IT Queries: Computer problems answered

Outlook 2003 keeps freezing.  Mainly when I am in the calendar or contact pages.

It souds like you have a rogue add-in such as mobile phone synchronisation package that’s gumming up the works.

The first step is to disable Outlook Add-Ins to see if that clears the problem.

In Outlook 2003 click Tools then Options. Once you’re in the the Options screen click the Other tab and the Advanced button.

In the Advanced settings, click the Add-Ins button and you will have a list of Outlook Add-Ins installed, the ones that are operational have ticks beside them.

Take the ticks off ones you aren’t using, restart Windows and see if the problem goes away. If it continues, take the ticks off other add-ins one at a time and see if any of those clear the problem.

I tried the Microsoft Office 2007 trial version. I decided to go back to Office XP. However, now Outlook reports an error message “‘Unknown error 0xF5940107 Could not open the item. Try again” when opened.
Also, all my Outlook pst files that I saved in Outlook 2007 now give the following message:
“Unable to display the folder. Microsoft Outlook could not access the specified folder location. Could not open the item. Try again.”

The Business Contact Manager displays the following error:
”Unable to display the folder. Microsoft Outlook could not access the specified folder location. An unexpected error has occurred. MAPI was unable to load the information service BCMMS.DLL. Be sure the service is correctly installed and configured.”

The only pst files that will open are older files containing pre-2007 emails, that were not updated by Outlook 2007.
Do I need to purchase Outlook 2007 to restore these folders?

The problem is Outlook 2007 and 2003 stores their files slightly differently to earlier versions of Outlook. When you did the upgrade to 2007, you chose to convert the pst file which contains Outlook data to the new version.

Now you’ve gone back to Outlook 2002, the system can’t read the 2007 formatted file.

The solution is easy if you still have Outlook 2007 as Microsoft describe on their knowledge base article, “You receive a “.pst is not compatible” error message when you open an Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2007 .pst file in earlier versions of Outlook”

The problem for you is getting Outlook 2003 or 2007 on your system. In the first instance, try re-installing the Outlook 2007 trial, if the original trial hadn’t expired, you may be able to do the export.

If it hasn’t, then the best solution would be to find a friend, neighbour or colleage with Outlook 2003 or 7 and copy the file to their computer where you can then do the export.

Finally, your local computer guy may be able to help. Most computer shops and mobile techs will have a computer running a recent version of Outlook and can do this work for you.

I was working on a word document at uni then emailed it to myself to work on at home later. When home i open the file from my email ( not save it) and work on it for several hours. I then click “Save” and close the document only to find out that it hasn’t saved into the usual document folder. Can i still get this file back and how. Many thanks

This is some bizarre behaviour by Microsoft that dumps Outlook attachments deep in your temporary files rather than your documents folder.

To find the lost documents first set your computer to view hidden and system files.

Once you’ve followed those instructions go to a folder starting with OLK (sometimes OLK92) in the following folder  C:\Documents and Settings\your user name\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files and you’ll find the file there.

You can permanently change where Outlook dumps the file by following Microsoft’s instructions on setting the default attachment folder in Outlook but be warned that changing the registry is a task best left to experts.

I am upgrading from Office 2003-2007. How I keep all my outlook contacts and emails as I replace Office 2003.

Outlook 2003 and 2007 use what’s known as Personal Storage (.pst) files. Outlook 2007 can use 2003 pst files, but it doesn’t work the other way.

Generally, the upgrade goes fine and all your emails, addresses and tasks transfer across to 2007 without problem.

However it’s always good to err on the side of caution and back up your 2003 pst file just in case things go wrong.

On our PC Rescue website we have the instructions on backing up the files and a link to the microsoft tool that does this automatically.

I run a mailing list for my football club and I’ve started using Outlook to send invites for meetings and events. The people who don’t use Outlook are complaining they can’t read the invites. How do I fix this?

The problem is the format Microsoft Outlook uses for invites. The industry standard is  iCalendar which applications like GroupWise and Google Calendar can read, however Outlook uses its own format which most other programs can’t read.

Outlook 2003 and 2007 will allow you to change the setting so you can send the calendar invitations.

Open Outlook and click Tools, Options then select the Preference tab. Click the Calendar Options button and tick the box alongside “When sending meeting requests over the Internet, use iCalendar format”. 

Click okay and the problem should be resolved. 

Note that people using older versions of Outlook may not be able read iCalendar invites and Outlook Express doesn’t support calendars at all.