Microsoft outlook stops responding

[sarah]

Hi,

I am running Win2K Pro on a LAN, there are approx 20-25 machines at the moment. The problem I am having is when some of the users try to use Microsot Outlook, it hangs, nothing happens, they can access other programs (i.e MS Word, Excel, etc), but Outlook doesn't seem to respond.

I have found to temporary fixes to this problem but would like someone to explain what is causing the problem.

The first fix is to restart the machine, log on and 9 times of out 10 Outlook works, but sometimes it doesn't.

The other one is when Outlook stops responding, I check Task Manager and there is usually more than one process for Outlook. As I end each process until all Outlook processes are ended, then try again, it works fine. Again, this only works 7 times out of 10.

Also its not always the same users who have this problem, different users get this problem on different days. More recently, it seems to be affecting users on a daily basis.

Has anyone had a problem with MS Outlook, or could anyone point me in the right direction - (tried the MS website, not really useful, online help has a fee, same goes for email support, and the forums are just a waste of time).

Thanks in advance

Sarah

[tommysphone]

Are some or any of the users making use of the preview pane and if so, are there any emails in their mailbox with embeded images in? I had a similar problem myself and found that this was the cause. The PC's just couldn't cope. They can now :) as I have educated people into attaching images rather than embedding them.

[sarah]

Hi Tommy,

I already checked for that, my understanding is that this is not the problem because if the user logs off and then logs back on again - outlook works fine, it doesn't stop responding, and there is no delay.

Thanks anyway

Sarah

[Jason]

is the instance of outlook on the local machines or are they connecting to a server machine to use outlook (like all users use a shortcut to another machine on the lan to use outlook)?


Jason

[sarah]

Hi Jason,

All the users are using local instances of outlook, I am looking into thin clients for the future using terminal services but nothing concrete on that yet

Sarah

[tommysphone]

Good luck fixing it and if I have a flash of inspiration I'll post it here.

ttfn.

[Jason]

outlook works with the patches for IE...you have done all the appropriate upgrades? When it hangs and you do a <ctrl><alt><del> what does the status of the file say? "not responding"? or is it just running and doing nothing? And what does the CPU/RAM graphs tell you? are they peaking when trying to load?


Jason

[sarah]

Hi Jason,

I have installed all the latest patches, service packs and done a microsoft update, still get the same problem - when I check task manager - it says program not responding

Sarah

[mouse]

What version of Outlook?

Also how's it set up? does it go straight to the inbox when opened?

Also you may want to disable the preview pane by selecting view => layout and unchecking the obvious (ie'show preview pane'). This should stop Outlook trying to do several things at once (ie download a message and display it on screen at the same time).

[sarah]

Hi Mouse,

We are using Microsoft Outlook 2000, the version number is 9.0.0.2711. Currently Outlook is setup to go direct to the Inbox. What I have asked the Users who are having this problem is to move all their emails from their inbox(es) to a temp folder within Outlook, and turn off the preview pane - but even this hasn't made any difference. Only 3 users didn't change their settings and they don't seem to have the problem anymore - what fixed it I don't know. They haven't changed any settings and neither have I.

Will keep you guys posted.

Sarah