Exchange Server - Unable to open your default e-mail folders - Exchange/Outlook 2003

Asked By GrantBurn

17-Apr-07 06:26 PM

Server:  SBS 2003 R2, Exchange 2003 w/SP2
Client:  XP w/SP2 and Outlook 2003 / SP2

I have a system that gives the following error when Outlook 2003 is opened:

Microsoft Exchange Server computer with the current profile before you can
synchronize your folders with your offline folder file."

I've found the only way to resolve this issue is to delete the user account
and mailbox, and recreate.

On my way to the above solution I tried the following:

Remove mail configuration, reconfigured
Remove Outlook profile, reconfigure
Uninstall Outlook, reinstall
Delete user profile, reconfigure
Create User and Outlook profile on a different machine
Delete mailbox, purge, recreate
Finally the combination of the above: delete the mailbox and user, purge
mailbox, recreate user and mailbox allowed the user to open Outlook and
function normally.

The problem is that his has happened for a second time this week.  This is
the only user with this issue.  I'm sure I could do the same thing as above
and have it work for another week, but that wouldn't get me anywhere.

The client can ping by name, browse the server, open OWA, etc, etc... but
this error happens and I have to perform that nasty fix.

Any ideas on how to further troubleshoot?

17-Apr-07 10:47 PM

I doubt this is an Exchange problem, honestly. What are the event log errors
on the workstation? Check for userenv errors in the app log.  Run the User
Profile Hive Cleanup service on this and all workstations.

18-Apr-07 02:12 PM

But doesn't the fact that the error happens on a different machine take the
client-side out of the equation?

I'll have to dig through the log to find any info for you.

18-Apr-07 03:22 PM

There were some userenv warnings, and I installed UPHCLEAN, but no it made no
difference, still receiving the above error.

20-Apr-07 08:28 AM

If OWA works, it can't be the mailbox. Something is going haywire in his
profile, somewhere.

Not sure if you tried this already, but in his mail profile, disable cached
mode, delete the old OST file, open Outlook (without cached mode). If that
works, try re-enabling cached mode and restarting Outlook.

20-Apr-07 04:54 PM

Still having no luck, I deleted the user account and mailbox, recreated, and
he is working away.

Not sure where to troubleshoot.