Error message when you try to access an Exchange mailbox by using a computer that differs from the computer that is specified in the Outlook settings: "The rules on this machine do not match the rules on your Exchange server" (293026)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
  • Microsoft Outlook 2002
This article was previously published under Q293026

SYMPTOMS

You set Microsoft Outlook to deliver your Microsoft Exchange Server messages to a Personal Folders file (.pst) on one computer (computer A). When you try to access that same Exchange mailbox from another computer (computer B), you may receive the following error message:
The rules on this machine do not match the rules on your Exchange server. Only one set of rules can be kept. You will usually want to keep the rules on the server.

Which rules do you want to keep?
Whether you click the server option, the client option, or Cancel, the error message continues to appear on both computers.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because a copy of the rules that you created for this Exchange mailbox is stored in your local .pst file. When you start Outlook and access your Exchange mailbox from computer B, Outlook expects rules. However, the rules are not present because they are stored locally in the .pst file on computer A.

When computer B access the rules during startup, the rules on the Exchange server are flagged as "updated". Therefore, you receive the same error message on computer A.

WORKAROUND

For Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 and for Microsoft Outlook 2002

To work around this behavior, configure Outlook on computer A to deliver new messages to the Exchange mailbox. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. In Outlook, click E-mail Accounts on the Tools menu.
  2. Click View or change existing e-mail accounts, and then click Next.
  3. Enter the Exchange mailbox in the Deliver new e-mail to the following location box.
  4. Click Finish.
  5. Click OK in the Account Manager message that appears.
  6. Restart Outlook.
  7. Reconfigure any necessary rules.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/9/2006
Keywords:kbExpertiseBeginner kbaccounts kberrmsg kbnofix kbprb KB293026 kbAudEndUser
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