2007/up070104.htm#tz

February 2007 cumulative time zone update for Microsoft Windows operating systems
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931836

DST Wizard to help guide you to the changes you need to make:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cp_dst 

Time Zone updates:
US and Canada: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931836 
Western Australia: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929120/

More time zone information: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/timezone.mspx

Outlook and Vista

Which versions of Outlook work with Vista?

Outlook 2007, naturally, along with Outlook 2003.

Outlook 2002 works fine but email account passwords are not saved. This is because Outlook stores passwords in protected storage interface and Vista does not support it.

Outlook 2000 in Internet only mode (IMO) loads but the address book does not work - it needs the Windows Address Book files (wab.dll), which is not found in Vista. Corporate mode seems to work fine in my limited tests, once you get past the Outlook Start Up screen and verify it should be the default mail client. (This dialog comes up every time I restart Outlook.) Either switch to Corporate mode or upgrade to Outlook 2007. Vista's Mail and Calendar applications are viable alternatives to Outlook for many home users.

Outlook 98 IMO will not work correctly due to the missing wab.dll. I haven't yet tested Outlook 98 Corp or Outlook 97 with Vista, but frankly, if you are still using either version you need to either upgrade to Outlook 2007 or switch to Vista's Mail and Calendar applications. Both have security issues and need to be retired. 

Don't look for Microsoft to release patches to fix any issues that may come up with Outlook2002 and older, as they are all well past their mainstream support lifecycle.