OL97: Error Message: MAPI Spooler Has Shut Down Unexpectedly

Using Microsoft Outlook 97, you may receive the following error message:

This error can occur from one of the following conditions:

• The System date is set beyond January 17, 2038.
• A damaged personal message store (.pst) file has a message stuck in the Outbox.
• A corrupted or outdated CompuServe Mail service.
• You are using Microsoft Windows NT, and have removed Remote Access Services.
• You have Eudora Pro Installed

To Resolve the System Date Issue

Set the Windows System Date to the current date or a date earlier than January 17, 2038.

For additional information on System Date issues, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

To Resolve the Damaged .pst Issue

There are two steps to resolve the problem with a .pst file. First create a new profile and .pst file and then copy messages to the new .pst file.

To create a new profile and a new .pst file, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Outlook icon on the Desktop, and then click Properties.
2. Click Show Profiles, and then click Add.
3. Click the appropriate information services to add them to the profile.
4. Type a name in Profile Name, and then click Next.
5. Follow the instructions in the wizard to configure the information services.
6. When prompted for a Personal Folders file, make sure to specify a new file name. For example, instead of Mailbox.pst, use Mailbox2.pst.
7. Click Finish, and then click to select the new profile in the "When starting Windows Messaging, use this" box and click Close.

To copy the messages from your original .pst file to the new .pst file follow these steps:

1. Start Outlook, and on the Tools menu, click Services.
2. Click Add, click Personal Folders, and then click OK.
3. Locate the original .pst file, and then click Open.
4. Click OK, and then click OK.
5. Copy all of the messages from the original set of Personal Folders to the new Personal Folders, except for the Outbox.

If you are creating a new profile and the .pst file works, then you may be able to recover your old .pst file by running the Inbox Repair Tool. For additional information about the Inbox Repair Tool, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

To Resolve the Corrupted or Outdated CompuServe Mail Service

NOTE: The following steps apply only if you have not upgraded to the CompuServe enhanced POP3 e-mail client. Information about CompuServe's enhanced POP3 e-mail service can be found on their Web site at:



To remove the CompuServe service from the current profile., follow these steps:

1. From the Tools menu, click Services.
2. Click the CompuServe service.
3. Click Remove and OK.
4. Re-install the CompuServe Mail service for Exchange.

To Resolve the Missing Remote Access Services Issue

Add the Remote Access Service, as follows:

1. Click Start, point to Settings then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click the Network icon and on the Services tab click Add.
3. Click Remote Access Services.
4. Click OK and OK.

Eudora Pro Installed

This error message may also be caused by Eudora Pro. For additional information about MAPI spooler errors with Eudora Pro installed, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

The following articles specifically deal with the referenced error as it occurs in various scenarios with Microsoft Windows NT.

For additional information about this error in the Remote Access Service, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For additional information about this error with the Personal Message Store, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For additional information about this error with an attached file that has no file name extension, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: