Microsoft KB Archive/187256

= OL98: Dr Watson Error on Outlook Startup =

Article ID: 187256

Article Last Modified on 5/18/2001

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Outlook 98 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

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This article was previously published under Q187256





SYMPTOMS
Shortly after startup, Microsoft Outlook 98 may fail with a generic Dr. Watson error in Outlook.exe.



CAUSE
There is a problem in either the Offitems.log file or the Outitems.log file.



RESOLUTION
Rename and rebuild the problem file.



MORE INFORMATION
Outlook journalizes information about your use of various files in two log files. Offitems.log contains information on Microsoft Office 97 program files such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. Outitems.log contains information on Outlook items like Mail and Tasks. These log files are normally stored in the c:\Windows or c:\Winnt folder.

To Determine the Problem File

 * 1) Quit Outlook and rename the Offitems.log file.
 * 2) Restart Outlook and wait at least 30 seconds for the error to appear. If the error does not appear, the problem was isolated.
 * 3) If the error reappears, quit Outlook and rename the Outitems.log file.
 * 4) Restart Outlook and wait at least 30 seconds for the error to appear. If the error does not appear, the problem was isolated.

NOTE: Renaming these two files will result in the loss of the journal history contained in them. If you isolate the problem to only one of the files, you can rename the good file back to its original name to recover its history data.

To Customize the Journal Feature

 * 1) On the Tools menu, click Options.
 * 2) On the Preferences tab, click Journal Options.
 * 3) In Journal Options, click to select the Outlook items and Office files you wish to track for the selected Contacts.

