OL97: How to Reset Outlook to a First-Run Condition

ID: Q171161

The information in this article applies to:

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.

SUMMARY

This article describes how to reset Microsoft Outlook 97 to First-Run status, to enable the "Welcome to Microsoft Outlook" greeting.

The article also describes how to have Outlook re-create sample welcome items, such as the welcome message, note, contact, appointment, and journal entry, and prompt you to use Microsoft Word as your e-mail editor.

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.

To reset Outlook to First-Run status, follow these steps:

1. Quit all programs.

2. Click the Start button, and then click Run.

3. In the Open box, type "regedit" (without the quotation marks), and click

OK.

4. Navigate to and click to select the following key:

      HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Office/8.0/Outlook

5. In the Name list, click to select the First-Run key.

6. If you only want to enable the "Welcome to Microsoft Outlook" greeting,

   click Modify on the Edit menu, and type the word "True" (without the
   quotation marks) in the Value Data box. Click OK.

   If you also want to re-create all sample welcome items and be prompted
   to set Word as your e-mail editor, click to select the First-Run key,
   and press DELETE. In the Confirm Value Delete dialog box, click Yes.

7. On the Registry menu, click Exit.

When you start Outlook, the "Welcome to Microsoft Outlook" greeting is displayed. Depending on what you did in step 6, you may also receive a prompt to use Word as your e-mail editor, and the following new sample items:

In your Inbox folder, a Welcome to Microsoft Outlook message.
In your Calendar folder, a Welcome to Calendar appointment.
In your Task folder, a Welcome to Tasks task.

In your Notes folder, a new note that reads:

      Notes are the electronic equivalent of paper sticky notes. Use notes
      to jot down questions, ideas, reminders, or anything you would write
      on note paper.

In your Journal folder, a journal entry for the "Welcome to Microsoft Outlook" e-mail message.

Keywords          : kbui StpOthr 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: December 22, 1998