Client Components Require Outlook Express on Non-Windows 2000 Based Computers

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This article was previously published under Q283990

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SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to connect to a Microsoft SharePoint Portal server by using a Web folders shortcut, or by using the Open command from the File menu in a Microsoft Office 2000 program, you may receive the following error message:

You have attempted to connect to a SharePoint Portal Server. To use the document management features of SharePoint Portal Server, you must install Outlook Express 5 (or later).

This error message appears only once for each session.

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CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the SharePoint Portal Server client requires Collaboration Data Objects (CDO) to access the server. CDO requires the Inetcomm.dll (version 5.0) file which is a part of the Microsoft Outlook Express 5 (or later) installation. By default, the SharePoint Portal Server client checks for the existence of the Inetcomm.dll file the first time access is attempted to the server.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, install Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later because it includes Microsoft Outlook Express in the installation by default.

Windows 2000-based computers should already have the Inetcomm.dll file.

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