What causes Outlook Express to launch automatically?

I apologize if this question has been posted and answered already.

I have multiple identities setup for Outlook Express. What software on my machine automatically starts outlook express - and brings up the identity login screen? Really annoying and I would like to stop it.

Thank you,

rtstanley

 

rtstanley. If I understand correctly you want the Outlook Express to not check/download your mail when you are doing something else and/or unless you are ready.

You can uncheck the "check mail" on the General Section of Options. That will stop it. You will need to manually check mail in the future. See attachment below.

I believe your program is started with windows but will not check mail with the block uncheck until you ask for it.

There is a way to stop the splash screen but at the moment I don't have the method in mind.

 

Nope - it's none of this stuff. Nothing in startup and nothing in outlook express. Maybe I did not explain this clearly.

I'm sitting here at my computer, doing nothing in particular. I have NOT started outlook express.

Now, out of nowhere, outlook express is started automatically and the identity login screen - for Outlook Express - suddenly pops up on my desktop. This is the same screen that appears when I double-click Outlook Express icon to start it manually.

Another piece of software on my computer is launching outlook express.

I keep my machine very clean - no viruses, adware, or spyware, to my knowledge.

Any ideas?

 

rtstanley have you tried uninstalling/updating add-ons, plug-ins and other programs.
All i can think of is a process of elimination.

Do you use PDA sync software or have any installed?
Do you have winfax installed?
Do you use msword to create your emails?
Do you have addons installed?
Which version is your outlook express?


As with all new versions of software put out, sometimes the 3rd parties
(including MS's ActiveSync) need to be updated to deal with the under the
hood changes when a new revision comes out. I know that I had to update
ActiveSync because the version I had just didn't like Outlook 2003. Again,
it isn't Outlook making the determination on whether it can close or open, it is
that 3rd party application that isn't dealing with the outlook properly, and
causing Outlook have problems.

Symantec's WinFax is known to cause issues for Outlook 2003. Since Symantec isn't revising this product anymore, about the best one can do is uninstall WinFax and reinstall it that it doesn't integrate with Outlook.

Word caches an instance of Outlook so the interface appears snappy when a
user selects File | Send To | Mail Recipient. Word will only release this
instance once it closes. Problem is, that it happens so intermittenly and
such a bugger to reproduce that it is very difficult to chase down the exact
cause. (this error relates more to the shutdown of outlook express while word is open, Reason i bring this up is im curious if you close outlook while word is open.) Anyone have any ideas if this will cause (to keep outlook running in the background even after you close it ) outlook to open

(add-ons) You will know after a bit if the addin is supposed to do
something and it doesn't. Again, there really isn't any clear cut list of
what does and doesn't work in newer versions.

Should Microsoft be held liable for a 3rd parties refusal to update a product so it works properly with the new version?
In my eyes no because Microsoft does give public betas and is a perfect opportunity for companies like Symantec to get a copy and begin testing their addins, plugins, or intergration features.

All i can think of
A very interesting puzzle, I look forward to understanding the answer.

 

Does this happen once a session or several times during an individual session?
Due to Scheduled Tasks?
Going back to Mudd's image, do you have "Do not connect" as the entry in General tab| "Send/Receive messages "?

 

Status Update: Issue still occurring

PeteC
- Not running MS antispyware beta (not to my knowledge)

Eric Hoffy
- add-ons and plugins. I rarely use internet explorer (mostly Netscape). I have started IE and disabled a lot of add-on. I'm not real sure how to check or where all to check for add-ons and plug-ins.
- No PDA SW, no winfax, do not use MS word to compose emails
- Version 6 of OE


This "problem" still occurs. I have not determined any pattern as to when it occurs. The Outlook Express Identity login screen will just start up randomly - meaning I walk up to my PC, and there the login screen is sitting on the desktop.

I've uninstalled MSN Explorer and MS Messanger. However, when I bring up windows task manager, I have a task called msmsgs.exe. I kill this process and then a few minutes later, it starts back on its own.

Any good SW out there for managing and controlling tasks running on your machine?

 

me too have this problem: OE identity screen popups

Like rtstanley, just from last night i had this OE identity login screen popups whenever it likes.. this happens right after i installed Norton Internet Security 2005.

Been searching in the symantec's support library, nothing about this particular error so far

i found this thread when looking for 'OE identity screen error popup' in google.

This is really annoying

 

Javanicus: I've never figured out a way to stop this.

 

Outlook Express triggered by Norton Internet Security

I've installed Norton Internet Security 2005 on 3 different machines: Two with Windows XP, one with Windows ME. All three machines began intermittently launching Outlook Express.
Internet Security 2004 was previously running on these machines and did not cause this problem.

 

I'm also running Norton Internet Security 2005.

And, yes, this issue is still on-going.

 

i was having the same problem but may have figured it out based on the earlier posts.....

open norton internet security and click on "anti-spam" on the left side of the screen.

click the "configure" command button on the right side of the screen. a new window will pop up. in that window click "client integration" under e-mail on the left side of the window. uncheck "outlook express ".

this seems to have worked for me....i hope you have the same results...

 

smhinesley - I'll try this and see. However, by unchecking this box, I wonder what this actually does? Is the anti-spam thing still working for Outlook Express?

 

Symantec notified; Msmsgs related?

I opened an email inquiry on 8/11 with Symantec on this problem - I will post their response if I ever hear back from them.

According to the help info, the 'Client Integration' configuration option in NIS adds the toolbar item 'Norton AntiSpam' to your email client (containing options like 'This is Spam', 'Empty the Spam Folder', etc.)

A clarification on the symptoms of the problem:
When the Identity Login window randomly pops up, it does NOT lead to launching of Outlook Express. Once the Identity Login window is completed (either by selecting an Identity and password, or by Canceling), the window closes. End of story.

However, if the Identity Login window is completed - an Identity is selected, and a password entered, this identity is established and retained; i.e. the next time I start Outlook Express, it skips the Identity Login step.

I took a snapshot of the running processes, before and after completing the Identity Login window. While the Identity Login window was active, there was an instance of msmsgs.exe running halfway down the list of active processes. Once I completed the Identity Login, that msmsgs task ended, and a new one began at the top of the list.

I don't have Windows Messenger installed on my machine.

 

JJ100 - you have described this issue exactly and accurately; what you state in paragraphs 2 and 3 is exactly what I see as well.

As far as windows messenger and msmsgs.exe, I never check running processes when this happened. I did run the string that PeteC posted in his link. I also deleted any and all files referencing msmsgs.exe (all of this before unchecking the outlook express box), and still the identity login screen kept appearing.

I'll let you know if I have this issue again (since unchecking the outlook express box).

Thanks for opening that ticket with Symantic. Please poet their response if/when you receive one.

rtstanley

 

Identity Login Error

I have also opened an inquiry with Symantec about this issue. But my issue goes further now. My identity login also pops up out of no where and I generally log off the identity, even if I log into an identity it doesn't matter. After this happens I often get a new error now when I open the desktop icon for OE. This started when I updated to NIS 2005. I have uninstalled and reinstalled it a couple of times and it hasn't helped yet. I say yet because I just reinstalled it again.

Identity Login

Another application has the Switched Identities or Identity Login dialog showing. Choose an identity in that dialog before launching this application again.

When this error appears I am unable to open OE and have to reboot.

Nothing Symantec has told me so far has done any good at all. They claim this issue is new to them and they have not received any complaints from anyone but me.

I have read the above posts and they do not help.

 

Sorry to report that this issue is still occurring - after unchecking the outlook express box in NIS antispam.

I'm going to open a ticket with Symantec as well.