Outlook 2007 will not open new messages?

[cadenton]

I've been successfully using my Outlook 2007 for 3 years on my XP/Dell 4600 desktop.
Starting last week, everytime I try to open a new message (or any message in my inbox), the full window containing that message will not open. I can see the message(s) in the preview window. But when I select that message, it won't open full-screen. As a result -- I can't reply/forward the message.
When I try to open it, two other things happen. (1) the screen "flashes" like it is trying to expand/open the message window -- but it doesn't open, and (2) a "tab" at the bottom of the screen appears in the task bar, as though the new message window was opened (however, when I right-click on the "tab," I can't open or maximize it.
Any ideas/thoughts?

 

[cmeagan656]

Have you tried running "Office Diagnostics" on Outlook? (Help ->Office Diagnostics)

Hope this helps.

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[cadenton]

I'm at my computer now -- and I noticed it's Outlook 2003, not 2007. How time flies! Anyway, I tried the "Detect and Repair -- under the "Help" drop-down," but it didn't fix the problem.
Thanks though. Any other ideas?

 

[tlcscousin]

When you open the message it opens in a new window have you checked for a popup blocker?
Normally a popup blocker should not block that kind of thing, but stranger things have happened.

 

[cmeagan656]

Try doing a "Detect and Repair" (Help ->Detect and Repair) on Outlook then. It's more or less the same thing just a different name in OL2K3.

Hope this helps.

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[cmeagan656]

Sorry, I didn't fully read your previous post before posting my reply. I see that you've already done a "Detect and Repair".

Hope this helps.

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[cmeagan656]

Assuming that you have the "Standard" toolbar showing can you hit the "Reply" or "Forward" button and get the e-mail open that way? Hitting the "Reply" or "Forward" without the e-mail open doesn't technically open the original e-mail, it opens the e-mail ready for reply or forward.

Hope this helps.

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[cadenton]

This is (getting?) worse than I thought. I just noticed that I can't even open a brand new window to start a fresh new email. When I click the "New" button, the same little flash/jump occures on the screen (and a new "window tab" appears in the task bar at the bottom of the screen) -- but I can't get a new window to open...so I can't compose a new email.

I hate to have to do it -- but how do you feel about uninstalling and re-installing Outlook?

How do I save all of my thousands of old email messages, if I end up uninstalling/reinsatlling?

Thanks.

 

[cmeagan656]

How large is your PST file? In your folder list ( or some similar name - I'm using OL2K7 and can't remember the exact wording for OL2K3) right click on Personal Folders and select "Personal Folder properties..." then click on the "Folder Size" button.

You could try doing a Scan PST on your mailbox.

Hope this helps.

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[cadenton]

My PST is 557414 KB. Is that too big?

 

[NetRx]

Anything under 2,000,000KB is safe. A scanPST wouldn't hurt although I'm suspecting this to be an issue with using Word as the editor. I'm assuming you have Office and not simply Outlook installed? If so, try the following:

1. From the main Microsoft Outlook window, on the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Mail Format tab.
2. Select or clear the Use Microsoft Word to edit e-mail messages check box.
3. Restart Outlook and try again

If that doesn't work, create a new Outlook profile to test:

1. Start > Control Panel > Mail
2. Show profiles > Add > Walk through wizard and enter in your POP or IMAP settings
3. After you finish the wizard, choose 'Prompt for a profile to be used' then close the 'Mail' applet
4. Start Outlook and choose the new profile you created and test with a new message

Reinstalling Outlook will not cause you to lose any e-mails. You will simply need to relink your personal folders after the install. If I remember correctly, you may not even need to do that. Everything might reappear.

 

[DonKlein]

Why not take the machine back to a restore point before the problem began?

Don

 

[cadenton]

I did a scanPST, but no improvement.
I changed the Word editor. Still no improvement.
Maybe I should change the restore point?

 

[cmeagan656]

When I click the "New" button, the same little flash/jump occures on the screen (and a new "window tab" appears in the task bar at the bottom of the screen)

I just noticed this sentence. Have you tried clicking on the new "window tab" in the task bar? I had a user that had somehow set one of his applications to always open minimized and the symptoms were the same as yours.

Hope this helps.

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[cadenton]

I'm sorry. I'm a little slow here. Can you please tell me exactly where to find the "new "window tab" in the task bar?" Thanks.

 

[cmeagan656]

I was quoting you in my comment. In you original post you stated, "When I try to open it, two other things happen. (1) the screen "flashes" like it is trying to expand/open the message window -- but it doesn't open, and (2) a "tab" at the bottom of the screen appears in the task bar, as though the new message window was opened (however, when I right-click on the "tab," I can't open or maximize it."

Have you tried just left clicking it to maximize it?

Hope this helps.

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[cadenton]

Oh. Sorry. I get it. Yes, I tried left clicking the tab. It flashes briefly, expanding quickly across the screen, like it's going to open/maximize a new window -- but nothing appears. When I click the tab again, it flashes briefly again and the "unopened" window appears to again fash across the screen -- appearing like it's tring to compress/minimize the "unopened" window. Ultimately, a window is never opened.

 

[cadenton]

I've also just now discovered that my Word program will not open a new document window. In fact, it won't open anything. It just creates the small tab in the task bar down at the bottom of the screen. It does that same thing as Outlook -- with the brief maximize/flash across the screen -- then nothing. What's going on here (PowerPoint and Excel both work fine).