OL98: Troubleshooting Net Folders

This article describes issues and errors you may encounter using the Net Folders component in Microsoft Outlook. This article also provides possible resolutions to these issues.

This article contains the following sections arranged in order of complexity; read these sections in the order presented:

• Net Folders Error Conditions
• Net Folders Error Messages
• Net Folder Maintenance
• Using Nfclean to Reset Net Folders Structure
• Creating a New Installation of Net Folders

Net Folders Error Conditions

The following are some error conditions you may encounter if Net Folders is not functioning properly:

• After adding a subscriber to a folder, you may not see the subscriber added to the subscriber's list.
• Subscribers initially receive the shared folder information, but updates are never received, updates for the shared Net Folder are never processed on the subscriber's computer, or the recipient never gets updates from the subscriber.
  
  These issues occur when the Internet Mail service is configured with the Corporate or Workgroup installation of Outlook.
  
  To resolve this issue, use the Outlook Address Book to send the initial invitation. To do so, follow these steps:
  1. On the File menu, click New, and then click Contact. In the new contact form, type the necessary information for the subscriber, including the e-mail address.
  2. On the File menu, click Save. The e-mail address appears as underlined.
  3. Double-click the e-mail address. Select the Always send to this recipient in Microsoft Outlook rich-text format check box.
  4. To address the invitation, run the Net Folders Wizard using the contact you created.
• Subscribers do not see the Accept or Decline buttons on the subscription message. To preserve these features, always send messages to recipients in Rich Text Format.
• After sharing a folder, Net Folders appear to be sharing information, but some or all items do not appear in the shared folders.
  
  Check the items in the original folder and make sure they are not marked as Private. Private items may not be shared by Net Folders. To check if an item is marked as private, follow these steps:
  1. In the original shared folder, open an item.
  2. In the lower right-hand corner of the item, you should see a check box marked Private. If that box is checked, the item may not be shared with the other Net Folders users.
  For additional information on why Contacts are sometimes marked as private, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
  241846  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/241846/EN-US/ ) OL2000: SBCM: All New Contacts Are Marked Private After Saving

Net Folders Error Messages

You may receive the following error messages while setting up or using Net Folders, each error message is indented below. Use the suggestions in the "What to try" section to resolve the issue.

What to try

The folder that contains the updates, or is receiving the updates, has exceeded the 2 megabyte limit. You must reduce the size of the folder or increase the server quota size.

What to try

Subscriptions may not process if the Personal Folder (PST) file is password protected. Remove the password from the Personal Folder file, or create a new Personal Folder file as the delivery point.

What to try

The Net Folders feature relies on two add-ins, Net Folders and the Rules Wizard, to manage the subscription and update process. Issues with either, or both, of these items may cause the error mentioned. Use the following steps to reset these add-ins. You must follow the steps once for the Net Folders add-in, and once for the Rules Wizard add-in. To reset these add-ins, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click Other.
2. Click Advanced Options, and then click Add-in Manager.
3. Clear the Net Folders check box.
4. Click OK twice.
5. Quit and start Outlook again.
6. Return to the Add-in Manager, and select the Net Folders check box.
7. Click OK twice.
8. Quit and start Outlook again.

After completing these steps, test the functionality of Net Folders.

What to try

In some cases the binary file, which stores Outlook rules, may be damaged. To generate a new rules file, follow these steps:

1. On the Start menu, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.
2. In the Named box, type *.rwz. Ensure that the entire hard disk drive is selected in the Look In list, and then click Find Now.
3. The active Rules Wizard file name is the same as the name of the current Outlook profile, if you are using the Corporate or Workgroup (CW) installation, and the name Microsoft Internet Settings, if you are using the Internet Mail Only (IMO) installation.
4. Right-click the appropriate file and then click Rename. Change the file name extension to .old, and then click the Close button.

Repeat these steps to refresh the Rules Wizard and Net Folders add-ins.

After these steps are complete, test the functionality of Net Folders.

What to try

For more information on System errors involving Fldpub.dll, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

What to try

If you are using Net Folders to share information with others on the Internet, either your Internet Service Provider (ISP), or one of the participant's ISP's has turned off "Autoreplies to the Internet." Many ISPs turn off this feature to cut down on the propagation of viruses that are transmitted through e-mail. You can determine if Autoreplies are turned off by requesting a read receipt from other participants. To request a read receipt, follow these steps:

1. Create a new mail message and address it your associates.
2. In the message, on the File menu, click Properties.
3. Select the Read Receipt Requested check box.
4. Click OK, and then send the message.

If you do not receive a message that the test message was read, Autoreplies is likely turned off at the ISP; this is usually applied to all mailboxes. Contact your ISP to see if Autoreplies can be turned on for your account.

Using Nfclean to Reset Net Folders

NOTE: The following steps require that you locate files on your computer. If you are unsure of how to locate these files, see the "To Locate and Rename Files" section at the end of this article.

When the Net Folders option is selected in Outlook Active Setup, a utility called Nfclean.exe is installed. To use Nfclean to reset the Net Folders structure, follow these steps:

1. Locate the Nfclean.exe utility.
2. Double-click Nfclean.exe to run the program. This utility provides no user interface. You may only see an hourglass pointer briefly.
3. Start Outlook and test Net Folders functionality.

To Create a New Installation of Net Folders

The files listed make up the core of the Net Folders feature. In some cases, one or more of these files may be damaged. Use the "To Locate and Rename Files" section to find and rename each of these files.

To create clean installation of the Net Folders feature set, follow these steps:

1. On the Start menu, click Shut down, and then click Restart the computer.
2. Locate each of the following files and change the file name extension to .old:

   Fldpub.ecf
   Fldpub.dll
   Conflict.cfg
   Multiple.cfg
   Newsubsc.cfg
   Regcfg.exe
   Request.cfg
   Sync.cfg
   Update.cfg
   Fldpb.clt
   Fldpb.inf
   Fldpbpst.stf
   Newsubsc.oft
   Nfconf.oft
   Atl.dll
   Fpatl.ocx
   Nfclean.exe
   Outcmd.dat
   						

3. On the Start menu, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
4. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
5. Click Microsoft Outlook 98, and then click Add/Remove.
6. Select Install From the Web or Install From CD.
7. Select the Net Folders check box. You receive a message stating the component is already installed. Click Yes to reinstall the feature.

Start Outlook and test Net Folders functionality. You must reestablish sharing and resend any subscriptions.

NOTE: During the reinstallation of the Net Folders components, Microsoft strongly suggests that you not have any other programs running. This specifically applies to disk utilities or virus protection programs.

To Locate and Rename Files

To locate files on your computer, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.
2. In the Named box, type the name of the file that you want to locate. Ensure that the entire hard disk drive is being searched by making the appropriate selection in the Look In box. Select the Include Subfolders check box. Click Find Now.
3. Right-click the file you want to rename, and then click Rename. Rename the file by changing its file name extension to .old.

For more information on creating user profiles or accounts, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information on Net Folders, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: