OL97: Messaging Interface Has Returned an Unknown Error

ID: Q172350

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you check for new mail, send a fax, or create a new Calendar item in Microsoft Outlook 97, the attempt fails and you receive the message: 

   The messaging interface has returned an unknown error.  If the problem
   persists, start Outlook again.
NOTE: Other actions, such as deleting items from the calendar, inbox, and contacts may generate this message, but these are the most common.

RESOLUTION

Finding a solution to this problem can be difficult. Follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve your problem.

Use the Inbox Repair Tool

1. If Outlook is open, on the File menu, click Exit and Log Off.

2. Click the Start button, point to Settings, then click Control Panel.

3. Double-click Mail and Fax. (If you do not have the fax service 

   installed, it will simply be Mail.)
4. On the Services tab, click Personal Folders and then click Properties. 
   Make a note of the information in the Path field, then click OK.
5. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System 
   Tools, then click Inbox Repair Tool.
6. Type the path to your Personal Folders file from Step 4, then click 
   Start. After the file is scanned, click OK.
7. Start Outlook and check for new mail, send a fax, or create a new 
   Calendar item.
If this does not resolve the problem, continue with the following steps.

Create a New Personal Folders File

Create a new personal folders file by following these steps:

1. If Outlook is open, on the File menu, click Exit and Log Off.

2. Click the Start button, point to Settings, then click Control Panel.

3. Double-click Mail and Fax. (If you do not have the fax service 

   installed, it will simply be Mail.)
4. On the Services tab, click Personal Folders and then click Properties. 
   Make a note of the information in the Path field, then click OK.
5. On the Services tab, click Personal Folders, then click Remove.

6. Click Add, click Personal Folders from the list of available 

   information services, then click OK.
7. In File name, type your first name. For example, if your 
   name is Bob, type the word "Bob" (without quotation marks), click Open,
   then click OK in the next two dialog boxes and exit the Control Panel.
8. Start Outlook and check for new mail, send a fax, or create a new 
   Calendar item.
If this resolves the problem, you can now import your information stored in the original Personal Folders file.

To import your information, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Import and Export.

2. Under Choose an action to perform, click "Import from a personal folder 

   file (.pst)," then click Next.
3. Under File to import, type the path to your Personal Folders file from 
   Step 4 above, then click Next.
4. Make sure Personal Folders is selected as the folder to import from and 
   the folder to import into, then click Finish.

Create a New Profile

If the problem is not resolved, create a new profile by following these steps: 

 1. On the File menu, click Exit and Log Off.

 2. Click the Start button, point to Settings, then click Control Panel.

 3. Double-click Mail and Fax. (If you do not have the fax service
    installed, it will simply be Mail.)

 4. Click Show Profiles.

 5. Click Add.

 6. Click to select the services you actually use, click Next, then supply
    the requested information for each of the services when prompted by the
    Inbox Setup Wizard.

 7. When prompted for the path to your personal folder file, click your
    mouse pointer before the "m" of mailbox.pst and type the word
    "new" (without quotation marks), then click Next.

    NOTE: Make sure the path information is not selected before you type.

 8. Complete the steps in the Inbox Setup Wizard.

 9. On the General tab of Mail and Fax, under "When starting Microsoft
    Windows Messaging, use this profile," select the name of the profile
    you just created, then click Close.

 10. Start Outlook and check for new mail, send a fax, or create a new
     Calendar item.

Install a New Set of MAPI Files

If the problem is not resolved, install a new set of MAPI files. 

 1. On the File menu, click Exit and Log Off.

 2. Click the Start button, click Shut Down, click to select, "Restart the
    computer in MS-DOS mode," then click Yes.

 3. After your computer restarts, at the Command prompt, type

       cd\windows\system

    then press ENTER.

 4. Use the MS-DOS Rename command to change the current name of each of the
    following nine files:

     mapi.dll       mapi32.dll    mapisp32.exe    mapisrvr.exe    mapiu.dll
     mapiu32.dll    mapix.dll     mapix32.dll     mspst32.dll

    For example:

      ren mapi.dll mapi.old

 5. When you finish renaming all of the files above, type

      cd..

    and then press ENTER.

 6. Type

      win

    and then press ENTER. This will start Windows and any programs in your
    Startup folder.

 7. In Windows, close any programs, then click Start, point to Settings,
    and click Control Panel.

 8. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.

 9. Select Microsoft Office or Outlook in the list, click Add/Remove,
    insert the Office or Outlook CD into the drive, then click OK.
10. Click Reinstall in the Setup maintenance program. This will install 
    new copies of the MAPI files.
11. When the Setup program finishes, restart Windows, start Outlook, and 
    check for new mail, send a fax, or create a new Calendar item.
If the problem still is not resolved, it is an indication that there are underlying problems in Windows. It will be necessary to reinstall Windows.

For more information about how to perform this task in Windows, see your Windows printed documentation or online Help. 

Keywords          : kberrmsg kbdta 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb
Solution Type     : kbfix

Last Reviewed: May 13, 1999