Microsoft Outlook & Information Store - can't work offline

Hi,
I have a complicated problem and am a newbie intermediate with Windows XP and Microsoft Outlook.

I had to click on "restore" and my problem now is that I cannot work OFFLINE. I have to connect online in order to do my work email. I enjoy offline as I then synchronize every 15 mins and I am able to open my email and attachments with a breeze! Here is the problem. When I now go to WORK OFFLINE...a message pops up that says "UNABLE TO START PROCESSING SERVICES. THE INFORMATION STORE COULD NOT BE OPEN "......then if I try to synchronize...it says:The Information store could not be open.

Question: How do I get the information store to open? If I have to import files...what is the step by step to do that? I really would love to have an answer soon as even my HELP DESK at work does not know how to fix this one! (I work remotely in my home office.) I do sign into a VPN CLIENT in order to work online. Can anybody out there help me? MANY THANKS, Cyndi

 

Cyndi,
Welcome to the BBS. It's best to mention which version of the programme you are using, I.E. Outlook 2000, 2002 etc. Anyway if you do a search on the invaluable MS Knowledge Base site typing (Cut and Paste will do ) that error message you should find some good info.

Paul

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;kbhowto&sd=GN&ln=EN-US&FR=0

 

Thank you Paul. I am looking in the link you sent me. It seems I cant find the solution for Windows XP and it is Outlook 2000. It only happens when I go to work OFFLINE and when I try to synchronize email. Does that sound like something you may be familiar with ? I am totally lost and confused....take care and thanks again, Cyndi

 

When you syncronize your email you're actually telling it to check you're email accounts for new email. If you're working offline it can't connect to the accounts and I would guess that this is the reason for the error message. Don't know for sure as I use Outlook Express and the error message I get when I try it is "You are currently working offline. Would you like to connect now?" I don't have Outlook so I can't be sure what the error message would be but I don't think there's any way it can syncronize the account(s) without being online. From what you've stated it sounds like this has worked for you in the past. If so, I don't know what to tell you as it would make no sense for you to be able to syncronize accounts without being online (unless you're confusing synronizing accounts with something else) .

 

Hi Zander,
thanks for your reply. Prior to this occuring, I was able to always work offline and I would synchronize every 15 minutes. The reason is it makes it so much easier to open attachments. Now that I cannot work offline (because it wont synchronize now...it says Information Store is not available) I have to work online. Its frustrating because if an email has an attachment it sits and spins the hourglass forever to open the document! No fun. (Offline it would open right up!)
Hopefully, I can find the solution. I have posted this is other forums and everybody has had different ideas...albeit, none have worked thus far. (I thought for sure one post would work...with a link he sent to me at Microsoft Office, however...it did not have Windows XP instructions and I could not find how to "fix" it on XP. Also, I have Outlook 2000. A real bummer!! Hopefully, something will come up soon Thanks and take care, Cyndi