Outlook 2007 hangs

I know this has been addressed before, but there has not been a
solution that has helped. Last week I upgraded Office Ulitmate 2007
over Office 2003. All works well except Outlook, it always hung on
configuring accounts. I left it run for hours. It opened in safe mode
and worked OK, but that is not an ideal solution. I have tried: a new
profile, I renamed .dat files to .old (four files: outcmd,
extend,views, I forgot the other file), disabled all addins including
BCM, deleted the iTunes addin, tried with and w/o UAC, tried opening
as administrator, I shut the anti-virus down, I cleanned out the
registry. All MS updates and Office 2007 SP are installed. But, it
still froze at configuration.

Today I booted Vista Home P. in safe-mode (F5) and opened Outlook, the
configuring worked, and Outlook opened. Too easy! I rebooted in normal
mode, but now Outlook begings to open and now freezes (spash screen
opens and the title bar opens but nothing else). Even with a new mail
profile, nothing. In safe mode, it still works.

Do I delete and reinstall? Do I delete 2007, reinstall 2003 then
delete that? Do I live with safe mode?

Sorry this is long, I am at a loss!

Brian
Thu May 08 07:12:44 PDT 2008

semmler0820@gmail.com <semmler0820@gmail.com> wrote:

> I know this has been addressed before, but there has not been a
> solution that has helped. Last week I upgraded Office Ulitmate 2007
> over Office 2003. All works well except Outlook, it always hung on
> configuring accounts.

Instead of allowing Outlook to configure accounts, use the Mail applet in
Control Panel to configure the accounts manually. Make sure you start with
a clean mail profile. By configuring your mail profile and accounts
manually, Outlook should start cleanly when you do start it.
--
Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

semmler0820
Thu May 08 09:26:35 PDT 2008

On May 8, 10:12=A0am, "Brian Tillman" <tillman1...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> semmler0...@gmail.com <semmler0...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I know this has been addressed before, but there has not been a
> > solution that has helped. Last week I upgraded Office Ulitmate 2007
> > over Office 2003. All works well except Outlook, it always hung on
> > configuring accounts.
>
> Instead of allowing Outlook to configure accounts, use the Mail applet in
> Control Panel to configure the accounts manually. =A0Make sure you start w=
ith
> a clean mail profile. =A0By configuring your mail profile and accounts
> manually, Outlook should start cleanly when you do start it.
> --
> Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

Thank you for your reply. I created the new profile, configured
manually (it didn't alllow me to do it automatically), set it to
prompt, but no joy, still hangs at the splash screen. Still works in
safe mode, with either profile setting and it loads the test message.

Brian
Fri May 09 08:36:30 PDT 2008

semmler0820@gmail.com <semmler0820@gmail.com> wrote:

> Thank you for your reply. I created the new profile, configured
> manually (it didn't alllow me to do it automatically), set it to
> prompt, but no joy, still hangs at the splash screen. Still works in
> safe mode, with either profile setting and it loads the test message.

Then it sounds like you have an add-in preventing Outlook from working.
Open it in safe mode and examine the add-in managers. Disable your add-ins
and try again, enabling them one at a time until you find the conflict.
--
Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

semmler0820
Fri May 09 12:49:24 PDT 2008

On May 9, 11:36=A0am, "Brian Tillman" <tillman1...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> semmler0...@gmail.com <semmler0...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Thank you for your reply. I created the new profile, configured
> > manually (it didn't alllow me to do it automatically), set it to
> > prompt, but no joy, still hangs at the splash screen. Still works in
> > safe mode, with either profile setting and it loads the test message.
>
> Then it sounds like you have an add-in preventing Outlook from working.
> Open it in safe mode and examine the add-in managers. =A0Disable your add-=
ins
> and try again, enabling them one at a time until you find the conflict.
> --
> Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

Again, thank you for your reply. Still no joy in either the old or new
profile. Opened Outlook in safe mode, went to Tools-Trust Center-Add-
ins-Manage... COM addins and unchecked everything. Made sure the
Exchange Client Extentions were unchecked, and Disabled items still
had BCM disabled. Are there other locations for disabling add-ins?
These are not any RSS feeds either. I see, under Privacy Options, a
feature that alows a file to be downloaded to assist in solving hangs
and crashes, but it never stays checked after I check the box. When I
run the Office Diagnostics, it recommends downloading that file, but I
assume it hasn't happened. Something tells me I am running out of
options.

Brian
Mon May 12 07:07:15 PDT 2008

semmler0820@gmail.com <semmler0820@gmail.com> wrote:

> COM addins and unchecked everything. Made sure the
> Exchange Client Extentions were unchecked, and Disabled items still
> had BCM disabled.

Are you actually using BCM or wish to use it? There can be some odd
side-effects with BCM installed.
--
Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

semmler0820
Mon May 12 12:46:20 PDT 2008

On May 12, 10:07=A0am, "Brian Tillman" <tillman1...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> semmler0...@gmail.com <semmler0...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > COM addins and unchecked everything. Made sure the
> > Exchange Client Extentions were unchecked, and Disabled items still
> > had BCM disabled.
>
> Are you actually using BCM or wish to use it? =A0There can be some odd
> side-effects with BCM installed.
> --
> Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

I never used it before, I can live without it. Will uninstalling it
change Office in a major way. If a functioning Outlook is the result,
I am all for it. Use the add/delete function in Control Panel?

Brian
Mon May 12 12:59:42 PDT 2008

semmler0820@gmail.com <semmler0820@gmail.com> wrote:

> I never used it before, I can live without it. Will uninstalling it
> change Office in a major way.

The BCM functions won't be available.

> If a functioning Outlook is the result,
> I am all for it. Use the add/delete function in Control Panel?

Yes.
--
Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

semmler0820
Mon May 12 13:35:23 PDT 2008

On May 12, 3:59=A0pm, "Brian Tillman" <tillman1...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> semmler0...@gmail.com <semmler0...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I never used it before, I can live without it. Will uninstalling it
> > change Office in a major way.
>
> The BCM functions won't be available.
>
> > If a functioning Outlook is the result,
> > I am all for it. Use the add/delete function in Control Panel?
>
> Yes.
> --
> Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

I will give it a try. Thanks!

semmler0820
Mon May 12 14:25:26 PDT 2008

On May 12, 4:35=A0pm, semmler0...@gmail.com wrote:
> On May 12, 3:59=A0pm, "Brian Tillman" <tillman1...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > semmler0...@gmail.com <semmler0...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > I never used it before, I can live without it. Will uninstalling it
> > > change Office in a major way.
>
> > The BCM functions won't be available.
>
> > > If a functioning Outlook is the result,
> > > I am all for it. Use the add/delete function in Control Panel?
>
> > Yes.
> > --
> > Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]
>
> I will give it a try. Thanks!

No change, I removed BCM, restarted, still hangs. Outlook still works
in safe mode.

semmler0820
Tue May 13 06:54:00 PDT 2008

On May 12, 5:25=A0pm, semmler0...@gmail.com wrote:
> On May 12, 4:35=A0pm, semmler0...@gmail.com wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On May 12, 3:59=A0pm, "Brian Tillman" <tillman1...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > semmler0...@gmail.com <semmler0...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > I never used it before, I can live without it. Will uninstalling it
> > > > change Office in a major way.
>
> > > The BCM functions won't be available.
>
> > > > If a functioning Outlook is the result,
> > > > I am all for it. Use the add/delete function in Control Panel?
>
> > > Yes.
> > > --
> > > Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]
>
> > I will give it a try. Thanks!
>
> No change, I removed BCM, restarted, still hangs. Outlook still works
> in safe mode.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Well Brian, I do thank you for your time. Is my final option
uninstalling Outlook 2007 and reinstalling? I can export my contacts
and save the needed emails, but will uninstalling solve my problem?
Since it was an upgrade over 2003, I have to assume there is a old
2003 file, or add-in, or registry entry causing the problem. This
computer is just over a year old with Vista pre-installed. There isn't
much in the way of garbage on it. Anyway, since it works in safe mode,
both Outlook and Windows safe mode, so how can I find what the cause.
I am willing to spend the $50 and go to MS support, but can they do
anything more than what's been done (in your opinion)? Again, I do
thank you.

Brian
Tue May 13 07:10:08 PDT 2008

semmler0820@gmail.com <semmler0820@gmail.com> wrote:

> Well Brian, I do thank you for your time. Is my final option
> uninstalling Outlook 2007 and reinstalling?

Since you've tried a new mail profile, you may want to consider uninstalling
Outlook 2007, using the WIndows Installer Cleanup Utility
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301/en-us) to remove any remnants of
Office 2003, then reinstall 2007.

> I can export my contacts
> and save the needed emails, but will uninstalling solve my problem?

Never export/import to move data from Outlook to Outlook. There's no need
and it's likely to cause problems. See this:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm . Uninstalling
doesn't affect the Outlook data, but it's a good idea to make a backup copy.

> Since it was an upgrade over 2003, I have to assume there is a old
> 2003 file, or add-in, or registry entry causing the problem.

In-place upgrades often lead to problems. Usual expert advice is to
uninstall older versions before instaling the new.

> This
> computer is just over a year old with Vista pre-installed. There isn't
> much in the way of garbage on it. Anyway, since it works in safe mode,
> both Outlook and Windows safe mode, so how can I find what the cause.

Again, since you've already investigated add-ins, and since working in safe
mode usually indicates an add-in problem, a complete reinstallation may be
of some benefit. Were this happening to me, I'd be looking in the add-in
keys in the registry as well.

> I am willing to spend the $50 and go to MS support, but can they do
> anything more than what's been done (in your opinion)?

If what I've suggested above doesn't help and since Microsoft gives you 90
days free support with new versions, calling Microsoft is what I'd do.
--
Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

Chris
Tue May 13 15:41:01 PDT 2008

I posted a similiar problem somewhere on this board but I can't seem to find
it. Basically, I went through all the steps and its still hanging like this
posters. Runs fine in Outlook safe mode (send receive etc). Thinking of
reinstalling -- but looks like I need to reinstall the whole suite rather
than just Outlook since there is just that entry on the add/remove.
Question: anything special I need to do before a reinstall of office?

"Brian Tillman" wrote:

> semmler0820@gmail.com <semmler0820@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Well Brian, I do thank you for your time. Is my final option
> > uninstalling Outlook 2007 and reinstalling?
>
> Since you've tried a new mail profile, you may want to consider uninstalling
> Outlook 2007, using the WIndows Installer Cleanup Utility
> (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301/en-us) to remove any remnants of
> Office 2003, then reinstall 2007.
>
> > I can export my contacts
> > and save the needed emails, but will uninstalling solve my problem?
>
> Never export/import to move data from Outlook to Outlook. There's no need
> and it's likely to cause problems. See this:
> http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm . Uninstalling
> doesn't affect the Outlook data, but it's a good idea to make a backup copy.
>
> > Since it was an upgrade over 2003, I have to assume there is a old
> > 2003 file, or add-in, or registry entry causing the problem.
>
> In-place upgrades often lead to problems. Usual expert advice is to
> uninstall older versions before instaling the new.
>
> > This
> > computer is just over a year old with Vista pre-installed. There isn't
> > much in the way of garbage on it. Anyway, since it works in safe mode,
> > both Outlook and Windows safe mode, so how can I find what the cause.
>
> Again, since you've already investigated add-ins, and since working in safe
> mode usually indicates an add-in problem, a complete reinstallation may be
> of some benefit. Were this happening to me, I'd be looking in the add-in
> keys in the registry as well.
>
> > I am willing to spend the $50 and go to MS support, but can they do
> > anything more than what's been done (in your opinion)?
>
> If what I've suggested above doesn't help and since Microsoft gives you 90
> days free support with new versions, calling Microsoft is what I'd do.
> --
> Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]
>
>

Brian
Wed May 14 07:37:13 PDT 2008

Chris <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I posted a similiar problem somewhere on this board but I can't seem
> to find it. Basically, I went through all the steps and its still
> hanging like this posters. Runs fine in Outlook safe mode (send
> receive etc). Thinking of reinstalling -- but looks like I need to
> reinstall the whole suite rather than just Outlook since there is
> just that entry on the add/remove.

Use the Change option in the Office installer, select Outlook and change the
icon to "Not available". That will remove only Outlook.

> Question: anything special I need to do before a reinstall of office?

I'd be safe and make copies of your Outlook data.
--
Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

semmler0820
Thu May 15 07:51:50 PDT 2008

On May 14, 10:37=A0am, "Brian Tillman" <tillman1...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Chris <Ch...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> > I posted a similiar problem somewhere on this board but I can't seem
> > to find it. =A0Basically, I went through all the steps and its still
> > hanging like this posters. =A0Runs fine in Outlook safe mode (send
> > receive etc). =A0Thinking of reinstalling -- =A0but looks like I need to=

> > reinstall the whole suite rather than just Outlook since there is
> > just that entry on the add/remove.
>
> Use the Change option in the Office installer, select Outlook and change t=
he
> icon to "Not available". =A0That will remove only Outlook.
>
> > Question: =A0anything special I need to do before a reinstall of office?=

>
> I'd be safe and make copies of your Outlook data.
> --
> Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

Just an update, before I uninstall and start over again, I emailed MS
Office support and am working with someone to try to fix what I have.
So far we did the disable add-ins and create a new mail profile as
Brian discussed. No joy there. The MS guy asked me to send him copies
of two registry keys for Outlook add-ins, from the local machine and
local user keys. He sent me back a reg fix file, but that didn't help.
So, for what it's worth, that's where I stand at the moment. I will
try to keep you all (who are interested) informed.