I just installed Outlook 2019 on a new computer. I had things running correctly on the other one but I can't get the macro to be enabled on the new no matter what I have done. I tried to import the cert into the root but (at least the way I did it) it is not enabled and running. All very odd but I need some guidance on how to get this working on the new system.
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I have a client site running our Windows desktop software on a number of computers with 64 bit Office 365.
On most of their computers, our software is able to send email via Outlook.
However, two of their computers were upgraded to 365 last year (by their IT technician, not us), and both fail when they attempt to send email from our software.
Outlook works fine on its own, and so does our software - on both of these computers. But these two both can't send email from our software. (The other computers, which send email fine, are running exactly the same version of our software.)
When sending email, our software first checks for the existence of "Outlook.Application" or "Outlook.Application.*" keys in the Windows Registry to determine whether Outlook is installed. If not found, our program logic assumes that Outlook isn't installed, and attempts to use MAPI instead to send mail through another email client like Thunderbird (or through Outlook using MAPI). However, these computers both then crashed, because MAPI doesn't work on 64bit computers.
When I investigated these two problem computers, I found that they both had no "Outlook.Application" or "Outlook.Application.16" keys anywhere in their Windows Registry. I have never encountered this before. How and why would Office 365 install without creating these Registry entries? (I had just installed Office 365 on two computers here in my office, and they both had these keys and worked perfectly. And we have never encountered this before, at any of our other user sites.)
I discussed this with their IT technician. He did a complete uninstall of Office 365, and installed them from scratch, using the "on-line" install (that I had used on my computers - I sent him the URL to be sure). However, after this they were still unable to send email. When I investigated, I found that the Registry keys were still missing.
Their IT technician then asked me to export all the "Outlook.Application" and "Outlook.Application.16" keys in "Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT" and send them to him. He imported these on both those computers, but it did not fix the problem.
However, because the keys now existed, our software then attempted to send email directly through Outlook, using OLE. However it crashed on the line where it tried to create an Outlook Application Object:
loApp = CreateObject("Outlook.Application.16")
I built a special version with some extra test code in it. After failing to run the above line, it tried to run a line:
loApp = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")
This also failed - presumably because some Outlook application components have not been installed.
I did some fairly extensive Google searches for posts that might identify a solution, but found nothing that seemed to fit. A couple of posts suggested running an Office "Repair" from the installation tool.
I mentioned this to their technician, and he did this. Interestingly, when I then checked (using RegEdit), it had created a lot more "Outlook.Application" and "Outlook.Application.16" Registry keys. But our software still fails on both the "CreateObject" lines in that test version, and single "CreateObject" line in the normal version.
Both their technician and I are completely mystified (and now out of our depth in the Microsoft black arts of Office 365 installation and Windows).
Has anyone encountered this scenario before, and / or can suggest where we might go from here?
OK, the original post was getting a bit long, and I didn't want to clutter it with too much information. So here is some further info:
In answer to Eugene's questions:
Using RegEdit, I searched the entire Registry - for one of the
computers that didn't work, and one that did (plus my own here,
which also worked fine).
Their technician installed the latest 64 bit 365. If I understand
correctly, the initial install was done from an ISO file. When that
didn't work, he tried again using the "on line" install (which I had
successfully used here). He used the "on line" install again for the "repair". I don't have current build numbers, but could obtain these later in the week if relevant. But they should be up-to-date.
No we can't reproduce the problem ourselves in-house, and have never
seen it before at any other client site.
The site is running the same antivirus software on all computers (those
that work, and those that don't). So I suspect that this won't be
the cause.
Registry keys that match perfectly on those two computers are:
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{0006F03A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Outlook.Application
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Outlook.Application.16
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WOW6432Node\CLSID\{0006F03A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{0006F03A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Outlook.Application
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Outlook.Application.16
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\WOW6432Node\CLSID\{0006F03A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\AppVMachineRegistryStore\Integration\Backup\Software\RegisteredApplications
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\AppVMachineRegistryStore\Integration\Ownership\Software\Classes\Outlook.Application
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\AppVMachineRegistryStore\Integration\Ownership\Software\Classes\Outlook.Application.16
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\AppVMachineRegistryStore\Integration\Ownership\Software\RegisteredApplications
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\REGISTRY\MACHINE\Software\Classes\CLSID\{0006F03A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\REGISTRY\MACHINE\Software\Classes\Outlook.Application
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\REGISTRY\MACHINE\Software\Classes\Outlook.Application.16
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\REGISTRY\MACHINE\Software\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{0006F03A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\InprocServer32
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\REGISTRY\MACHINE\Software\RegisteredApplications
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RegisteredApplications
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{0006F03A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\RegisteredApplications
Something that may be significant:
The Windows Registry on the computer that does not work has four extra keys (that are not in the computer that does work):
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PackagedCom\ProgIdIndex\Outlook.Application
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PackagedCom\ProgIdIndex\Outlook.Application\Microsoft.Office.Desktop.Outlook_16051.12325.20298.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PackagedCom\ProgIdIndex\Outlook.Application.16
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PackagedCom\ProgIdIndex\Outlook.Application.16\Microsoft.Office.Desktop.Outlook_16051.12325.20298.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
That computer (which doesn't work) also has a folder C:\ProgramData\Packages\Microsoft.Office.Desktop.Outlook_8wekyb3d8bbwe\ with 3 subfolders in it (with system generated names):
The first (created in 2019) has a subfolder "\SystemAppData" which is
empty.
The other two (both with same date/time in early 2020) are completely
empty (i.e. have no SystemAppData subfolder)
I wonder whether these keys may somehow be causing mischief. Early next week the technician and I plan to back up these keys, and then delete them.
Does anyone know what these keys are about?
(I found a blog that may be relevant: https://blogs.windows.com/windowsdeveloper/2017/04/13/com-server-ole-document-support-desktop-bridge/ But then again, it may not be.)
Keep in mind that older version of Windows Store Outlook ran in a sandbox and was not externally accessible. Uninstall it and reinstall again from the store - you will get a regular C2R version.
Eureka!!! Deleting those extra legacy Registry keys did the trick.
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PackagedCom\ProgIdIndex\Outlook.Application
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PackagedCom\ProgIdIndex\Outlook.Application\Microsoft.Office.Desktop.Outlook_16051.12325.20298.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PackagedCom\ProgIdIndex\Outlook.Application.16
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PackagedCom\ProgIdIndex\Outlook.Application.16\Microsoft.Office.Desktop.Outlook_16051.12325.20298.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
Our software immediately was able to create Outlook Application objects, and send email via Outlook.
It seems that these extra keys dated back to an earlier attempted install by the client (before their current technician became involved). There were about 20 or so other 'Outlook*' keys in that part of the Registry with '8wekyb3d8bbwe' in their name. I subsequently deleted these too - on the the assumption that they were all legacy garbage. (As a rule, it is pretty dangerous to delete things you don't understand - but so far, so good. Although I am too chicken to delete a host of others in that location for Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Word with with '8wekyb3d8bbwe' in their name too.)
I had the same problem; it came from a brand-new computer!
What worked for me was the early binding. Select: Tools > Reference > Microsoft Outlook 16 object library.
Dim objOL As Outlook.Application
Set objOL = New Outlook.Application
Set objOL = Nothing
At the end, setting objOL to Nothing is crucial, otherwise the instance stays open, and it causes problems with Outlook.
Reference.
I have a Clickonce app from Visual Studio 2015 SP3 that is published to the network server and used in-house only. The program works just fine when launched from Visual Studio. It runs just fine on a Windows machine that does not have the 1803 update. But once a machine updates to 1803, the application no longer starts. I get the "Checking for updates..." window then nothing. On a fresh install, I usually get the Smartscreen telling me the program may be dangerous. It doesn't get that far.
I've created the Clickonce from a computer with the 1803 update and the problem still exists.
I've disconnected the machine from the network. The application starts but then has no database access and it needs the database. It's also written to hide buttons that would use the database to prevent users from trying to do things that require it.
I found a workaround (third paragraph) at https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/7cbd16f5-526e-4b0b-a186-3ebf41b7b349/smartscreen-prompt-does-not-show-for-clickonce-app-since-windows-10-update-1803?forum=win10itprogeneral. When I start the application from the directory mentioned, I get the Smartscreen and can tell it to run anyway. Every time I click the desktop icon, it works just fine.
If a new release is published, the new release is downloaded and the program updated, but the Smartscreen no longer appears and the application never starts.
So somewhere between installing the latest update and the Smartscreen, this is failing. Anyone else experiencing this and have an idea as to why?
Yes, frustratingly I also experienced this today. Presumably a security update that they'll release another patch for given this is quite a pain for developers and users of small business apps.
Rather than disable Defender or SmartScreen I chose to add my deployment website to the Trusted Sites in Internet Explorer and that then re-instated the warning dialog and my app updated and ran as before.
Really annoying given the nature of the issue and how long it took to figure out, but at the same time I had to use IE today, which is a rare event nowadays.
This works for me...Warn doesnt warn anymore...
After running in the same problem, I just found that my application was going to halt after a stupid uncaught exception.
Despite the fact that the image below is in Portuguese, Event Viewer shows the right error cause.
In my case, was a corrupted settings file!
It appears as though some subsequent Windows Updates have fixed the issue on several of our PC's that were previously experiencing the issue.
Check for the updates listed here.
https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB4338548
Running winver.exe will show you which build you have.
I have created access front end ACCDR from Access 2016. In order for users to use this file, users need to install Access runtime 2016.
Most of my users already have MS Office 2007 or 2010 installed. So, when users try opening the ACCRD file, after install Access runtime 2016. They still get an error as they are opening the file using the older version of Access (aka 2010) and not the 2016 version.
My question:
How to check if the user has the correct version of Access set as default? I am fine with paying for a software which checks this. I am also fine with editing registry if any or importing registry if any.
[ACCDR files are created by renaming ACCDE (Access compiled files)].
You can read the version directly:
Version = Application.Version
Should return "16.0". If not, pop a message to the user to open using Access 2016.
Even better, provide a shortcut for the user to open your app with the runtime.
Best approach would be to query the COM just after you launched the process and act accordingly.
if you don't have an access process already running, just start one, query it, and do your stuff in the process that you just invoked.
Microsoft.Office.Interop.Access.Application _accessApp = new Microsoft.Office.Interop.Access.Application();
string version = _accessApp.Version;
Match the version string against Microsoft's version history:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Microsoft_Office
for office 2016, the string you're looking for is 16.0
Another approach is checking the GUID of office via the registry
and comparing it to a known office guids (they aren't random).
https://superuser.com/questions/1140114/how-to-detect-microsoft-office-version-name
I'm trying to use this Visual Studio extension for 2013, which recreates the built-in installer functionality from Visual Studio 2008/2010: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/visualstudio/archive/2014/04/17/visual-studio-installer-projects-extension.aspx?CommentPosted=true&PageIndex=2#comments
It works, allowing me to edit the project as before. It has the install and uninstall commands when right-clicking the install project, too. It installs fine.
When I try to uninstall, though, I get the following error and then the uninstall rolls back:
Could not open key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE32\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\
EAPSIMMethods\18\FastReauthContext. Verify that you have sufficient
access to that key, or contact your support personnel.
I am not doing anything with that registry key, and there don't seem to be any relevant results on google-- at least not in the normal top 5 pages. Does anyone know what causes this or how I can fix it?
While I am not able to uninstall, I am able to increment the version of the package and allow it to remove the previous install and install the new version (all at once) successfully.
I am using Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit, the projects are compiled for <AnyCPU>, and the installer is configured for x86.
EDIT I am running Visual Studio as Admin. When uninstalling from the Control Panel, I am also clicking the 'allow' button in the UAC dialog window that pops up.
I know how to give myself access to a registry key (permissions). I want to know why this key is trying to be removed. I support this app on several machines and I don't want to have worry about remembering an uninstall hack in the future.
EDIT This only seems to be an issue for a 32x installer on a 64x OS or a Windows 8 issue. I was able to use the same 32x installer to successfully uninstall the app on a 32x Windows 7 machine.
This must be an environmental problem, that key doesn't have anything to do with installers. EAP-SIM is an authentication protocol for wireless networks. The FastReauthContext key almost surely was meant to avoid having to provide a username+password each time your machine reconnects to the network. Which makes the registry key content very sensitive of course, it can only be read by a service that runs with the System account.
So, something goofy going on with your networking setup. Verify that you can successfully reconnect to such a network. If you used a VPN before then make sure it is active again. Something like this. Update your question with anything that might be relevant to networking when you first installed the app.
I have had similar problem and what I found out this is caused by MSI attempting to delete whole "Software\Microsoft" section in the registry. Lucky you that it encounters this error and rolls everything back.
So the solution is the following:
Since you have installed your program whenever you try to uninstall it the system will run msi from cache that is usually located C:\Windows\Installer.
Find your package in the cache. Here is an article that may help you http://csi-windows.com/blog/all/27-csi-news-general/334-identifying-cached-msi-packages-in-cwindowsinstaller-without-opening-them
Open the package in Orca. You must do this as administrator.
Go to Registry table and find record with "Software\Microsoft" as a key. Most likely the Name column will contain either "-" or "*" value. This means that during uninstall MSI will try to delete whole "Software\Microsoft".
Either change the Name value to empty or "+" or try to change key to something like "Microsoft". The second option will cause that installer will not find the key to delete during uninstall, but it will skip this error and let you uninstall your program.
You installed an untested installer on your dev machine? Speaking from experience, don't do that! Snapshotted VM's are cheap and will save you from this sort of pain.
Visual Studio Deployment Projects (or VSI as it's now called ) is known for creating very poor quality installs. The combination of those two put you where you are today.
I would need to look at the full uninstall log and your MSI using ORCA to understand exactly what is going on. MSI Zap and a manual cleanup of resources is probably required at this point.
I developed an Outlook 2003 add-in which uses the com dll redemption. I created a visual studio 2008 setup project, added a custom action to run "caspol.exe -machine -addgroup 1 -strong -hex [key] -noname -noversion FullTrust -n \"Name\" -description \"desc\" and moved the registry keys under software to HKLM as described in http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc136646.aspx#AutoDeployVSTOse_InstallingtheAddinforAllUsers to ensure all-users compatibility.
I included the redemption.dll in the setup with vsdrfCOMSelfReg (vsdrfCOM throwed an error).
My problem is: When installing the setup on a test machine under an admin account, it runs fine under all users, however when we use the company wide software deployment which runs under a system account the setup executes but the add-in wont load. If I repair the installation with an admin account again it loads just fine. Shouldn't a system account have the required permissions to install all of the components? What options do I have?
Thanks for any suggestions.
After the install runs under the system account, do you see the Redemption registry entries in HKCR? E.g. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Redemption.RDOSession ?
After some endless nights I finally figured out the problem. It really was all about Code Access Security and the caspol.exe
Some tips for deploying Outlook 2003 Add-Ins (Outlook 2007 is different).
First of all, on your test client, be sure to set the Windows environment variable VSTO_LOGALERTS=1, since this will write all the errors of the Add-In to a log file which is located in your target install directory. It is also very important to know, that if your Add-In throws an exception during startup, it will be disabled in the registry on the next launch of Outlook (see here What can cause Outlook to change a COM-addin's LoadBehavior to 2 - other than unhandled exceptions?). This can cause some confusion when you're not aware of it.
Now let's move on to the caspol problems. Be sure to sign your assemblies with a strong name key first. Next, you need to make sure that your assemblies gain full trust on the client. To do this you may run the caspol.exe with the following settings: "caspol.exe -machine -addgroup 1 -strong -hex [key] -noname -noversion FullTrust -n \"Name\" -description \"desc\". With these arguments, you will give all the assemblies signed with your key earlier, full trust on the machine. This is way better than giving a whole directory FullTrust.
In a production environment, you will certainly want to create a setup for your Add-In. You might also create a custom action for your setup project to do all the caspol stuff automatically. You can use the sample code provided here "http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc136646.aspx#AutoDeployVSTOse_CreatingtheCASPolicy" but watch out: Check for -pp off in the caspol arguments. If the policy change prompt is on then you're automatic installation will fail since it requires user interaction. set -pp to off, execute the policy and set it back on. Watch out again: The sample code does not wait for exit of the process.
After I figured all that out, the deployment of the Add-In was easy, even for an "all users" installation. Hope that helps anyone out there.