Installing Microsoft Outlook on Exchange Server 2003

I accidentally installed Microsoft Outlook on Exchange Server 2003. Now when I try to rebuild the default global address list, I get the error 'MAPI or an unspecified service provider.' I think my MAPI profile must be corrupted. Can you tell me how to fix this problem?

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Installing Microsoft Outlook on Exchange Server is not recommended or supported. Exchange Server installs a copy of MAPI32.DLL file in the %systemroot%\system32 folder. Microsoft Outlook installs its own version of MAPI32.DLL in a different location in the program files folder, and installs a stub version in the location where Exchange Server expects to find it. This may continue to work for any length of time, but it is an unsupported configuration. Additionally, it may break some other programs that rely on MAPI.

You should uninstall Microsoft Outlook from the Exchange Server, then run Exchange setup and select the reinstall option.

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Related information from SearchExchange.com:

  • Tip: Exchange and Outlook shouldn't share
  • Tip: Common Outlook DLL errors
  • Tip: Microsoft Outlook without Exchange Server
  • Learning Center: The Microsoft Outlook Toolbox
  • Reference Center: Microsoft Outlook tips and resources
  • Reference Center: MAPl tips and resources

    • This was first published in June 2006

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