Outlook is invisible except in Safe Mode

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For the past week, whenever I start Outlook, the outlook window appears to be running, but invisible. When I click on the Outlook icon to start the application, the splash screen appears like it normally does, then disappears and the Outlook windows does not appear on my screen, nor on my Taskbar. However, Outlook is in the Alt-Tab list and it appears in the Task Manager. When I “Switch To” Outlook in the Task Manager, nothing appears on my screen, but I am able to press Ctrl-N and a New Massage window appears. I’m able to send an email successfully. Other than this, however, I cannot interact with the Outlook Main Screen. So, Outlook is running in the background, but not visible. Very, very strange.

When I start Outlook in Safe Mode, it comes up on my screen just fine. This leads me to believe that this is something wrong with one of my addins. I have disabled all addins that I have access to. The only addin that I don’t have the ability to disable is Microsoft VBA for Outlook. With all the other addins disabled, I am still getting the same behavior. It looks as though the problem is not with an Addin.

If anyone has any other ideas as to that the issue may be, I would appreciate a response.

Randy Davis

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You might also want to try repairing your .pst file. Make a copy of the original before running the Inbox repair tool.:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/272227

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Thank you for your reply. Actually, I am connected to an Exchange Server and have an OST file. I have renamed my old OST file, forcing Outlook to create a new file. I have also created a separate profile, in case it was my profile that went bad. Neither of these things have resolved the issue.

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When you close Outlook have you checked Task Manager to make sure it is not still running in the background?

Have you tried re-booting?

Joe

--Joe

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Oh well, it was worth a shot.
Does outlook work in Safe Mode?
http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner-user/start-outlook-in-safe-mode/

Did you try an Office Repair install?
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/outlook-help/repair-office-programs-HA010357402.aspx

Jerry

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Yes, I have rebooted (many times) and I have repaired Office. Behavior remains.

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Oh well, it was worth a shot.
Does outlook work in Safe Mode?
http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner-user/start-outlook-in-safe-mode/

Did you try an Office Repair install?
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/outlook-help/repair-office-programs-HA010357402.aspx

Jerry

Yes, the program seems to work fine in Safe Mode, but as stated, after disabling all my addins, the problem still remains. I’m using Outlook 2010, so I don’t have any .dat files to worry about. And no error messages are displayed, either in the event viewer or on the screen itself. This is the strangest thing.

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One possibility is that Outlook is running but the window is either minimized of positioned off the main screen. I saw several reports of this. Some think it is due to closing Outlook when the window is minimized. The technet forum link below is useful. One of the fixes/workarounds listed is an explanation provided in the youtube link below.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/office/en-US/4f0579aa-3c31-4acd-9537-454cb7953489/outlook-2010-runs-but-window-wont-open

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdFtBIp80FM

A quick summary of the steps described in the video:
1) edit the shortcut properties to change the run mode from “normal window” to “maximized”.
2) open outlook – it should now open maximized.
3) Right click on the taskbar and choose cascade this will change the outlook to a non-maximized state but should leave it visible on the screen.
4) close outlook. Outlook should then keep this window position as the default.
5) Edit the shortcut properties and change the run mode back to “normal window”

I also noticed something that could explain why outlook does not appear on the taskbar. In the system tray you may see an Outlook icon once outlook is open. Right click this and see if the “Hide When Minimized” option is checked. If Outlook opened minimized this setting would leave it off the taskbar and may also prevent it from showing with the ALT-Tab task switching.

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Yes, my friend !

Thank you so much !

I had the same problem, and you saved my life !

Fabrice, from France

Reply | Quote

One possibility is that Outlook is running but the window is either minimized of positioned off the main screen. I saw several reports of this. Some think it is due to closing Outlook when the window is minimized. The technet forum link below is useful. One of the fixes/workarounds listed is an explanation provided in the youtube link below.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/office/en-US/4f0579aa-3c31-4acd-9537-454cb7953489/outlook-2010-runs-but-window-wont-open

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdFtBIp80FM

A quick summary of the steps described in the video:
1) edit the shortcut properties to change the run mode from “normal window” to “maximized”.
2) open outlook – it should now open maximized.
3) Right click on the taskbar and choose cascade this will change the outlook to a non-maximized state but should leave it visible on the screen.
4) close outlook. Outlook should then keep this window position as the default.
5) Edit the shortcut properties and change the run mode back to “normal window”

I also noticed something that could explain why outlook does not appear on the taskbar. In the system tray you may see an Outlook icon once outlook is open. Right click this and see if the “Hide When Minimized” option is checked. If Outlook opened minimized this setting would leave it off the taskbar and may also prevent it from showing with the ALT-Tab task switching.

I’m reading this comment over 3 years later, and it’s still a lifesaver. Thanks!

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There are also some other things to try here:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/outlookdoesntstart.htm

Jerry

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