Question Locked

Outlook constipated

0 helpful
4 replies
Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

Hi All,

I have a client with a weird Outlook problem, he can't send emails.
Outlook is also the mail handler for a POS system, but started to refuse to send emails from it. Outlook Express works OK in both situations.
Recently a calender/task sharing program, "Group Outlook" was trialled, but, because of difficulties in trying to pay for it, was left to run out of demo time, and has been uninstalled from problem computer (after problems started). Client says that email problem started when this program quit.

System setup

4 computers in peer to peer network, three using Outlook, two with no problems, other than handling mail for the POS system - OE set to do this and works well.

OS XP mix of Pro and home - problem computer is Home, not sure of the other two.

Outlook 2003

Symptoms

Outlook is continually trying to send something - the sending / receiving notification pops up and after a while an error message " Unknown error 0x800ccc0b" occurs. This happens every five minutes or so, driving him nuts. Its like an outgoing message is stuck in the pipeline between the outbox and actually going somewhere, and keeps triggering a send.

My testing.
An email will get sent if it is done after Outlook has been opened, then it tries to send message 2 of 2. Note: only one message was sent, outbox is empty.
Cancelling the send clears everything, but shortly after the whole cycle repeats - sending 1 of 1 messages.

Another error that pops up is "08004120b The operation has timed out".

Googled error messages and this seems to be a common problem. Other than an M$ "fix" nothing else was suggested.

M$ fix is a support note for Outlook 2002, tried their hotfix - didn't work.
Tried upgrading with SP3 - didn't work
Scanned for everything, with spybot, adaware and eTrust antivirus - nothing.
Repaired Office installation - didn't work.
Turned off all firewalls - no difference.
Created a new account and nuked the old one - didn't work.
I've tried all I can think of, and not being too offay with Outlook am now joining my client in going nuts.

Is there an Outlook guru out there who can shed some light on this, please?

Herb

4 replies

by rob miners

From another PC download and install these two programs and copy the the installed folders to a USB Stick.

Restart the PC in Safe Mode and turn off System Restore and run Sophos when you have completed the 4 steps run Spybot.

Download Sophos and the latest IDE Files. Install it and extract the IDE files to the SAV32CLI folder. I normally create batch Files for the 4 runs. EG: Sav1.bat cd\SAV32CLI SAV32CLI -P=C:\SCANLOG.TXT
http://www.sophos.com/support/knowledgebase/article/13251.html

Running an information scan To run a scan for information only, so as to create a log, type the following at the command prompt: SAV32CLI -P=C:\SCANLOG.TXT This will create a log of infected files, but will not disinfect or delete any infected files. You can then copy the log to a floppy disk for printing or emailing. If you run SAV32CLI without the -P command line parameter, the information on viruses will be written only to the screen. Disinfecting infected files To disinfect infected items with SAV32CLI, use the '-di' command line parameter. If a file is infected more than once (either with different viruses, or several cases of the same virus), you might need to run multiple scans to disinfect all virus infections. Do not use the command line parameter '-remove' in the same scan as '-di', as you could delete a file which could have been cleaned. If the infection on the computer seems to be progressing rapidly, back up your data to CD or DVD before attempting disinfection. The '-di' command line parameter will disinfect infected boot sectors, some infected program (.exe) files, and infected documents (e.g. .doc, .xls). So, if your computer has been infected by a number of viruses, macro viruses, and worms, shut down the infected processes (either manually, or by using safe mode with command prompt), then run a series of scans to disinfect and remove these malicious programs. Make a log of all scans. First run SAV32CLI -DI -P=C:\SCANLOG1.TXT Make a note of the number of files disinfected. Run the scan again, with a different log name SAV32CLI -DI -P=C:\SCANLOG2.TXT If the number of files disinfected has decreased, run a third scan. If it has not, or the number is '0', remove all other virus files: SAV32CLI -REMOVE -P=C:\REMOVLOG.TXT The above scans will disinfect all files that can be disinfected, and remove the rest. During this process any infected documents will have been disinfected. Check the relevant virus analysis to find out if the virus involved could have corrupted data in the document. If you check the logs, you may well find that some worm or Trojan files were infected with a virus, so they were first disinfected, then removed.

Download Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.5.2 and install it. Update it. http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Take note of anything that can't be removed and check this link.

http://forum.worldstart.com/showthread.php?t=43513

If everything is OK and you think that you are clean re-enable Systen Restore.
Just to be safe try this too.

RootKit
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897445.aspx

by ozi eagle

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

I ahd done heaps of scans, but didn't try your suggestion.

As I had already spent hours messing around, and the client is on a support plan, I wound up nuking the HDD and reloarding everything.

Herb

by rob miners

It does work but unfortunately it takes a long time. :)

This discussion is closed to new replies.