XCLN: How to Restore the Outlook Icon to the Desktop

ID: Q238567

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Outlook, versions 2000, 97, 98

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SUMMARY

For Outlook 98 and Outlook 2000, if you delete the Outlook icon from the desktop, there is no interface to restore the icon back to the desktop. You cannot recover the icon by right-clicking the desktop and using the Undo Delete menu item.

For Outlook 97, the above is also true if you removed the Inbox icon from the desktop and converted the Outlook shortcut to a permanent desktop icon using the Chnginbx.exe utility from the Office 97 compact disc in the Valupack\Patch folder or from the Office Update Web site.

For additional information about the Chnginbx.exe utility, please click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q160297 OL97: How to Change Inbox Icon to Start Microsoft Outlook 97

MORE INFORMATION

When you attempt to delete the Outlook icon from the desktop, a Confirm Delete dialog box appears with one of the following messages:

Microsoft Outlook cannot be stored in the Recycle Bin.
Are you sure you want to delete Microsoft Outlook from your desktop? After you remove this icon from your desktop you can still access the files in this folder: C:\Program Files \Microsoft\Office\Office\
Are you sure you want to delete Microsoft Outlook from your desktop?

-or-

Microsoft Outlook cannot be stored in the Recycle Bin.
Are you sure you want to delete Microsoft Outlook from your desktop?

It is possible to restore the icon by adding a key in the Registry.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. 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" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).

Locate the following key in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\

On the Edit menu, click Add Key, and then add the following registry key:

Key Name: {00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}

Quit Registry Editor.

You must refresh the desktop to see the restored Outlook icon. To do this:

Minimize all open windows.

With the left mouse button, click on the desktop.

Press F5 to refresh the desktop.

Additional query words: missing deleted icon

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:2000,97,98
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto