I 'broke' my MS Outlook

Factual Questions
1

I seem to have broken my Outlook mail.

I went to log in to my mail and my laptop hadn’t recognised my wireless network yet so I got a messge that basically gave me an option to retry, work offline or cancel.

I ment to hit cancel, but my mouse pointer hung up and, well, I hit work offline.

Now I get the following message:

unable to open your default e-mail folders. The file C:\documents and settings\my name\local settings\application data\microsoft\outlook\outlook.ost is not an offline folder.

Now I cannot get it to give me a log in propmt or find a way to make it ‘work online’.

Looking online for technical help has been useless.

Anybody able to help?

2

In both versions of Outlook I have access to (2000, 2003) just click File, and Work Offline should show a checkmark. Click Work Offline again to clear the checkmark and you should be live.

3

Re-start your system and it will reset. If the work off line option pops even up after re-starting it’s likely your internet connection is not working properly, or even if your net connection is OK & you are connecting to a remote, off site Outlook server, that server may be down.

4

[QUOTE=RJKUgly]
In both versions of Outlook I have access to (2000, 2003) just click File, and Work Offline should show a checkmark. Click Work Offline again to clear the checkmark and you should be live.
[/QUOTE]

I can’t even get outlook to open. It starts to open, but then I get that error message and the only option is to click ‘OK’ and then Outlook closes :frowning: :mad:

[QUOTE=astro]
Re-start your system and it will reset. If the work off line option pops even up after re-starting it’s likely your internet connection is not working properly, or even if your net connection is OK & you are connecting to a remote, off site Outlook server, that server may be down.
[/QUOTE]

I restarted my computer and I still get the same thing.

(This is my work laptop that the Outlook 2003 is on. My personal laptop is working fine and connecting to my home wireless network. I am posting this on my work laptop now.)

Is there a back door into Outlook to clear the work offline option?

5

From memory IE and Outlook will share the Work Offline status.
Fire up IE and set it to Work Online.
That might fix Outlook.

6

[QUOTE=LVgeogeek]
I can’t even get outlook to open. It starts to open, but then I get that error message and the only option is to click ‘OK’ and then Outlook closes :frowning: :mad:
I restarted my computer and I still get the same thing.

(This is my work laptop that the Outlook 2003 is on. My personal laptop is working fine and connecting to my home wireless network. I am posting this on my work laptop now.)

Is there a back door into Outlook to clear the work offline option?
[/QUOTE]

Yes there is. I’m not at work, but IIRC in Control Panel there is an offline configuration applet for Outlook under “Mail” or “Outlook” or something similar.

7

[QUOTE=astro]
Yes there is. I’m not at work, but IIRC in Control Panel there is an offline configuration applet for Outlook under “Mail” or “Outlook” or something similar.
[/QUOTE]

Thanks for all the help.

I was able to get it back to giving me a log-in screen however, it’s still givivng me that weird error message. I guess I will call the IT dept. on Monday.

I hate Outlook.

8

[QUOTE=LVgeogeek]
Thanks for all the help.

I was able to get it back to giving me a log-in screen however, it’s still givivng me that weird error message. I guess I will call the IT dept. on Monday.

I hate Outlook.
[/QUOTE]

If the corporate email server is down, regardless of whether the net is working or not that is exactly what you’ll get. Sometimes IT Depts will take a server down over the weekend to work on it. If you have an Outlook webmail option for accessing the server try that, and that will tell you definitively whether it’s a Outlook issue or a server issue.