OL98: How to Reset Outlook to a First-Run Condition

ID: Q181055

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Outlook 98

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 98 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:

Quit all programs.

Click the Start button, and then click Run.

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

Navigate to and click to select the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Office/8.0/Outlook/

In the Name list, click to select the FirstRunDialog key.

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, Navigate to and click to select the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Office/8.0/Outlook/Setup

In the Name list click to select and delete the following keys:
CreateSamples
CreateWelcome
First-Run
In the Confirm Value Delete dialog box, click Yes for each entry.

On the Registry menu, click Exit.

When you start Outlook, the "Welcome to Microsoft Outlook" greeting is displayed. You will receive 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.

Additional query words:


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

Last Reviewed: July 30, 1999