OL98: How to Troubleshoot Invalid Page Faults (IPF) in Outllib.dll

This article describes troubleshooting tips when you receive the following error message in Microsoft Outlook 98:

This article discusses how to troubleshoot Invalid Page Faults (IPF) in Outllib.dll. The methods described below start with the easiest and most likely fixes, and progress to the more difficult fixes.

The troubleshooting methods described are:

• Ensure Microsoft Outlook Express is installed and functioning correctly
  
  
• Disable Extensions
  
  
• Boot in Safe Mode
  
  
• Create a New Profile and Personal Folders File
  
  
• Remove and Reinstall Outlook

Method 1: Ensure Microsoft Outlook Express Is Installed and Functioning Correctly

If Outlook Express is not installed or functioning correctly, components of Outlook may not function correctly. Ensure that Outlook Express is installed and working without error. For additional information, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Method 2: Disable Extensions

Outlook may have problems with incompatible or invalid extension information. Extensions may cause Outlook to not start or create IPFs while running. To troubleshoot extension problems, follow these steps.

• If Outlook Does Not Start

If Outlook does not start, try replacing the Extend.dat file. This file caches extension information gathered from the Microsoft Windows registry. To replace the Extend.dat file, follow these steps:

1. Quit all programs.
2. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.
3. In the Named box, type extend.dat.
4. In the Look In list, click to select your hard drive.
5. Click to select Include Subfolders, and then click Find Now.
6. In the Name list, right-click the file Extend.dat, and on the shortcut menu, click Rename, then change the file extension from "dat" to "old," and press ENTER.
7. On the File menu, click Close to exit Find File.
8. Restart Outlook. Restarting Outlook creates a new Extend.dat file.

• If Outlook Does Start

If you can start Outlook and you suspect an extension problem, follow these steps to disable extensions:

1. Start Outlook.
2. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Other tab.
3. Click Advanced Options, and then click Add-In Manager.
4. In the Add-in list, click to clear the check box for the add-in you suspect.
5. Click OK three times to close all dialog boxes.

For more information on Outlook extension issues, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Method 2: Boot in Safe Mode

Restart your computer in Safe Mode. Safe Mode may disable programs that start automatically. For more information on Safe Mode, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: If starting in Safe Mode resolves the issue then you may want to examine how Safe Mode starts your computer. For more information on Safe Mode, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Method 3: Create a New Profile and Personal Folders File

NOTE: If you are using the Internet Mail Only (IMO) version of Outlook, skip to the section titled "Create a New Internet Mail Only (IMO) Profile."

If you are using the Corporate Workgroup version (CW) of Outlook, create a new Profile and then create a new set of Personal Folders.

Create a New Profile (CW)

To create a new profile, follow these steps:

1. In Control Panel, double-click the Mail And Fax icon. (The icon is a Mail icon if you did not install fax services.)
2. On the Services tab, click Show Profiles to list your profiles.
3. Click Add to start the Inbox Setup Wizard.
4. Check that the default is set to "Use the following information services."
5. Click to clear all services except the one you are troubleshooting. For troubleshooting purposes, add only one service at a time.
6. Click Next and in the Profile Name box, type a name for the new profile.
7. Follow the Inbox Setup Wizard prompts, answering the questions for your service. Make sure you specify a new Personal Folders file (*.pst) and do not use the existing file when prompted by the wizard.
   
   NOTE: Since you are not using the old .pst file while troubleshooting, you may not see any of your old .pst folders or files.

Create a New Internet Mail Only (IMO) Profile

If you have installed the Internet Mail Only version of Outlook, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click the Mail icon.
3. Select and remove each Internet mail account from the Internet Accounts Manager. Be sure you know all the Properties for each account before removing.
   
   NOTE: Do not remove Fax accounts.
4. Add the Accounts back one at a time.

For more information on creating a new set of Personal Folders, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Create a New Personal Folders File

1. Start Outlook.
2. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Personal Folders File (.pst).
3. Select a location and type a name, and click Create. Select any options you wish to use, and click OK.
   
   NOTE: Do not use the name "mailbox.pst."
4. On the View menu, click Folder List if it is not already displayed.
5. Right-click the new Personal Folders File, and click Properties.
6. On the General tab, click to select Deliver POP mail to this personal folders file, and then click OK.

Method 4: Remove and Reinstall Outlook

WARNING: Removing Windows Messaging removes your profile information from the registry. You have to recreate your profile after reinstalling Outlook.

To Remove Outlook

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
3. On the Install/Uninstall tab, click to select Outlook 98, and then click Add/Remove.
4. In the Maintenance Wizard, click Remove Outlook 98.
5. Continue until the uninstall program finishes. If prompted, restart Windows.

Rename the Outllib.dll file

1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.
2. In the Name box, type outllib.dll and in the Look In list, click to select the hard drive that contains Outlook, and then click to select Include Subfolders.
3. In the Name list, right-click Outllib.dll and on the shortcut menu, click Rename. Rename the file to Outllib.old, and press ENTER.

To Reinstall Outlook

Run Setup using your original installation medium to reinstall Outlook.