I am running an HP laptop, AMD X2 Dual Core Mobile RM-74 2.2 GHZ processor. 3.0 GB RAM, 32-bit. I'm on Windows 7 Ultimate, which I upgraded from Vista. I have used Outlook 2003 to access my hotmail account for about 8 months now. Last week while traveling in China and just subsequent to an automatic Windows update, when I tried to open Outlook I received the message, "The data file xxx.hotmail.com did not close properly and is being checked for problems". After waiting 2 or 3 minutes, my entire computer is locked up and I cannot even reboot. In order to turn off my machine I am forced to do a hard shut down by holding down my power button. I cannot access Outlook at all. I have tried to repair the .PST files but I cannot locate them when trying to run the scanpst.exe. I'm not sure what steps to take next. Not many options within Outlook if I can't even open the program! I've been accessing my hotmail account directly from windows.live but this does not get to my calendar and contacts within Outlook. HELP!!!

Hi, This is Office issue, please post it on the below link to get the help: http://www.microsoft.com/communities/forums/default.mspx Thanks Allen

I'd run Outlook.exe /safe to see if that works. You might have to re-create the profile. Your PST might be corrupt which tends to happen when they hit over 2 GB.Mark Morowczynski|MCT| MCSE 2003:Messaging, Security|MCITP:EMA 2K7,EDA Win 7,ES,SA,EA|MCTS:Windows Mobile Admin|Security+|http://almostdailytech.com

How do I re-create the profile? I cannot access Outlook at all. I have tried to repair the .PST files but I cannot locate them when trying to run the scanpst.exe. I'm not sure what steps to take next. Not many options within Outlook if I can't even open the program!