How to Resolve Outlook Error “Outlook.exe has generated errors…”? - Outlook PST Repair

Microsoft Office Outlook is a popular email client that can be configured to Corporate/Workgroup (CW) or Internet Mail Only (IMO) mode. In any of these configurations, personal folder (.pst file) might get corrupted and compel you to use Outlook PST Repair tools.

You might encounter the below error message when trying to start Microsoft Outlook:

“OUTLOOK.exe has generated errors and will be closed by Windows. You will need to restart the program. An error log is being created.”

At subsequent attempts of starting MS Outlook, you receive the same error message as above.

Outlook.exe is the main executable file used by Microsoft Outlook. It raises errors if doesn’t find any critical Outlook component missing or damaged.

Cause

You observe above symptoms if one or more of the following objects are corrupted:

User profile information
Personal folder (PST file)
Information services
Add-in

If any of these objects gets damaged that might prevent MS Outlook to start.

For Microsoft Outlook, a user profile retains the settings defining how MS Outlook is configured for a specific user. When configured to Exchange Server, a user profile might include mailbox access on the server and also the information that Outlook Address Book should appear in Address Book dialog box.
Personal Folder or PST file is the one used by Microsoft Outlook to store all local copies of email messages, notes, journals, appointments, tasks and other Outlook contents. The file might get corrupted due to 2 GB file size limitation (in Outlook 97-2002), unexpected shutdown, application errors, operating system faults and many other similar reasons.

Information services are Outlook settings due to which a user can send and receive email messages, store them and specify where the addresses should be stored. A user can have several information services added to its profile.

Solution

You should try to resolve the above behavior by following below steps:

You should try opening Microsoft Outlook in safe mode. For this, you need to use /safe command line switch.
If MS Outlook starts successfully in safe mode, you should disable all the add-ins. This will help you to troubleshoot add-in corruption issues. For disabling add-ins, start Outlook and click Options in Tools menu. Next, you need to click the Other tab. You should then click Advanced Options and then Add-Ins. You can clear all the add-in items by clicking. After this, restart Outlook.
If the issue persists, you should search and rename Extend.dat file.
Start Outlook. If you still get the same error message, as above, you should try creating a new profile:

CW Mode

Click Start->Settings->Control Panel
Open Mail by double-clicking it. Click Services and then Show Profiles.
Next, you should click General->Add and then follow the instructions
You should then set this new profile as your default profile. To do so, restart the application and click Tools->Options. You can then click Always use this profile option in Mail Services.
Create new personal folder. Click Tools->Services->Add and click Personal Folder in Available information services box.
You can then specify the location and name of file (in File name box) and click Open
You should select the required options for this file in Create Microsoft Personal Folder dialog box.

IMO Mode

You need to start Outlook with a new PST file. To do so, click Start->Run and type Outlook. exe/cleanpst in Open box
You can then import all the contents from old PST file to this new file. For this, click on File menu and then Import and Export.
You should then click Import from another program or file and then Next
Click Personal Folder File (.pst) under Select the file type to import from and click Next
Locate the old personal folder under File to Import dialog box
You should then specify the data to be imported under Select the folder to import from

If the above error occurs due to damaged personal folder, you should run Inbox Repair Tool to fix the corruption. If it cannot resolve the corruption problems with .pst file, Repair Outlook PST using commercial file repair tools. These utilities are designed with suitable Outlook PST Repair techniques and provide you safe, comprehensive and sure file repair results. The applications can Repair Outlook PST through interactive user interface.


Stellar Phoenix Outlook PST Repair is a comprehensive tool to repair damaged PST files. It is an advanced Outlook PST Repair utility for all cases of file corruption. It supports Outlook 2007, 2003, 2002 and 2000. The software can restore all email messages, notes, journals, tasks, appointments, calendar items and other Outlook items. It is compatible with Windows Vista, XP, 2003, 2000 and NT. It also provides PST Password Recovery and Split PST options.
 
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