OL97: Outlook Always Starts With Outlook Bar and Folder List Off

• Microsoft Outlook 97

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

If you start Microsoft Outlook 97 by checking e-mail from Microsoft Internet Explorer or the Microsoft Network (MSN) Viewer, Outlook opens the Inbox with the Outlook Bar and Folder List turned off. This is different behavior than when you start Outlook from either the Programs menu or a shortcut on the Windows desktop. When you start Outlook by itself, Outlook preserves the settings for the Outlook Bar and Folder List from when you last exited Outlook.

CAUSE

When you start Outlook by clicking Mail and then Read Mail from Internet Explorer, or by clicking Communicate and then Send or Read E-mail from the MSN Viewer, Outlook opens the Inbox. In this scenario, the Outlook Bar and Folder List are always off. A setting in the Windows Registry controls this behavior.

RESOLUTION

To change Outlook's behavior, you must edit the Windows Registry setting.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.

1. Quit all programs.

2. On the Windows Taskbar, click Start and then click Run.

3. In the Open box, type regedit and then click OK.

4. Under My Computer, navigate to the following registry key:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Microsoft Outlook\shell\ open\command

5. Click command in the above key, and under the Name column click (Default).

6. On the Registry Editor Edit menu, click Modify. In the Value data box you should see the following path string:

   "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OUTLOOK.EXE"Outlook:Inbox

7. In the Value data box, delete Outlook:Inbox and click OK.

8. On the Registry menu, click Exit.