Microsoft Outlook 2007 Hangs or Freezes at Databinding

Operating System: Windows Vista
Type: Application Hang
Software: Microsoft Outlook 2003, 2007

Problem:

I received a question about Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 hanging when the program launched. It would become unresponsive at the point where it says “databinding”.

I’ve done my research and found two cases of this on the internet.

• http://forums.techguy.org/business-applications/562506-solved-outlook-2007-databinding-problems.html
• http://www.neowin.net/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t553253.html

Solution:

In each case, the .pst files were corrupted. When you install Outlook the tool scanpst.exe is installed also. In Outlook 2007 you can find the scanpst.exe tool in c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12

You will need to be in safe mode. You will need to find your main .pst files and run the tool on it.

• http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA010563001033.aspx
• http://support.microsoft.com/kb/272227

The Scanpst.exe file is typically located in one of the following folders:

<disk drive>:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Mapi\1033\

<disk drive>:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\1033

The Scanpst.exe file for Outlook 2007 is is typically located in the following folder:

<disk drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12

To run the Inbox Repair Tool, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then point to Find or to Search, depending upon your operating system.
2. In the Search for files or folders named box, type scanpst.exe
3. Double click the Scanpst.exe file to open the Inbox Repair Tool.
4. Type the path and the file name of the personal folders (.pst) file or click Browse to locate the file by using the Windows file system.
5. Click Start.