Description of the Fixmapi.exe Tool Included with Internet Explorer 5

ID: Q228457

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 for Windows 95
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 for Windows 98
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 for Windows NT 4.0

SUMMARY

The Fixmapi.exe tool is included with Internet Explorer 5 to detect and aid in resolving conflicts with Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) files that may affect your ability to send and receive mail and faxes from other programs.

MORE INFORMATION

During the installation of Internet Explorer 5, the Fixmapi.exe file is copied to the Windows\System folder. Fixmapi.exe checks the version of a library file named Mapi32.dll and automatically restores a more recent version of Mapi32.dll if necessary.

The version of Fixmapi.exe included with Internet Explorer 5 does not display any status information while the tool is being run. The current version of the Mapi32.dll file is replaced if the current file is older than the updated version included with Internet Explorer 5.

Fixmapi.exe does not replace the current Mapi32.dll file if the file is marked as read-only. To check the Mapi32.dll file, click Start, point to Find, click Files or Folders type mapi32.dll in the Named box, and then click Find Now. When the Mapi32.dll file is located, right-click the file and then click Properties. Check to see if the Read-Only check box is selected. If it is, you may want to clear the check box and then click OK so that Fixmapi.exe can replace the Mapi32.dll file if necessary.

CAUTION: If you are running Microsoft Outlook 97 or Microsoft Outlook 98, running Fixmapi.exe replaces the Mapi32.dll file with a version that renders Outlook 97 or Outlook 98 unable to start. When you try to start Outlook, you receive the following error message:

Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Mapi32.dll is corrupt or the wrong version. This could have been caused by installing other messaging software. Please reinstall Outlook.

If this error message appears, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q193681 OL98: (CW) ErrMsg: Cannot Start Microsoft Outlook

Additional query words:


Keywords          : kbtool msiew95 msient msiew98 
Version           : WINDOWS:5
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: May 10, 1999