Outlook 2003 SP3 / Exchange 2003 SP2 - Free/Busy
I opened up a support ticket with Microsoft on this issue, paying the $249 to help resolve this issue (SRZ080326000474). I got some guy in India with an accent so thick I could barely understand him. I took the time to document the problem (which he didnt even read) and he came up with the solution to run the updatefb tool (it seemed like a canned response).At 1st this tool seemed to work but was only a band-aid. The I repeatedly asked the tech what the sources of the problem was, he kept saying "ok, no problem" but I never got an answer.So now I'm posting here to see if I can get the matter resolved.We are having random issues with Outlook 2003 clients (sp3) reguarding free/busy. The problem is difficult to describe because its random. Some users will complain that they are unable to schedule meetings becuase the user will show up unavailable (that is slash marks, not to be confused with a gray bar which indicates free/busy is being updated). Now we have tried the following switches at the client level with limited success. 1) Reboot - This problem seems to be prevaliant after the weekend, like a users free/busy just drops off after awhile2) type "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe" /cleanfreebusy 3) type "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe" /cleanschedplusI discovered /cleansniff .. but not sure what it does and have not ran this particular switch against any outlook 2003 client.If that doesnt work then I use the updatefb tool which seems at 1st to resolve issues. The problem is, is that the issue keeps coming back or new users experience the problem. This is VERY frustrating to try and nail down as users describe different problems#1 When a user setups a meeting they do not see their existing meetings, but can do so otherwise.#2 Some users free/busy just becomes unavailable - sometimes a reboot works.(Note we publish 6 months worth of free/busy data)The following KB article talks about possible fixes post SP3... but you have to get Microsoft to send it to you. I've tried twice now using the online submission to obtain this but no luck. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935411The fix above seems to direclty relate to #1 Free/Busy information may be missing in a meeting request When you view the Free/Busy information for an attendee in a meeting request in Outlook 2003, the Free/Busy information may be missing. NOTE: Some Unique Items About Our Mail systemWe use IIFP to send and recieve contacts across domain treesWe use Inter-Organizatoin Replication Tool to send and recieve free/busy information across TreesUnfortunately we haven't been able to determine if this is an issue with Outlook SP3 or the above configuration as they both happened near the same time, or if the issue is even related. Suggestions welcomed.
April 29th, 2008 11:24pm

Did you ever find a solution on this? I have the same issue, where clients running Outlook 2003 SP3 "lose" free/busy information in the public folder. If I run /cleanfreebusy it works for a short while and then dissapears again. But once in a while it also turns up without running /cleanfreebusy, and it seems to be random. We have our PFs on Exchange 2007 and mailbox on Exchange 2003, but it doesn't matter if we move the mailbox to Exchange 2007. The same problem appear there also.
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May 22nd, 2008 11:33am

Canany one have advise on this. we have the same problem with random users, How we can get updatefb tool.
June 10th, 2009 2:26pm

Canany one have advise on this. we have the same problem with random users, How we can get updatefb tool.
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June 10th, 2009 2:26pm

Is there any solution now? If got the same problem. Running /cleanfreebusy only works sometimes. We use Exchange 2003 in native mode and Outlook 2003 SP3. The problem allways ocures after a reboot of the exchange server with der fb public folder. It occures for about one week. Thank you! Chris
September 11th, 2009 9:57am

First move the user mail box to another storage and then run /cleanfreebusy. If issue is not resolve perform the below steps: Download MFCMAPI 1. Download MFCMAPI, also known as MAPI Editor. http://www.microsoft.com/downloa ds/details.aspx?FamilyID=55FDFFD7-1878-4637-9808-1E21ABB3AE37&displaylang=en 2. Launch MFCMAPI application. Click OK at the Microsoft Exchange Server MAPI Editor window. Click Session, and select Logon and Display Store Table. 3. You will now be prompted to create a profile. Note, you must be logged in with an account that has full rights to your Exchange server, otherwise you will receive the following error message below when we open the temp table. Error: Code: MAPI_E_FAILONEPROVIDER === 0x8004011D Function File f:df7830extestsrcmfmapimapistorefunctions.cpp 4. Once logged in, click MDB, and select Get Mailbox Table. A new window display opens "Server Mailbox Table" From here, you can select the server name you wish to work with. Select default settings and click OK. 5. You will now see all mailboxes enumerated. You will need to locate the user that whos Free/Busy is not available. 6. Once you have double clicked the mailbox, highlight Root Container. 7. In the right pane, locate PR_FREEBUSY_ENTRYIDS, right click and select Delete Property. 8. Expand Top of Information and highlight Inbox. 9. In the right window, if there is a property name of PR_FREEBUSY_ENTRYIDS, right click on it and choose Delete Property 10. Exit out of MAPI Editor. 11. Go to start run, Outlook.exe /cleanfreebusy on the mailboxDinesh
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August 4th, 2010 8:50pm

Hi, Any update on this please.Dinesh S.
December 21st, 2010 6:46am

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