OL2000: Error Message "Unable to Open the Outlook Window" When You Start Outlook

ID: Q252304

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Outlook 2000
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.

SYMPTOMS

When you start Outlook, you may receive the following error message:

Unable to open the Outlook window.
Following the error message, Outlook fails to start.


CAUSE

This may be caused when the registry key that stores the profile settings for Outlook is damaged. To resolve this problem, delete the registry key, restart Outlook, and then configure a new profile.


RESOLUTION

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).

To Delete the Registry Key

  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.


  2. Navigate to the appropriate key for the version of Microsoft Windows you are using:


    3. For Windows 95 or Windows 98: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Messaging

    For Windows NT: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem
  3. Delete the Profiles key under the Windows Messaging (Subsystem) key by right-clicking Profiles, and then clicking Delete. Click Yes to confirm deletion.


  4. Quit the Registry Editor and restart Outlook.



MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about creating profiles in Outlook, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q195718 OL2000: (CW) How to Create a New User Profile for Outlook
Q195723 OL2000: (IMO) Creating a New Personal Folder For an IMO Account

Additional query words: OL2K

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: February 1, 2000
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