Using Outlook 2002 on XP PRO. No mail server...just stand alone. When outlook is opened, it will remain open about 5 seconds or so...then the hour-glass pointer will appear (indicating some sort of activity) and it will simply exit/shut down. This happens no matter what is done (e.g. check inbox, etc....or simply nothing). It just starts fine....hesitates about 5 seconds...then exits). No error messages...no nothing. Computer is well protected with virus software. Have also done an Ad-Aware sweep AND an Mcafee scan from their Site. All appears clean. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. THANKS

Did this just start happening, or has it always done this since the software was installed? Two things come to my mind.. your pst file is corrupt, or your Outlook install is corrupt. First I'd try to do a repair on Office and see if that helps. If not, delete the pst file and recreate it. Also, you have to have a mail server, or you can't send/receive mail. :)

It just started happening. The current install has been working fine for over a year. Yes....there is a mail server with the ISP (pop3). I guess I meant to say that we are not running any sort of in-house Outlook server or anything like that. For the repair process....do I need do any sort of backup....or is it safe run that repair. BTW....if the only way to access the repair feature is through the Outlook menu itself, I may not be able to get to it. I only have about 5-10 seconds before Outlook will simply vanish (exit). If deleting the PST file is all I can do....do I just find it via a basic file search (and will there only be one)? Can I just high-light it and delete? If so, after I delete it, will it rebuilt itself the next time I run Outlook? And...as with the repair procedure...is there any danger of loosing my current folder contents(sent items, contact list, etc)? Thanks very much for the feedback.

You can backup your pst file if you're worried about losing any data. To run the Repair, make sure all Office programs are closed. Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs/Select your Office version and click Change/Remove. You will then have the option to Add components/uninstall/repair. Run the repair option and reboot the machine. Outlook will use whatever pst it's pointing to, so if the problem is indeed with Outlook and not the pst file, and the Repair is successful, you will have your pst file and all its contents when you reopen Outlook.