OL2000: Error Message: "Outlook Requires Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 or greater" (212991)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook 2000
This article was previously published under Q212991
NOTE: These procedures only apply if you have installed Outlook with the Internet Mail Only option. To determine your installation type, click About Microsoft Outlook on the Help menu. If you have the Internet Mail Only option installed, you see "Internet Mail Only".

For information about the differences between Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Outlook Express e-mail clients, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

257824 OL2000: Differences Between Outlook and Outlook Express

SYMPTOMS

After you complete an installation of Microsoft Outlook on Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT 4.0, you may receive the following error message when you start Outlook:
Outlook requires Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 or greater. You can install Outlook Express 5.0 by running IESetup.exe from the Internet Explorer folder where you installed Outlook, or download it from the Internet Explorer site on the Microsoft Web.
When you click OK you receive a second error message:
An OLE registration error occurred. The program is not correctly installed. Run Setup again for the program.
When you click OK to the second error message, Outlook closes. When you restart Outlook, you receive the same two error messages.

CAUSE

Outlook 2000 requires certain files shared with Outlook Express in order to function properly.

This situation can be caused by installing Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x or 5.x with a Browser Only or Custom installation that does not install Outlook Express. If Microsoft Outlook 2000 is then installed, and you choose not to update the browser, the Outlook Express support files required by Outlook are not installed.

RESOLUTION

Follow the instructions on the first error message and install Outlook Express.

How to Reinstall Outlook Express on Microsoft Windows 95

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
  3. Click Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0, and then click Add/Remove.
  4. Click Add a component to Internet Explorer, and then click OK. Click Yes.
  5. Under Communication Components, click Outlook Express, click Next, and then click Install Now.

How to Reinstall Outlook Express 5 Using Windows 95, the Original Release of Microsoft Windows 98 or Windows NT 4.0

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
  3. Click Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 and Internet Tools, and then click the Add/Remove button.
  4. Click to select the Outlook Express check box even if it is bold.

How to Reinstall Outlook Express 5 Using Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
  3. Click the Windows Setup tab.
  4. Click to clear then Outlook Express check box, and then restart your computer.
  5. Follow steps 1 through 3 again, and then click to select the Outlook Express check box.

STATUS

This behavior is by design. The Internet Mail Only installation requires the installation of Microsoft Outlook Express. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

230076 OL2000: Why Outlook 2000 Requires Outlook Express

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/5/2003
Keywords:kbbug kbnofix KB212991
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