Strange Outlook issues

[jimhaynes]

I am using Outlook 2003 and ZoneAlarm Suite 6.5.722 on two home networked computers. One began having problems several weeks ago when we got a Window saying Outlook had encountered a problem and needed to be shut down. There was also a ZoneAlarm window that asked to report to ZA what we were doing with the problem occurred (usually nothing or perhaps an automatic Send/Receive). This problem reoccurs every day or so and occasionally there is a window saying say program is trying to access the Contact list. I am and given the option to permit or deny. At times Outlook totally freezes and the program can only be ended with task manager. It takes several attempts to end the task. Now a second computer on my home network is starting to experience the same problem. I suspect a virus or worm, however many virus scans and scans with AdAware have turned up nothing. All definitions are up to date.

[jscher2000]

I'm going to suggest something arduous, and that is to shut down Outlook every hour. Allow it enough time to close all its files and disappear from the processes tab of the Task Manager. If it doesn't shut down properly, or it doesn't close all the way, we can investigate whether another program is tapping into one of your Outlook data files. If Outlook remains stable when babied this way, try extending the period of use to two hours, etc.

When Outlook locks up, try physically disconnecting from the network and see whether that snaps Outlook out of its coma. On a hard-wired network, you could pull the network cable. On wireless, you often can right-click an icon in the sytem tray and Disconnect or Disable your wireless connection.

[jimhaynes]

I took your "radical" advice. The results so far:

Wednesday 9/13/03: Nancy

[jscher2000]

That sounds awful. I wonder whether Saturday will be "Convert to Mozilla Thunderbird..." ?

[JoeP517]

Have you tried Outlook Help | Detect and Repair?

Joe

[jimhaynes]

No, any risk here? What does Detect detect?

[HansV]

Detect and Repair checks whether the installed version is intact (I assume by looking at checksums, modification dates etc., but I don't know how exactly), and reinstalls program files that have become corrupt.

[JohnBF]

Jim, a couple of other things to do & check:

1. review all the add-ins and extensions under Tools | Options | Other | Advanced Options | Add-in Manager and Com Add-ins; uncheck items in there that you don't recognize as valid, close and restart Outlook, see what changes (or Google them to see if you get any hits).

2. Close Outlook and all Outlook windows, disconnect from the internet as Jefferson advises, then run scanpst.exe (aka The Inbox Repair Tool) on the PSTs to which mail is delivered, on both machines. (This is a maintenance step you should probably do once a quarter or so.) Accept the repair option if offered, check the box to make a back-up.

It might be helpful at this point to advise exactly which AV software you are using.

[jimhaynes]

Great idea. I assume I would run scanpst.exe from a Command prompt. Dose it come with Outlook? I have not yet checked to see if it is on my HD.
I am using ZoneAlarm Suite which includes AV software.
I will also review the Add-ins and Com Add-ins.

[JohnBF]

'scanpst.exe' comes with the Office software that includes Outlook. If it's installed in the default location, it should be in

C:Program FilesCommon FilesSystemMSMAPI1033

You can always run the File Explorer Search function, making sure that your search includes hidden files and folders. If scanpst.exe is NOT installed, get out your MS Office CD, and go hunting for additional components. (I'm at work right now and have restricted rights so I can't look for it, can someone else jump in and tell Jim how to install it?)

I'm not familiar with the AV parts of the ZA suite. Most AV programs install add-ins to Outlook to scan incoming and outgoing messages, so it helps to determine which Add-ins are those.

[HansV]

According to MSKB article How to use the Inbox Repair Tools to recover e-mail messages in Outlook 2002 and Outlook 2003, "The Inbox Repair Tool installs automatically during setup".

[JohnBF]

Thanks Hans. I mentioned installation because it wasn't installed on the Bride's Office 2002 Gateway. (How did you find that KB so fast?)

[HansV]

Perhaps Gateway installs a minimal version of Office?

I used MSKB Search to find the article.

[DocWatson]

I noticed that you stated a couple times "Some program trying to access Contact list;". Did the warning actually say "Some program" ?? Or did it tell you what program was trying to access the Contact list ??