OL2002: File Path Does Not Convert to UNC When Inserted as a Hyperlink

When you insert a file as a hyperlink into a Microsoft Outlook 2002 e-mail message and you are using Rich Text as your e-mail format, the path of the file does not convert to a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path.

Note To check the format of the e-mail message, click the Tools menu, and then click Options. Click the Mail Format tab, and then make sure that next to Compose in this message format it states Rich Text.

For example, if you insert a file that is located on a network share (mapped drive) as a hyperlink in an Outlook 2002 e-mail message, the path of the file may be inserted as <file://driveletter:\folder\filename> instead of the UNC path of <\\servername\share\filename>.

Part 1: Download and Install the Fix

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, submit a request to Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.
The global version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel. After the hotfix is installed, the following files will have the listed attributes or later:

Important Information Before You Install the Hotfix

• The full-file version of this fix installs on Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 1 (SP-1). However, the full-file version has not been tested to the same extent on that version as it has on Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 2 (SP-2). Some unanticipated file conflicts are possible. This configuration is supported, but not recommended.
• The client version of this fix is a post-Office XP SP-2 fix. To install the fix, you must have Office XP SP-2 installed. For additional information about Office XP-2, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
  325671  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325671/ ) OFFXP: Overview of the Office XP Service Pack 2
• The client version of this fix requires Microsoft Windows Installer 2.0 or later. For additional information about the Windows Installer requirement, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
  330537  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330537/ ) OFFXP: Office XP Updates and Patches Released After September 2002 May Require Windows Installer 2.0

Part 2: Activate the Update

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
To activate this hotfix, follow these steps:

1. Quit Outlook.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
4. Locate, and then click to select the following registry key:
   HKey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Options\General\
5. After you select the key that is specified in step 4, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click DWORD.
6. Type VolumePathPref, and then press ENTER.
7. Right-click VolumePathPref, and then click Modify.
8. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
9. On the File menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.

Note Refer to the following table for the values that you can type in the Value data box in step 8.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section of this article.

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.