OL2000: Riched20.dll Error Messages Causes Outlook to Fail

When you attempt to start Microsoft Outlook you may receive the following error: If you click OK, Outlook fails to start.

Alternately, Outlook may start, but when you attempt to create a new mail message you receive the following error message:

The file, Riched20.dll, is damaged or missing.

Rename the Riched20.dll file, if it exists and repair Outlook.

Rename Riched20.dll

1. Click Start, point to Find, and click Files Or Folders. In the Named box, type Riched20.dll, and then click Find Now.
2. In the Search Results list, right-click Riched20.dll, and then click Rename on the shortcut menu. Rename the extension ".dll" to ".old".

Repair Outlook

1. Click Start, point to Settings and click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
3. In the list of installed programs, click to select either Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Office, depending on how you installed Outlook.
4. Click Add/Remove.
5. Once the setup screen appears, click Repair Office.
6. Click "Repair errors in my Office 2000 installation," and then click Finish.

The repair process will take several minutes while Office Setup repairs any damaged or missing files. If prompted to restart your computer, click Yes.

Riched20.dll is the source library for Rich Text Editing and display features in Outlook, notably with Microsoft Word or Microsoft Outlook Rich Text selected as the default e-mail format. Problems with Riched20.dll may be manifested at start up with an inability to read text in the Outlook preview pane.