Microsoft KB Archive/258794

= OL97: Error Message: Outlook.exe Is Not a Valid Win32 Application =

Article ID: 258794

Article Last Modified on 1/27/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Outlook 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q258794



SYMPTOMS
When you start Outlook, you may receive the following error message:

Outlook.exe is not a valid Win32 application.



CAUSE
The Outlook executable file (Outlook.exe) may be damaged.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, you must rename the Outlook.exe file, remove Outlook, and then reinstall Outlook:

Rename the Outlook.exe File

 * 1) Click the Start button, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.
 * 2) Type outlook.exe.
 * 3) Click the letter for your hard disk, click to select the Include subfolders check box, and then click Find Now.
 * 4) When the file has been found, right-click the file name, and then click Rename.
 * 5) Rename the file to &quot;Outlook.old.&quot;
 * 6) If you receive a prompt with a warning message, click Yes.

Remove and Reinstall Outlook

 * 1) Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
 * 2) In Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
 * 3) On the Install/Uninstall tab, click either Microsoft Office 97 or Microsoft Outlook 97, and then click Add/Remove.
 * 4) In the Setup Maintenance Program dialog box, click Add/Remove, and then click to clear the Outlook check box.
 * 5) Click Continue to remove only Outlook components.
 * 6) When prompted if you want to remove the shared Windows Messaging component, click Keep to keep these components.

When the remove procedure finishes, you may need to restart your computer.
 * 1) Click the Setup.exe file from your Office 97 or Outlook 97 compact disk to reinstall Outlook.

Keywords: kbprb KB258794

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