Microsoft KB Archive/826488

= You receive an error message when you use a Terminal Services Client to start Outlook 2003 =

Article ID: 826488

Article Last Modified on 11/27/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Office Outlook 2003

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SYMPTOMS
When you start Outlook 2003 by using a Terminal Services Client such as Remote Desktop Connection (RDC), also known as the MSTSC.exe file, you may receive the following error message:

The file \Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\outlook.ost is in use and could not be accessed. Close any application that is using this file, and then try again.

If you click Cancel, the error message reappears. If you click Cancel three times, Outlook 2003 switches to online mode and starts.



CAUSE
This problem may occur if the following conditions are true:
 * You install Outlook 2003 (or Microsoft Office 2003) on a Windows Server 2003-based computer.
 * You turn off Cached Exchange Mode.
 * You leave Outlook 2003 running on the Windows Server 2003-based computer, and then connect to the server-based computer from a remote workstation by using RDC.
 * You start Outlook 2003 from the remote workstation remote session.

The error message occurs because the Outlook 2003 session that is left running on the Windows Server 2003-based computer locks the offline folder (.OST) file, and the second instance of Outlook 2003 that you started from a remote workstation by using RDC cannot open the .OST file.



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, use one of the following methods:  Quit Outlook 2003 on the Windows Server 2003-based computer before you try to start Outlook 2003 by using RDC.

-or- If you prefer to leave Outlook 2003 running on the Windows Server 2003-based computer, you can connect to the console session of the server to remotely access the Outlook 2003 session. To do this, type the following on the remote workstation computer:

mstsc /console

Type your credentials as required, and then click Connect. When you do this, RDC opens the existing console session with Outlook 2003 running instead of opening a second session. You can then continue to use Outlook 2003.

Note RDC is included with Microsoft Windows XP. RDC provides new terminal features when you are working with other RDP 5.1 computers (such as Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP, and Microsoft Windows .NET Server). To install RDC on a Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me), or Microsoft Windows 2000-based computer, double-click the MSRDPCLI.exe file on the Windows XP CD, in the \SUPPORT\TOOLS folder. This file contains the setup for the Terminal Client Software (RDC or the MSTSC.exe file).



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

Additional query words: ol2003

Keywords: kberrmsg kbnofix kbprb kbstartprogram kbproductlink KB826488

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