OUTLOOK 2003 - OUTBOX / DELIVERY PROBLEM

Product: Outlook 2004
O/s: Windows XPP (SP1)

I have a problem with Outlook 2003 and delivery of mail in the outbox.

When replying to an incoming mail (via Reply button), after entering the
text message, and clicking the Send button, the message appears in the
OUTBOX, as it should. However, the message header is NOT in italics, and the
message icon shows the envelope with a page in front of it (message open, I
presume). The message will NOT be delivered on the Send/Receive command.

If there are other messages in the outbox at the same time, these message
headers are marked in italics and the envelope icons are displayed, and
these other messages are delivered without any problem, while the offending
message remains.

If I create a new message, just by pasting the message content contained in
the former message and also pasting the addressee and the subject lines,
then press Send, then the message header in the outbox shows the message
header for the message in italics and the message icon shows a stamped
envelope, just as it should. The Send/Receive command is invoked and the
message is delivered without problem.

How come that the messages that are "reply-to" messages do not show up
correctly in the outbox and why does the message indicate that it is still
open, when it is not? And, what can be done alleviate this problem in the
future?

Eric Green
Stockholm, Sweden