Microsoft Outlook Technical Support

In Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail and Outlook Express, printing an email message is a lot easier than writing a properly formatted reply.

Print an Email in Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail or Outlook Express

To print a message from Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail or Outlook Express:

Highlight the message you want to print in its mailbox.Unfortunately, you cannot select and print multiple messages at once.

Click the Print toolbar button.Alternatively, select File | Print... from the menu orhit Ctrl-P.

Adjust any printer settings you deem necessary.

Click Print.

Typical Microsoft Outlook error messages

This page covers what you can do if you encounter any of the following MS Outlook error messages:

Outlook.pst is not a personal folders file.Errors have been detected in the file <file_path>. Quit all mail-enabled applications, and then use the Inbox Repair Tool.The set of folders cannot be opened. Errors have been detected in the file Outlook.pst. Quit Outlook and all mail-enabled applications, and then use the Inbox repair tool (Scanpst.exe) to diagnose and repair errors in the file...Outlook.pst can not be accessed - 0x80040116.

The recovery procedure is pretty much the same for all of these messages.

Things you can try yourself

Close Outlook, then close all the other programs, and reboot the system to see if the problem just goes away on its own.Backup the Outlook email storage files as a precautionary measure. This is done by simply copying the appropriate PST files. Make sure Outlook is not running during backup. At the same time, check if any of these are close to, or exceed 2GB (gigabyte) size limit (see below).For files larger than 2GB, Microsoft has a tool, PST2GB, to get rid of an extra data, available for free download from Microsoft website. Be advised thatuse of PST2GB causes some messages to be lostthe 2GB limit is problematic only for older versions of Outlook (2002 and earlier)

Try Scanpst Inbox Repair Tool (freeware from Microsoft) to fix the Outlook email storage. Step-by-step instructions on using ScanPst.

If you still cannot access all of your email messages, or if you need to keep collateral damage at minimum, try to use Zmeil email recovery tool to extract the email messages from the damaged email storage file.

These error messages may occur if Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Outlook Express cannot establish a connection with your e-mail server. These error messages are frequently caused by one of the following:

You are not connected to the Internet or a network, or your mail server is temporarily unavailable.Your account settings are incorrect.Your user profile in Outlook is damaged.An e-mail item on your POP3 server is damaged.The configuration of your AV software is incorrect.Outlook Express was removed from the computer or the installation is damaged.The configuration of your personal firewall software is incorrect.

1: Verify that you are connected to the Internet

2: Verify your account settings

3: Start Outlook in safe mode

4: Create a new e-mail profile

5: Delete suspicious messages from your mailbox

6: Check your antivirus vendor's Web site for additional suggestions

7: Repair Outlook Express

8: Verify that all SMTP e-mail addresses in a distribution list are valid

9: Examine the configuration of your firewall software

Itend to install every I come across. Maybe I like it. But maybe I don't, and over time a lot of stationery has accumulated in my stationery folder, making it ever more difficult to find the ones I like. Time to do some cleaning!

To delete old and unwanted stationery from Outlook Express:

Click on the down arrow on the Create Mail button.Select Select Stationery from the menu.In the list of stationery that comes up,click with the right mouse button on any stationery file you want to delete andselect Delete from the pop-up menu to remove it.

Note that this will not remove any files associated with the stationery (like images and sounds, for example), but it will certainly help you keep the list of available stationery in Outlook Express clean.

If the stationery you just deleted still shows up in the Create Mail drop-down menu in Outlook Express, there's a way to get rid of this entry, too.

Being able to access a Hotmail account in Outlook Express is great — if (and as long as) it works.

If it does not, the guessing game begins. Outlook Express can keep a log of all the commands it sends to and receives from Hotmail to help you with troubleshooting.

Log Hotmail Traffic in Outlook Express for Troubleshooting

To log Hotmail traffic in Outlook Express:

Select Tools | Options... from the menu in Outlook Express.Go to the Maintenance tab.Under Troubleshooting, make sure HTTP is selected.Click OK.

Opening the Log File

To view the log file, search your hard drives for "http.log".

To turn Hotmail logging off again in Outlook Express (after you have successfully reestablished contact with Hotmail), follow the steps above, but make sure HTTP is not checked.

Usually, sending and receiving mail works smoothly in Outlook. But as soon as you have become a bit too accustomed to this error-free email existence, a puzzling and ill-explained error pops up.

If the unexplained error does not go away, only a log can help. Outlook can create a detailed list of what it is doing, sending and receiving as it tries to exchange mail. Using this log, you can either pinpoint the problem yourself or at least show it to your ISP's mail support person, for example.

Outlook can log all communication with Exchange, POP, SMTP and IMAP servers as well as Hotmail communication.

Troubleshoot Email Problems in Outlook with Transaction Logging

To log email traffic for troubleshooting in Outlook:

Select Tools | Options... from the menu in Outlook.Go to the Other tab.Click Advanced Options.Make sure Enable logging (troubleshooting) (or Enable mail logging (troubleshooting) in Outlook 2003) is enabled.Click OK.

Click OK again.Exit and restart Outlook.

Now it's time to

attempt the failed email action — sending the message or retrieving new mail, for example — again

to reproduce the error. After you have generated the error, make sure you

uncheck Enable logging (troubleshooting) (or Enable mail logging (troubleshooting)) again

via the steps outlined above before you restart Outlook once more.

Find the Log File

While turning transaction logging on or off is easy in Outlook, finding the log files can be a bit more involved:

Select Run... from the Start menu.Type "%temp%" (without the quotation marks).Click OK.

POP and SMTP:Open the OPMLog.log file in the folder that opens.

IMAP:Open the Outlook Logging folder.Go to the folder named after your IMAP account.Open the imap0.log, imap1.log etc. files.

Hotmail:Open the Outlook Logging and then the Hotmail folder.

Open the http0.log, http1.log etc. files.

Outlook 2000 Corporate or Workgroup mode (CW)

Start Outlook.On the Tools menu, click Services.On the Services tab, select Internet E-mail, and then click Properties.Click the Advanced tab.Gradually increase the server time-out setting until the problem is resolved.

Outlook 2000 Internet Mail Only (IMO)

Start Outlook.On the Tools menu, click Accounts.Select the target account, and then click Properties.Click the Advanced tab.Gradually increase the server time-out setting until the problem is resolved.

Outlook 2002 and Outlook 2003

Start Outlook.On the Tools menu, click E-mail Accounts.Click View or change existing e-mail accounts, and then click Next.Click your POP3 account, and then click Change.Click More Settings.Click the Advanced tab.Gradually increase the server time-out setting until the issue is resolved.

Outlook 2007

Start Outlook.On the Tools menu, click Account Settings.Click to select the target POP3 account, and then click Change.Click More Settings.Click the Advanced tab.Gradually increase the server time-out setting until the issue is resolved.

Outlook 2010

Start Outlook.On the Files menu, click Info.Click Account Settings, and then select Account Settings from the list.Click to select the target POP3 account, and then click Change.Click More Settings.Click the Advanced tab.Gradually increase the server time-out setting until the issue is resolved.

Outlook Express 5.x and 6.0

Start Outlook Express.On the Tools menu, click Accounts.Click the Mail tab.Click your POP3 account, and then click Properties.Click the Advanced tab.

Gradually increase the server time-out setting until the problem is resolved

Click Start, and then click Run.Copy and paste, or type the following command in the Open box, and then press ENTER:

control panel

Note If you are using a 64-bit version of Windows, double-click View 32-bit Control Panel in Control Panel to display the Mail icon.

Open the Mail Setup dialog box:

For Windows 7:If Control Panel is in either Large icons or Small icons view, click Mail. The Mail Setup dialog box appears.If Control Panel is in Category view, under View by, click to select either Large icons or Small icons, and then click Mail. The Mail Setup dialog box appears.

For Windows Vista or Windows XP:

If Control Panel is in Classic View, double-click Mail. The Mail Setup dialog box appears.If Control Panel is in Category View, under Control Panel, click Switch to Classic View for Windows XP, or click Classic View for Windows Vista, and then double-click Mail. The Mail Setup dialog box appears.

In the Mail Setup dialog box, click Show Profiles.On the General tab, under When starting Microsoft Office Outlook, use this profile, click Prompt for a profile to be used, and then click Add.In the Profile Name box, type the name that you want to use for the new e-mail profile, and then click OK.In the E-mail Accounts dialog box, click Add a new e-mail account, and then click Next.Click the appropriate server type for your new e-mail account, and then click Next.Type your account information in the required boxes, and then click Next.Click Finish, and then click OK.

Note By default, both the Outlook Address Book and the personal folders (.pst) files are automatically added to each new e-mail profile, except for those e-mail profiles that are created in Microsoft Exchange Server. By default, .pst files are not added to each new e-mail profile in Exchange Server

Logging for Troubleshooting and Curiosity

Email works. Sometimes, however, it decides on your behalf that you want to learn a bit about how it works under the pretty surface of Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail or Outlook Express. Via error messages and emails not received it directed you to this page, and it will take you to seeing log files of POP or IMAP traffic. Fascinating stuff!

Logging POP and IMAP — the protocols used by Windows Mail and Outlook Express to receive messages — is not only very interesting an endeavor per se, often it also allows you to pinpoint the problem, get an idea where it might lie or confirm that it is not your fault. Pay close attention to what the server says in particular.

Log POP and IMAP Traffic to Troubleshoot Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail or Outlook Express Email Problems

To log POP and IMAP traffic in Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail or Outlook Express:

Select Tools | Options... from the menu.In Windows Live Mail, hold down the Alt key if you do not see the menu bar.

In Windows Live Mail and Windows Mail:Go to the Advanced tab.Click Maintenance....

In Outlook Express:Go to the Maintenance tab.

Make sure both General and E-mail (Windows Live Mail) or both Mail and IMAP (Windows Mail and Outlook Express) are checked under Troubleshooting.Click OK.

Now, when you try to download mail from your POP account or access your email on the IMAP server, Windows Mail or Outlook Express takes note of everything going on.

For the gory details to surface, you need to find the log files created by Windows Mail or Outlook Express and open them in a text editor like Notepad. I'll try to make this sound as frighteningly difficult as possible so you'll be delighted by how easy you find the process. No, it's really simple.

Find the Log Files Created by Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail or Outlook Express

To open the Windows Live Mail log file:

Go to your Windows Live Mail store folder.Open the "Windows Live Mail .log" file in Notepad.

To locate the POP and IMAP log files created by Windows Mail or Outlook Express:

If you use a file search tool, try looking for "Pop3.log" to find the log file for POP connections and looking for "Imap4.log" to locate the log file for the first IMAP connection (further, parallel IMAP connections will have log files named "Imap4(1).log", "Imap4(2).log" and so on created in the same directory as "Imap4.log").You can also open your Windows Mail or Outlook Express store folder and find the "Pop3.log" and "Imap4.log" files in it.

Suggested Reading

Log SMTP Traffic to Troubleshoot Windows Live Mail or Outlook Express Sending...Remove an Email Account from Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail or Outlook Express

Hide Deleted Messages in an IMAP Account in Windows Mail or Outlook Express

Think about the types of emails you get: personal mail from friends and family, newsletters, work-related messages, and lots of spam.

By default, all these emails arrive in your Outlook Express Inbox indiscriminately. What a mess.

Wouldn't it be nice if Outlook Express could clean up the mess automatically, filing mail in appropriate folders? With the help of POP File, a smart email classification tool, it can. Here's how to set it up.

Auto-File Mail and Spam in Outlook Express with POP File

To leverage POP File in Outlook Express for classifying mail and canning spam automatically:

Configure Outlook Express to work with POP File.Set up buckets for all your email categories.Create Outlook Express folders corresponding to the buckets.Make sure POP File Subject line modification is turned on.Select Tools | Message Rules | Mail... from the menu in Outlook Express.For each POP File bucket:Click New....Make sure Where the Subject line contains specific words is checked under 1. Select the Conditions for your rule:.Now check Move it to the specified folder under 2. Select the Actions for your rule:.Click on contains specific words under 3. Rule Description.Type "[{bucket name}]".If the bucket is named "spam", for example, you'd type "[spam]".

Click Add.Click OK.Click on specified in Copy it to the specified folder.Highlight the destination folder.Click OK.Give the rule a name under 4. Name of the rule:.Click OK.

Click OK again.

Microsoft Office Outlook shines as an email client with great talent for organizing (virtual folders, fast search), solid spam and phishing filters, and seamless integration with to-do lists and scheduling. Outlook's message templates could be more flexible, though, and its smart folders could learn from example.

Pros

Outlook comes with solid and effective spam filtering and blocks phishing attemptsSnappy, flexible search, virtual folders and mail grouping help you organize mailOutlook integrates email messages, to-do lists and scheduling well

Cons

Outlook is a bit confusing to set up and can be confusing to use with its myriad of options, tooYou cannot create smart folders or flags that learn by exampleOutlook lacks useful message templates, and its RSS feed reader flexibility

Description

Microsoft Office Outlook manages multiple POP, IMAP, Exchange, MSN and Hotmail accounts.Outlook offers powerful filters and ways to organize, label and find messages.Effective junk mail and phishing filters move unsolicited messages to a "Junk E-mail" folder automatically.Outlook offers "Search Folders", which automatically contain all items matching certain criteria.Searching for any message in any folder or account is pleasantly fast in Outlook.Outlook supports S/MIME email encryption and IRM access control (e.g. mail can't be forwarded).To protect your privacy, Outlook doesn't download remote images, can display all mail in plain text.Outlook attachment preview lets you view many types of attached files right inside the message.An integrated RSS feed reader treats news items like emails.Microsoft Office Outlook supports Windows XP/Vista.

Guide Review - Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 SP2 - Email Program

Whatever you want to do with email, chances are Outlook delivers.

Its easy to use spam and phishing filters effectively sort out the junk (set the filtering level to "high"), and Outlook's intelligent use of virtual folders, fast message searching, flagging, grouping and threading make dealing with even large amounts of good mail a snap. The included RSS feed reader lacks sophistication, but it does turn up news items as emails automatically — and typically that's just right.

It's a pity you can't train the junk mail filters — or even Outlook's otherwise so perfectly helpful categories. They could learn by example how you sort your mail. Unfortunately, Outlook also offers no way to apply categories to messages in IMAP accounts (they do work and roam perfectly with Exchange accounts).

Utility and ubiquity aside, Outlook is probably as well known as a target for viruses as it as a personal assistant. In spite — or because — of this history, Outlook 2007 goes to great lengths protecting your privacy and security. Outlook supports S/MIME message encryption, lets you display all mail in super-secure plain text only and even sports a custom, more secure, HTML message viewer.

Of course, Outlook has powerful filters and can be programmed to do many tasks automatically or expanded to learn new tricks with add-ons. Setting up flexible message templates for boilerplate replies isn't included, though.

While email editing works like a charm and with all the comfort you know from Word, there is one thing you'll find Outlook cannot do: rewrap the text if you prefer to write your email replies with the original message text indented the way some internet purists prefer.

More annoyingly, Outlook seems sluggish at times, when previewing an attachment in an IMAP account, for example, or — when opening a message.