OL97: ErrMsg: "MAPI Spooler Has Shut Down Unexpectedly"

ID: Q162223

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Outlook 97

SYMPTOMS

Using Microsoft Outlook 97, you may receive the following error message:

   The MAPI Spooler has shut down unexpectedly. Close all
   mail-enabled applications before attempting to log on again.

CAUSE

This error can occur from one of the following conditions:

The System date is set beyond January 17, 2038.
A damaged personal message store (.pst) file has a message stuck in the Outbox.
A corrupted or outdated CompuServe Mail service.
You are using Microsoft Windows NT, and have removed Remote Access Services.

RESOLUTION

To Resolve the System Date Issue

Set the Windows System Date to the current date or a date earlier than January 17, 2038.

For more information on System Date issues, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID:  Q154595
   TITLE     :  XADM: Directory Won't Start if System Date Later Than 2038

To Resolve the Damaged .pst Issue

There are two steps to resolve the problem with a .pst file. First create a new profile and .pst file and then copy messages to the new .pst file.

Create a new profile and a new .pst file, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Outlook icon on the Desktop, and then click Properties.

2. Click Show Profiles, and then click Add.

3. Click the appropriate information services to add them to the

   profile.

4. Type a name in Profile Name, and then click Next.

5. Follow the instructions in the wizard to configure

   the information services.

6. When prompted for a Personal Folders file, make sure

   to specify a new file name. For example, instead of Mailbox.pst,
   use Mailbox2.pst.

7. Click Finish, and then click to select the new profile in the "When

   starting Windows Messaging, use this" box and click Close.

To copy the messages from your original .pst file to the new .pst file follow these steps:

1. Start Outlook, and on the Tools menu, click Services.

2. Click Add, click Personal Folders, and then click OK.

2. Locate the original .pst file, and then click Open.

3. Click OK, and then click OK.

4. Copy all of the messages from the original set of Personal Folders

   to the new Personal Folders, except for the Outbox.

To Resolve the Corrupted or Outdated CompuServe Mail Service

NOTE: The following steps apply only if you have not upgraded to the CompuServe enhanced POP3 e-mail client. Information about CompuServe's enhanced POP3 e-mail service can be found on their Web site at:

   http://world.compuserve.com/

Remove the CompuServe service from the current profile.

1. From the Tools menu, click Services.

2. Click the CompuServe service.

3. Click Remove and OK.

4. Re-install the CompuServe Mail service for Exchange.

To Resolve the Missing Remote Access Services Issue

Add the Remote Access Service, as follows:

1. Click Start point to Settings then click Control Panel.

3. Double-click the Network icon and on the Services tab click Add.

3. Click Remote Access Services.

4. Click OK and OK.

For additional information about this error in Windows NT, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

The following article deals with the Remote Access Service problem.

   ARTICLE-ID: Q158153
   TITLE     : Err Msg: The MAPI Spooler Has Shut Down Unexpectedly

The following article deals with the Personal Message Store problem.

   ARTICLE-ID: Q158917
   TITLE     : Err Msg: The MAPI Spooler Has Shut Down Unexpectedly

The following article deals with an attached file that has no file name extension.

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163512
   TITLE     : Err Msg: The MAPI Spooler Has Shut Down Unexpectedly

Additional query words: 97

Keywords          : kberrmsg kbfaq
Version           : WINDOWS:95
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: December 3, 1998