You cannot open an .msg e-mail message file in Outlook 2003 after you install Office 2003 Service Pack 3

You install Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 3 (SP3) on a computer that is running Microsoft Office Outlook 2003. When you try to open an Outlook Message Format (.msg) e-mail message file that contains many attachments or many recipients, you may experience one of the following symptoms:

• When you double-click the .msg file to open the message in Outlook 2003, the message does not open. Additionally, you receive the following error message:
  The operation failed due to a registry or installation problem. Restart Outlook and try again. If the problem persists, please reinstall.
• When you use the MAPI Editor (MFCMapi.exe) to view the properties of an .msg file, the message does not open. Additionally, you receive the following error message:
  MAPI_E_CORRUPT_DATA

To resolve this problem, apply hotfix 948073. Then, perform one or both of the following actions:

• Add the AttachmentMax value to the registry if there are many attachments in an .msg file.
• Add the RecipientMax value to the registry if there are many recipients in an .msg file.

Note The default value for the AttachmentMax setting and for the RecipientMax setting is 2048 bytes.

How to obtain the hotfix

This issue is fixed in the Outlook 2003 post-Service Pack 3 Hotfix Package that is dated January 23, 2008. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

How to enable the hotfix

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

To enable this hotfix, follow these steps:

1. Exit Outlook 2003.
2. Start Registry Editor.
   • In Windows Vista, click Start
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     , type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
     
     
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     If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
   • In Windows XP, click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
3. Click the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\Options\Mail
4. After you click the subkey that is specified in step 3, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click DWORD Value.
5. Type AttachmentMax, and then press ENTER.
6. Right-click AttachmentMax, and then click Modify.
7. In the Value data box, type a value that is greater than 2048, and then click OK.
8. Click the subkey that is specified in step 3, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click DWORD Value.
9. Type RecipientMax, and then press ENTER.
10. Right-click RecipientMax, and then click Modify.
11. In the Value data box, type a value that is greater than 2048, and then click OK.
12. If you use policies, go to step 13. If you do not use policies, go to step 22.
13. Click the following registry subkey:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\Options\Mail
14. After you click the subkey that is specified in step 13, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click DWORD Value.
15. Type AttachmentMax, and then press ENTER.
16. Right-click AttachmentMax, and then click Modify.
17. In the Value data box, type a value that is greater than 2048, and then click OK.
18. Click the subkey that is specified in step 13, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click DWORD Value.
19. Type RecipientMax, and then press ENTER.
20. Right-click RecipientMax, and then click Modify.
21. In the Value data box, type a value that is greater than 2048, and then click OK.
22. On the File menu, click Exit to exit Registry Editor.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.