I am attempting to use Outlook for the first time. It's Outlook 2003 and I'm running windows Vista. I cannot get Outlook to open. When I click on the icon to open it, I first get a popup box that says: "Configuring Outlook Accounts. Creating Welcome Message." Next I get a popup box that says: "Connecting to Microsoft Exchange Server" and then "Exchange Server is Unavailable." Then "Retry. Work Offline and Cancel."

When I click on "Work Offline," I get the following message: "unable to open your default email folders. Your profile is not configured."

When you first start Outlook you are presented with a dialogue box that lists the types of servers that your email account will work with:
1- Microsoft Exchange Server
2- POP3
3- IMAP
4- HTTP
5- Additional Server Types
I’m guessing that you don’t have an Exchange server configured, or it’s down, and that’s why you’re getting this error message; or you may have just chosen the wrong type of server from the list.

Hi vip4bham,

I'm taking a stab in the dark here, but is this a "work" or office computer? If so they Dino is right, they have it configured for Exchange.
Unfortunately you cannot change it through Outlook (since, as you noticed, it fails to start).

There should be a Start - Settings - Control Panel - Mail applet.
In there, click on Email Accounts, and navigate your way through there. First go View/Change accounts, then you'll probably see an Exchange server entry there. Remove it and click Finish.
You can also go into the Profiles setup and remove the current entry.

Now when you start Outlook you will be prompted to walk through the setup of a new account.
Don't select Exchange, but select POP3 or IMAP, depending on your ISP's recommendations.

Hope this helps,

ronald.

I am having basically the same problem, only I have Vista, Outlook 2007, and I use this comp for work. It is connected to an Exchange Server when I am at work, so obviously I cannot open Outlook when I am not there.

However, I also have Hotmail through my Outlook. This is where things get interesting. When I had 2003 installed, I had no problem getting to my Hotmail when I was not connected to work. Now, I can't get anything. I get the same error that vip was getting (with the exception of the profile thing). What's even stranger is, I have no "connect" or "work offline" option in my File menu--regardless of if I an online or not.

If I hit Retry, I sort of connect, but I am still Offline. I can download my Inbox headers, but I can't send anything, and I can't do much else. I would love to be able to use my Outlook when I am away from work.

Can someone help, please?