For some users, messages in OWA have blank bodies 1

[zephyran]

We have an Exchange 5.5 SP4 server running on NT 4.0 Server SP6a. We are running Outlook Web Access and allow users to access it both internally and externally.

Some users are having a problem where when they access their e-mail through OWA, either inside or outside the LAN, they can log in, see the list of their messages, and open each message, but the body of their messages come up blank. When viewed with Outlook 98 on the LAN, the messages come up fine.

I followed an MS KBase article (number Q314532) that told about making sure that Everyone has Change access to the Temp directory used by Exchange, and that the Exchange server had IE 5.5 SP2 installed (I installed it and restarted the

http://WWW Publishing

service, per the article). However, the same users are still having the problem, while I and several others are not.

This problem started occurring suddenly within the past few weeks. These users had previously been able to access their message in OWA without any problems. Does anyone know what could be causing this problem, and how to resolve it? Thanks!

 

[Guest_imported]

Upgrade your internet explorer to 5.5 on the exchange server, I ran into a similar issue before....
Let me know how it works out

 

[zephyran]

I did the upgrade already, and that didn't fix it

 

[ChadStiller]

Just a thought - something I have noticed from my personal experience - OWA will not display the contents of an encrypted message. My boss setup internal emails to use the Outlook 2000 encryption method, and they contents of the messages are not viewable in OWA.

Not much, but maybe it will help.
Chad Stiller, MCSE
Ramcom Technology
cds@ramcom.com

 

[zephyran]

We're not using encrypted messages, so I don't think that's it.

 

[Guest_imported]

Have you tried re-applying the service pack for Exchange?

 

[zephyran]

No, I haven't.

Would that cause any problems with existing settings and/or data? I do realize I'd probably have to re-apply the post-SP4 fixes.

 

[JCDugas]

Re-applying the Service Pack will not change any settings or data. If you have customized OWA at all, i.e. Logon page to include your company logo, you will need to backup the page and restore it after you re-apply the SP.

JCD1

 

[zephyran]

Ok, thanks! I'll have to wait until next weekend to do it (so there's no downtime during operating hours), and I'll let you know how it works out!

 

[zephyran]

As a prelude to re-applying the service pack, I just tried re-applying the latest hotfix. This time, since I already have IE 5.5 SP2 installed, I'm hoping it will fix the problem. If not, I'll reapply the service pack next week. All the users that were having the problem are out for the holidays, though *<|, so I won't know until next week if it works.

 

[zephyran]

Interesting addition...
The users can view the message text in the Reply or Forward windows.

 

[Guest_imported]

Another interesting addition...
In our case, only Domain Admins can see the body message without enter in the reply or forward windows.

 

[zephyran]

That sounds much like the situation that's developing here. If that's the case, then the permissions have probably gotten messed up somewhere.

Does anyone know the file or directory used to populate the body of e-mails viewed in OWA?

 

[zephyran]

The problem only occurs in the message display window, not in the Reply or Forward windows (where they can see the message text correctly)

I've checked the source code for the message window, and here's where it looks like the problem starts:

In a message read on an account that is able to see message text (instead of a blank box), the message text code looks like this:



<!--- message text ----->
<TABLE width=&quot;100%&quot; border=1 cellspacing=2 cellpadding=6>
<TR ID=body>

<TD BGCOLOR=white width=100% height=300 valign=top colspan=2 >
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE=&quot;Arial&quot;>Subject of message.</FONT>
</P>
<BR>
<BR>
<UL><UL>
the code for displaying the message text follows,then these commands:

<P>                        <FONT SIZE=2 FACE=&quot;Arial&quot;>Jeff</FONT>
</P>
</UL></UL> 

</TD>

</TR>
</TABLE>

</BODY>
</HTML>



On an account that sees only a blank box, the code comes up like this:



<!--- message text ----->
<TABLE width=&quot;100%&quot; border=1 cellspacing=2 cellpadding=6>
<TR ID=body>

<TD BGCOLOR=white width=100% height=300 valign=top colspan=2 >
 

</TD>

</TR>
</TABLE>

</BODY>
</HTML>


Does this provide any info on what could be going wrong? Does anyone know which files I can check, or what I can do to fix this?

 

[Guest_imported]

Hello to All.....found the solution! Hope this helps you.

&quot;My&quot; problem is that users try to create a tmp file in the winnt dir....not permitted of corse....during the mail opening.

To change the temp location is necessary to create 2 more environmental variables, NOT AT THE USER level, TMP and TEMP in ie. c:\temp.

Rgds,
Luca

 

[zephyran]

I must be blind. I checked the User variables before, not the Sstem ones! I've applied the changes, and I'll reboot the server tonight to see if it works. If it does, then you are a genius LukeSW!

 

[zephyran]

It worked! Thanks LukeSW

 

[Guest_imported]

Don't worry about the permissions apply IE6 to your Exchange server. In our case solved the problem.

 

[Guest_imported]

To Wildmagpie8: it was a pleasure
To EMJules: Maybe is another solution too....I heard about that.

I didn't try this, because I have a BCK machine with OWA that it is working with IE 5.5

The difference between our two OWA in effect is the IE version (the &quot;issued&quot; has IE6)