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Outlook 2007 reading pane gone blank



 
 
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  #1  
Old March 17th, 2008, 10:51 AM posted to microsoft.public.outlook.general
Scotch
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 12
Default Outlook 2007 reading pane gone blank

The reading pane has recently stopped working and is just grey.

If I restart the computer, it may work briefly, then after a while stop and
go blank again.

Any suggestions please?

Am running Vista for Business. I recently successfully restored the
computer to an earlier backup following a crash, and also recently installed
Business Contact Manager for Outlook - could the reading pane problem be
anything to do with either of these events?

Apologies if I've missed an easy fix elsewhere in the forum, but I couldn't
see anything on a quick look.

If an expert has come across this problem before and knows the fast
solution, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks.
  #2  
Old March 17th, 2008, 11:08 AM posted to microsoft.public.outlook.general
Roady [MVP]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 23,553
Default Outlook 2007 reading pane gone blank

Does it work in Outlook Safe Mode?
Start- type; outlook.exe /safe

In addition see http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/outlookdoesntstart.htm

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

"Scotch" wrote in message
...
The reading pane has recently stopped working and is just grey.

If I restart the computer, it may work briefly, then after a while stop
and
go blank again.

Any suggestions please?

Am running Vista for Business. I recently successfully restored the
computer to an earlier backup following a crash, and also recently
installed
Business Contact Manager for Outlook - could the reading pane problem be
anything to do with either of these events?

Apologies if I've missed an easy fix elsewhere in the forum, but I
couldn't
see anything on a quick look.

If an expert has come across this problem before and knows the fast
solution, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks.


  #3  
Old March 17th, 2008, 11:53 AM posted to microsoft.public.outlook.general
Scotch
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 12
Default Outlook 2007 reading pane gone blank

I tried running safe mode, and the Outlook window looks exactly the same as
normal mode - ie it didn't say 'Safe mode' in the title bar, or anything like
that. Is that right?

Anyhow, the reading pane doesn't seem to work in that mode either.

Thanks for your help with this.

"Roady [MVP]" wrote:

Does it work in Outlook Safe Mode?
Start- type; outlook.exe /safe

In addition see http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/outlookdoesntstart.htm

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

"Scotch" wrote in message
...
The reading pane has recently stopped working and is just grey.

If I restart the computer, it may work briefly, then after a while stop
and
go blank again.

Any suggestions please?

Am running Vista for Business. I recently successfully restored the
computer to an earlier backup following a crash, and also recently
installed
Business Contact Manager for Outlook - could the reading pane problem be
anything to do with either of these events?

Apologies if I've missed an easy fix elsewhere in the forum, but I
couldn't
see anything on a quick look.

If an expert has come across this problem before and knows the fast
solution, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks.


  #4  
Old March 17th, 2008, 11:58 AM posted to microsoft.public.outlook.general
pisces737
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1
Default Outlook 2007 reading pane gone blank

I have the exact same problem, ever since applying Windows Updates on March
16. No effect of Safe Mode or Office Diagnostics. I'm running Vista.

"Scotch" wrote:

I tried running safe mode, and the Outlook window looks exactly the same as
normal mode - ie it didn't say 'Safe mode' in the title bar, or anything like
that. Is that right?

Anyhow, the reading pane doesn't seem to work in that mode either.

Thanks for your help with this.

"Roady [MVP]" wrote:

Does it work in Outlook Safe Mode?
Start- type; outlook.exe /safe

In addition see http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/outlookdoesntstart.htm

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

"Scotch" wrote in message
...
The reading pane has recently stopped working and is just grey.

If I restart the computer, it may work briefly, then after a while stop
and
go blank again.

Any suggestions please?

Am running Vista for Business. I recently successfully restored the
computer to an earlier backup following a crash, and also recently
installed
Business Contact Manager for Outlook - could the reading pane problem be
anything to do with either of these events?

Apologies if I've missed an easy fix elsewhere in the forum, but I
couldn't
see anything on a quick look.

If an expert has come across this problem before and knows the fast
solution, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks.


  #5  
Old March 17th, 2008, 01:19 PM posted to microsoft.public.outlook.general
Roady [MVP]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 23,553
Default Outlook 2007 reading pane gone blank

What is your exact version number? Help- About
Did you try running Repair already?
If it still doesn't work after that, log on as a different user (create a
test user if needed) and see if the issue also occurs when logged on as that
user.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

"Scotch" wrote in message
...
I tried running safe mode, and the Outlook window looks exactly the same
as
normal mode - ie it didn't say 'Safe mode' in the title bar, or anything
like
that. Is that right?

Anyhow, the reading pane doesn't seem to work in that mode either.

Thanks for your help with this.

"Roady [MVP]" wrote:

Does it work in Outlook Safe Mode?
Start- type; outlook.exe /safe

In addition see http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/outlookdoesntstart.htm

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

"Scotch" wrote in message
...
The reading pane has recently stopped working and is just grey.

If I restart the computer, it may work briefly, then after a while stop
and
go blank again.

Any suggestions please?

Am running Vista for Business. I recently successfully restored the
computer to an earlier backup following a crash, and also recently
installed
Business Contact Manager for Outlook - could the reading pane problem
be
anything to do with either of these events?

Apologies if I've missed an easy fix elsewhere in the forum, but I
couldn't
see anything on a quick look.

If an expert has come across this problem before and knows the fast
solution, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks.


  #6  
Old March 17th, 2008, 10:28 PM posted to microsoft.public.outlook.general
Scotch
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 12
Default Outlook 2007 reading pane gone blank

Thanks for your continuing support.

Version number is:
(12.0.6300.5000) SP1 MSO (12.0.6213.1000)

Following your post I tried Repair (ie from Office CD) and this appeared to
help initially, but since then the problem has recurred intermittently
through the day.

About half an hour ago I rebooted the computer, and Outlook is now working
again fine. The reading pane is functioning. Before the reboot, however,
Outlook had again slowed to a crawl, the reading pane was disabled and there
were several other Outlook malfunctions. I noticed that Outlook's CPU usage
had increased to 50%, and by co-incidence saw that the preceding poster in
this forum mentioned a similar phenomenon. Is something going on here across
a number of other users too?

I haven't tried logging on as another user. Do you mean creating another
Windows User on my laptop? I'd prefer to avoid that if possible... it seems
to be quite a palaver creating all the new user's setings. I would give it a
go if you still think it necessary - what is the way to do it as simply as
possible please?

"Roady [MVP]" wrote:

What is your exact version number? Help- About
Did you try running Repair already?
If it still doesn't work after that, log on as a different user (create a
test user if needed) and see if the issue also occurs when logged on as that
user.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

"Scotch" wrote in message
...
I tried running safe mode, and the Outlook window looks exactly the same
as
normal mode - ie it didn't say 'Safe mode' in the title bar, or anything
like
that. Is that right?

Anyhow, the reading pane doesn't seem to work in that mode either.

Thanks for your help with this.

"Roady [MVP]" wrote:

Does it work in Outlook Safe Mode?
Start- type; outlook.exe /safe

In addition see http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/outlookdoesntstart.htm

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

"Scotch" wrote in message
...
The reading pane has recently stopped working and is just grey.

If I restart the computer, it may work briefly, then after a while stop
and
go blank again.

Any suggestions please?

Am running Vista for Business. I recently successfully restored the
computer to an earlier backup following a crash, and also recently
installed
Business Contact Manager for Outlook - could the reading pane problem
be
anything to do with either of these events?

Apologies if I've missed an easy fix elsewhere in the forum, but I
couldn't
see anything on a quick look.

If an expert has come across this problem before and knows the fast
solution, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

  #7  
Old March 18th, 2008, 12:00 PM posted to microsoft.public.outlook.general
Roady [MVP]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 23,553
Default Outlook 2007 reading pane gone blank

Nope, can't remember coming across this issue before (and I'm here for quite
the number of years already).
Creating a test user is only to find out the scope of the issue; user
configuration issue or company wide configuration/installation issue. It
helps with troubleshooting and trying to find out how to make it work under
your own user account. That's why I called it a test user and not a new user
;-)

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

"Scotch" wrote in message
news
Thanks for your continuing support.

Version number is:
(12.0.6300.5000) SP1 MSO (12.0.6213.1000)

Following your post I tried Repair (ie from Office CD) and this appeared
to
help initially, but since then the problem has recurred intermittently
through the day.

About half an hour ago I rebooted the computer, and Outlook is now working
again fine. The reading pane is functioning. Before the reboot, however,
Outlook had again slowed to a crawl, the reading pane was disabled and
there
were several other Outlook malfunctions. I noticed that Outlook's CPU
usage
had increased to 50%, and by co-incidence saw that the preceding poster in
this forum mentioned a similar phenomenon. Is something going on here
across
a number of other users too?

I haven't tried logging on as another user. Do you mean creating another
Windows User on my laptop? I'd prefer to avoid that if possible... it
seems
to be quite a palaver creating all the new user's setings. I would give
it a
go if you still think it necessary - what is the way to do it as simply as
possible please?

"Roady [MVP]" wrote:

What is your exact version number? Help- About
Did you try running Repair already?
If it still doesn't work after that, log on as a different user (create a
test user if needed) and see if the issue also occurs when logged on as
that
user.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

"Scotch" wrote in message
...
I tried running safe mode, and the Outlook window looks exactly the
same
as
normal mode - ie it didn't say 'Safe mode' in the title bar, or
anything
like
that. Is that right?

Anyhow, the reading pane doesn't seem to work in that mode either.

Thanks for your help with this.

"Roady [MVP]" wrote:

Does it work in Outlook Safe Mode?
Start- type; outlook.exe /safe

In addition see
http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/outlookdoesntstart.htm

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

"Scotch" wrote in message
...
The reading pane has recently stopped working and is just grey.

If I restart the computer, it may work briefly, then after a while
stop
and
go blank again.

Any suggestions please?

Am running Vista for Business. I recently successfully restored the
computer to an earlier backup following a crash, and also recently
installed
Business Contact Manager for Outlook - could the reading pane
problem
be
anything to do with either of these events?

Apologies if I've missed an easy fix elsewhere in the forum, but I
couldn't
see anything on a quick look.

If an expert has come across this problem before and knows the fast
solution, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

  #8  
Old March 18th, 2008, 06:38 PM posted to microsoft.public.outlook.general
markoh
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1
Default Outlook 2007 reading pane gone blank

I can confirm that I too have the same problem with gray reading
pane..previewing emails with opening works. But reading pane does not work in
either mode.

"Roady [MVP]" wrote:

Nope, can't remember coming across this issue before (and I'm here for quite
the number of years already).
Creating a test user is only to find out the scope of the issue; user
configuration issue or company wide configuration/installation issue. It
helps with troubleshooting and trying to find out how to make it work under
your own user account. That's why I called it a test user and not a new user
;-)

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

"Scotch" wrote in message
news
Thanks for your continuing support.

Version number is:
(12.0.6300.5000) SP1 MSO (12.0.6213.1000)

Following your post I tried Repair (ie from Office CD) and this appeared
to
help initially, but since then the problem has recurred intermittently
through the day.

About half an hour ago I rebooted the computer, and Outlook is now working
again fine. The reading pane is functioning. Before the reboot, however,
Outlook had again slowed to a crawl, the reading pane was disabled and
there
were several other Outlook malfunctions. I noticed that Outlook's CPU
usage
had increased to 50%, and by co-incidence saw that the preceding poster in
this forum mentioned a similar phenomenon. Is something going on here
across
a number of other users too?

I haven't tried logging on as another user. Do you mean creating another
Windows User on my laptop? I'd prefer to avoid that if possible... it
seems
to be quite a palaver creating all the new user's setings. I would give
it a
go if you still think it necessary - what is the way to do it as simply as
possible please?

"Roady [MVP]" wrote:

What is your exact version number? Help- About
Did you try running Repair already?
If it still doesn't work after that, log on as a different user (create a
test user if needed) and see if the issue also occurs when logged on as
that
user.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

"Scotch" wrote in message
...
I tried running safe mode, and the Outlook window looks exactly the
same
as
normal mode - ie it didn't say 'Safe mode' in the title bar, or
anything
like
that. Is that right?

Anyhow, the reading pane doesn't seem to work in that mode either.

Thanks for your help with this.

"Roady [MVP]" wrote:

Does it work in Outlook Safe Mode?
Start- type; outlook.exe /safe

In addition see
http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/outlookdoesntstart.htm

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

"Scotch" wrote in message
...
The reading pane has recently stopped working and is just grey.

If I restart the computer, it may work briefly, then after a while
stop
and
go blank again.

Any suggestions please?

Am running Vista for Business. I recently successfully restored the
computer to an earlier backup following a crash, and also recently
installed
Business Contact Manager for Outlook - could the reading pane
problem
be
anything to do with either of these events?

Apologies if I've missed an easy fix elsewhere in the forum, but I
couldn't
see anything on a quick look.

If an expert has come across this problem before and knows the fast
solution, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

  #9  
Old March 18th, 2008, 09:41 PM posted to microsoft.public.outlook.general
jlrodgers
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 11
Default Outlook 2007 reading pane gone blank

I know that ever since March 12th (the day MS released updates
KB946983, KB947801, etc) outlook will sometimes open and not check
messages or anything at startup (and the reading pane's "locked up" of
sorts, it's the "blue" color). Basically if you disable the reading
pane, the reading pane goes away, but if you re-enable it, you have
the message list "mirrored" there (i.e. outlook doesn't repaint the
area so you have the message list statically displayed there).

Then I end up having to close outlook (or click 2-3 things quickly so
it crashes), open the task manager, terminate the outlook process
(since it doesn't close when this happens), reopen outlook and try
again. What's funny is the diagnostic tool says there's no problem.
What's annoying is having to repeat the open-close-terminate-open
cycle 5-10 times before it finally checks messages and lets me do
anything.

I'd just uninstall those updates, but then the computer's open to
potential exploits -- although I read someplace online that
uninstalling them (the first one I believe) fixed outlook for people.
  #10  
Old March 19th, 2008, 12:36 AM posted to microsoft.public.outlook.general
Blue Max
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 301
Default Outlook 2007 reading pane gone blank

Roady,

We are also having the same problem. The reading pane is gray or fails to
refresh if something other than the reading pane was displayed before hand.
We are also noticing that contact cards are blank (either a few or all of
them). We also experience the same sporadic functionality as 'Scotch' has
after running diagnostics or rebooting.

I think there is some kind of a univeral problem developing here.

Thanks,

Richard

******************************
"Roady [MVP]" t wrote in
message ...
Nope, can't remember coming across this issue before (and I'm here for
quite the number of years already).
Creating a test user is only to find out the scope of the issue; user
configuration issue or company wide configuration/installation issue. It
helps with troubleshooting and trying to find out how to make it work
under your own user account. That's why I called it a test user and not a
new user ;-)

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

"Scotch" wrote in message
news
Thanks for your continuing support.

Version number is:
(12.0.6300.5000) SP1 MSO (12.0.6213.1000)

Following your post I tried Repair (ie from Office CD) and this appeared
to
help initially, but since then the problem has recurred intermittently
through the day.

About half an hour ago I rebooted the computer, and Outlook is now
working
again fine. The reading pane is functioning. Before the reboot,
however,
Outlook had again slowed to a crawl, the reading pane was disabled and
there
were several other Outlook malfunctions. I noticed that Outlook's CPU
usage
had increased to 50%, and by co-incidence saw that the preceding poster
in
this forum mentioned a similar phenomenon. Is something going on here
across
a number of other users too?

I haven't tried logging on as another user. Do you mean creating another
Windows User on my laptop? I'd prefer to avoid that if possible... it
seems
to be quite a palaver creating all the new user's setings. I would give
it a
go if you still think it necessary - what is the way to do it as simply
as
possible please?

"Roady [MVP]" wrote:

What is your exact version number? Help- About
Did you try running Repair already?
If it still doesn't work after that, log on as a different user (create
a
test user if needed) and see if the issue also occurs when logged on as
that
user.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

"Scotch" wrote in message
...
I tried running safe mode, and the Outlook window looks exactly the
same
as
normal mode - ie it didn't say 'Safe mode' in the title bar, or
anything
like
that. Is that right?

Anyhow, the reading pane doesn't seem to work in that mode either.

Thanks for your help with this.

"Roady [MVP]" wrote:

Does it work in Outlook Safe Mode?
Start- type; outlook.exe /safe

In addition see
http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/outlookdoesntstart.htm

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

-----

"Scotch" wrote in message
...
The reading pane has recently stopped working and is just grey.

If I restart the computer, it may work briefly, then after a while
stop
and
go blank again.

Any suggestions please?

Am running Vista for Business. I recently successfully restored
the
computer to an earlier backup following a crash, and also recently
installed
Business Contact Manager for Outlook - could the reading pane
problem
be
anything to do with either of these events?

Apologies if I've missed an easy fix elsewhere in the forum, but I
couldn't
see anything on a quick look.

If an expert has come across this problem before and knows the fast
solution, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks.


 




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