DOCUMENT:Q248148 22-JUN-2001 [exchange] TITLE :XCLN: The Signature Could Not Be Located PRODUCT :Microsoft Exchange PROD/VER:WINDOWS:2000,97,98 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Outlook 2000 - Microsoft Outlook 97 - Microsoft Outlook 98 - Microsoft Exchange Server, version 5.5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you compose a new message in Outlook, you may encounter the following error message: The signature "(name.sig)" could not be located. This signature may have been removed. CAUSE ===== This error can occur for several reasons: - You have manually deleted the signature file or it is located on a network drive that is currently inaccessible. - You have edited the signature file using Word or Excel and have not quit the Office application. - You have uninstalled Outlook 2000 and attempted to use Outlook 97 or 98 without rebooting and reinstalling the Outlook client. WORKAROUND ========== Workarounds for the possible causes are as follows: - Recreate the deleted signature file, and then retry creating a new message, or remap the network drive that is currently unavailable. - Quit the Office application that is locking the file open, and then compose a new message. - Reboot the computer and reinstall the Outlook client. Outlook 2000, 98, and 97 use a different registry key location to specify where to store the signature file, so you may want to copy the .sig file to another location for later use. STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbOutlookSearch kbOutlook2000Search kbOutlook97Search kbOutlook98Search kbZNotKeyword3 Version : WINDOWS:2000,97,98 Issue type : kbbug Solution Type : kbpending ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.