I had installed the Office 2007 beta 2 release to a server today, testing out functionality with the product I work on which requires Outlook for MAPI connectivity to MS Exchange. When the time came to rollback, I used the correct uninstall method (Add/Remove Programs) and rebooted before reapplying Outlook 2003.
Now, when opening an existing Outlook profile the app terminates when trying to access the profile settings (you get the lovely ‘do you want to restart in safe mode’ and ‘would you like to detect/repair’ loop going.
Trying to create a new Mail profile (either from the Outlook dialogue or from the Mail applet) resulted in this error:
There was an error locating one of the items needed to complete this operation. It might have been deleted.
Kind of makes sense I guess, the profiles were created in OL12 which was removed but the question is, how the hell do I get out of that loop?
Looking through the registry, the uninstall hadn’t removed the 12.0 keys from
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0
..so I got shot of them, still no dice.
The last thing I checked was Mapisvc.inf – both versions in system32 and %program files%\Common Files\MSMAPI\1033 were identical and hadn’t been modified since i’d installed OL12. Bingo. Once I deleted both of them, the next start of Outlook recreated the files and everything is swimming now.
Lets hope MS remember to clean up a little better in the RC and Gold versions 
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Thanks alot
i found the folder under
%Program Files%\Common Files\System
Thanks for this one! I am now able to leave work at 6.30pm on a Friday, rather than 10pm! My children thank you too!
As above, C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\1033 for the second location.
Cheers for that. Was the issue… sigh. First PC for a client to do it (gg HP installed Office 2007 not removing completely… sigh).
Thanks again.
Thanks a lot man…. i was trying all different options and but this worked and stupid microsoft didnt say anything for this problem…..
great …. but i have question :- how was this clicked in your mind?
@Amit – Do you mean how did I find this fix?
Well, it was like 18 months ago but i’ll try and explain how i think i got there – I work on a product that used to use the same MAPI functionality to connect to Exchange mailstores that Outlook uses. One of the files that is related to the MAPI connection is mapisvc.inf. Some time the two files get ‘out of sync’ and only one of them is up to date…. Outlook recreates them (you can also run fixmapi.exe) on start if they are missing.
It was just a shot in the dark really based on an educated guess.
Same problem, delete that file (only one occurance) and bob’s your uncle fanny’s your aunt.
Cheers
Mark
UK
Thanks for your suggestions – I too had uninstalled the beta of Outlook 2007 and then installed Outlook 2003 over it. My problem was that I could not add new Personal Folders so I couldn’t get access to some folders I had created on another PC using 2003. Getting rid of both of the MAPISVC.inf files did the trick – running smoothly now!
I spent almost a whole afternooon trying to find a solution to this problem. Your fix worked. Thanks
top..
Also had the 2007 ‘trial ware’ junk preloaded and rolled back – many thanks for providing a solution – would have been stuffed otherwise
Thank you VERY much!
Thank You!
Bravo,
Your blog is a service to the world
First hit on Google
Thanks very much!
Just got a batch of new HP workstations with Office 2007 trial installed, and need to go back to Outlook 2003. This saved a lot of wasted time.
Still it’s unbelievable that this problem exists!
1000 thanks from me 2!
Thanks 1M! Office 2007 stinks. Microsoft is sloppy. Thank goodness you have experience with another product which interacts with their junk.
You rock.
It worked for me too. Thanks!
Mate, this post is the gift that keeps on giving. Saved me a good eal of frustration!
God bless you for publishing this!!! Everybody link here, so it ends up at the top of the Google results.
you da man!!! TY much for a quick concise fix to MS nonsense.
THANKS! This saved me a lot of time AND frustration!! Great help!
Hi…
I have a question related to Outlook 2007 and MAPISVC.inf. [Yes, I know that O2007 does not create but I understand that if it is found, then it will be used.] I have tried creating it (MAPISVC.inf) in both Common Files and System32 folders, but the TRANSPORT Provider that I am adding does not show up in the Other Message Services during Profile Creation (manually).
Question:
1. Is there anythng specific that I need to do to the Registry to force O2007 to use the MAPISVC?
2. Can I tell if it is finding it?
Thanks,
jds
@JDS
1. Best thing I can do is point you to the MS documentation http://support.microsoft.com/kb/294470.
Other than that, install Reg Mon and/or File Mon and see where it is looking for the MAPISVC file and see if there is one in a location that you have missed.
HTH.
Thankyou what a pain this problem was.
Thanks for the post. Bingo…it works!
Nice one, this is confirmed as a fix for me going back to 2003 from 2007.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just spent about two hours installing and uninstalling all different verison of office!! IT’S NOW FIXED!!
OMG you ROCK!!! I can confirm that this is STILL an issue with outlook 2007 as of today.
I’m under the impression it’s because Microsoft doesn’t want you to downgrade and is delaying a fix to kind of ‘force’ people to upgrade.
THANK YOU Jeez what a pain!
Thanks a million, this was a big help.
And the thanks continue to roll in.. You would think the coding required to resolve this issue on Microsoft’s part, would be minuscule in both quantity and complexity. Thanks again
Excellent solution, i love it..
Thanks a lot..
A new harddrive under warranty was installed with a trial version of Office 2007. Mentioned to the retail technician that I probably should uninstall Office 2007. He agreed. Had the same problem with Outlook 2003. Had spent two hours looking for a solution and then found your site. Thanks a million.
[...] I worked it out and resolved the issue with the following steps. Not sure if all the steps are needed in order to resolve the issue but I took this path: 1) Close outlook 2) Remove user’s profile via "Mail" object in Windows Control Panel 3) Remove user’s PST and ZDB files. (Location depends if XP or Vista are used) 4) Search for and rename Mapisvc.inf – There should be two instances 5) Run ZCO installer again, choose "repair" 6) Start Outlook, create new profile, point to ZCS and let it do initial sync. 7) User has his GAL back Some inspiration lifted from Rolling back from Outlook 12 (2007 beta release 2) | Fine Malt Techr [...]
Thanks! You are da man – Blessed Karma coming your way!
Thanks for this – worked as charm. Uninstalled trial version of 2007 and installed 2003 and i had this problem with Outlook 2003.
Did the above and it worked 100% !!
Cheers…
From Australia…
Damn, You saved my day I was struggling the whole day with this, I have bn in the field for 4yrs and never seen something like this, deleted both inf files in system32 and common files. The restarted Outlook it worked perfectly.
Thanks man
South Africa
Damn, You saved my day I was struggling with this the whole day , I have been in the field for 4yrs and never seen something like this, deleted both inf files in system32 and common files. The restarted Outlook it worked perfectly.
Thanks man
South Africa
Thanks for the Tip… Just bought a Toshiba NB100 netbook and after attempting to Setup my Outlook on it ran into the same issue
Thanks!! I worked for hours; finally got the proper search argument, found your solution and now I’m running. THANKS AGAIN!
Thanks, just deleting Mapisvc.inf
fixed the problem
I know this article applies to 2007, but I thought it would also work for Office 2010 Beta – it did not for me.
I did not find the files anywhere, but I did find and delete the given registry entries, but still no luck.
I guess it’s a complete uninstall and reinstall now…
Thanks.
No way! I’m not a computer professional…just small business owner with new g550. This works. Only steps I took: 1) close outlook, 2) delete existing profiles under control panel/mail, 3) search for mapisvc.inf, 4) rename two instances of it, 5) restart computer, 6) open outlook 2003.
Thanks a gazillion!
Thank you,
This worked for me as well.
Matt Bruce
I CAN’T SAY IT LOUD ENOUGH……….THANKS A BUNCH!
It worked for me as well. Did search for Mapisvc.inf then deleted them both. Restarted, and WHA-LA working good.