MS Outlook - Menu items suddenly greyed-out

William · Mar 20, 2007, 21:15:08

A friend (who is totally blind and relies on a screen reader) has just hooked-up, via ~~NTL~~ Virgin, to broadband and has jstarted to use Outlook (2003) for the first time at home. He uses it at work and is more than competent. He is also a great jazz trumpeter, but that's another story

He sent/received a few emails this morning with no problems. However, when he started Outlook later in the day many menu items were greyed-out, including 'new message' (compose) and tools/options.

He can still receive new messages and do account maintenance but not much else.

I don't use Outlook so I've never seen this behavior. I can't access 'tools/options' to see if he has inadvertently changed a setting so I'm stuck.

Anyone have a clue?

P.S.
XP Pro, fully patched.

siege2 · Mar 20, 2007, 22:11:04

Hi william

I use Outlook Express but this could be simular

Tools
options
select security TAB

try these and look for others if your going to change anything open NOTEpad then note changes in there before altering any settings, approach the problem step at a time.

Anyone else, good luck William on getting the problem fixed

Ray · Mar 20, 2007, 22:32:34

One Possibility I can think of is the copy of Outlook 2003 may not have been activated when it was installed - if not activated you can only use it so many times, 25 I believe, before it goes into reduced functionality mode and you are unable to create new documents. There should be a menu option somewhere to enable you to activate and get full functions back again I use Outlook 2007 and the option is on the Help menu so Outlook 2003 will probably be the same.

Hope the above helps

William · Mar 21, 2007, 06:42:34

Quote from: siege2 on Mar 20, 2007, 22:11:04
Tools
options
select security TAB

Tools/options is greyed-out

William · Mar 21, 2007, 06:50:25

Quote from: Sheltieuk on Mar 20, 2007, 22:32:34
One Possibility I can think of is the copy of Outlook 2003 may not have been activated when it was installed

Ah! That sounds a distinct possibility.

He bought the PC about a year ago but has only just started to use it. I couldn't find his Office 2003 CD so I'm not sure who/when/how it was installed. He bought it from Mesh so it should be kosher but who knows?

I'll look into this - many thanks Ray.

Rik · Mar 21, 2007, 09:51:31

Might also be worth a look at this.

William · Mar 21, 2007, 12:32:21

Ray's activation point was spot-on

As Lord Levy would say, "Give that man a K."

Thanks to all who replied.

Rik · Mar 21, 2007, 12:35:03

Kudos to Ray.

RobMc · Mar 21, 2007, 12:38:56

Thanks for posting back to say that activation was the problem. I'm surprised that passing the activation required date isn't a bit more "in your face" than just disabling the New functionality. I'd have assumed that you would be getting popups and warnings etc when starting Outlook under those circumstances, but hey, we all live and learn.

Rob.

Ray · Mar 21, 2007, 12:42:25

Pleased to hear problem is sorted - glad I could help

Rik · Mar 21, 2007, 12:51:14

I think you used Occam's Razor, Ray.

Rik · Mar 21, 2007, 12:52:46

Quote from: RobMc on Mar 21, 2007, 12:38:56
we all live and learn.

The great beauty of forums, imo, Rob.

Ray · Mar 21, 2007, 13:20:57

Oops! just noticed I can't spell should have read "hear" not "here" in my last post - have to put it down to a "senior moment" I think.

Rik · Mar 21, 2007, 14:05:05

Can't see what you're talking about, Ray.

William · Mar 21, 2007, 15:09:48

Just to finish up, I persuaded him not to waste his money buying Office and set-up Outlook Express for him. After seeing how fast he is using just the keyboard I wish I'd done the proper thing and introduced him to the best MUA there is.

He has bought a two-year licence for NOD32 though

siege2 · Mar 21, 2007, 15:18:38

"He has bought a two-year licence for NOD32 though"

Rik · Mar 21, 2007, 15:35:11

from me too. Come renewal time, he'll get an offer which should give him three years for the price of two.