OL98: Error Message: MAPI Spooler Has Shut Down Unexpectedly

This error may occur from one of the following conditions:

• The System date is set beyond January 17, 2038.
  
  
• A damaged personal message store (.pst) file that has a message stuck in the Outbox.
  
  
• A corrupted or outdated CompuServe Mail service.
  
  
• You are using Microsoft Windows NT, and have removed Remote Access Services.

The System Date Is Set Beyond January 17, 2038

Set the Windows System Date to the current date or a date earlier than January 17, 2038.

For more information on System Date issues, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

A Damaged Personal Message Store

Resolving this issue is a two step process, you must first create a new profile and a new .pst file and then copy your messages to the new .pst file.

To create a new profile and a new .pst file, follow these steps:

1. Use the right mouse button to click Outlook on the desktop and then click Properties.
2. Click Show Profiles, and then click Add.
3. Click the appropriate information services to add them to the profile.
4. Type a name in the Profile Name box, and then click Next.
5. Follow the instructions to configure the information services.
6. When you receive a prompt for the Personal Folders file, make sure to specify a new file name. For example, instead of Mailbox.pst, you could use Mailbox2.pst.
7. Click Finish, and then click to select the new profile in the "When starting Windows Messaging, use this" box.
8. Click Close.

To copy the messages from your original .pst file to the new .pst file follow these steps:

1. Start Outlook, and on the Tools menu, click Services.
2. Click Add, click Personal Folders, and then click OK.
3. Locate the original .pst file, and then click Open.
4. Click OK and OK.
5. Copy all of the messages from the original set of Personal Folders to the new Personal Folders, except for the Outbox.

A Corrupted or Outdated CompuServe Mail Service

NOTE: The following steps apply only if you have not upgraded to the CompuServe enhanced POP3 e-mail client. Information about CompuServe's enhanced POP3 e-mail service can be found on their Web site at the following address:

Remove the CompuServe service from the current profile and reinstall by following these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Services. Click to select the CompuServe service and then click Remove and OK.
2. Re-install the CompuServe Mail service for Exchange from CompuServe.

Windows NT Is Missing Remote Access Services

To add the Remote Access Service, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click the Network icon and on the Services tab click Add.
3. Click Remote Access Services, click OK and OK.

For additional information about this error in Windows NT, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

The following article deals with the Remote Access Service problem. The following article deals with the Personal Message Store problem. The following article deals with an attached file that has no file name extension.