Cannot Compose or Reply to Messages and Other Errors in Outlook Web Access in Windows Vista
If you’re using Windows Vista, you may encounter the following errors or problems when you try to access Microsoft Outlook Web Access and perform any editing tasks that you typically expect to perform by using Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 included in the Windows Vista:
- Cannot compose a new e-mail message.
- Cannot reply to an e-mail message.
- Unable to create a new contact, task, note, journal entry, or appointment.
- Unable to change any configuration in the Outlook Web Access options folder.
The cannot or unable to perform tasks symptoms may accompany with an error message when tryig to perform the tasks.
The cause of the problem is due to Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista no longer include support for Dynamic HTML Editing ActiveX control, and thus missing a functionality that Microsoft Exchange Outlook Web Access relies on to do HTML editing in Outlook Web Access.
The resolution or solution to the problem is to download and install Update for Microsoft Outlook Exchange Server Hotfix (KB 911829). The update replaces that deprecated functionality on the Microsoft Exchange servers so that Microsoft Exchange Outlook Web Access continues to function smoothly.. With the KB911829 hotfix, Exchange Server will enables a new editor for Internet Explorer which uses “iframe” method instead of an ActiveX control.
The hotfix or update also addresses symptom in Internet Explorer 6 which applied with security update 912812 or update 912945 where users are required to first click one time in the compose frame in Outlook Web Access to activate the edit control. After the patch, there is no need to first click in the compose frame in Outlook Web Access before you edit text.
Users must upgrade to Microsoft Exchange 2003 SP2 or later prior to apply this patch. The hotfix must be applied to both the front-end server and to the back-end server too.
Related Articles
- How to Apply Multiple Labels to Gmail Messages in IMAP Client
- Download Free Microsoft Outlook Add-On Application TwInbox To Manage Twitter Account
- Set Up and Add Hotmail Account in Microsoft Outlook 2007
- Workaround to Install Jeyo Mobile Extender 2.5 in Windows Vista
- Download Outlook Connector for Office 2010
- Workaround to Install Microsoft Outlook Connector for Office 2010
- Access Hotmail in Outlook with Microsoft Office Outlook Connector
- Useful Microsoft Outlook Add-On For Facebook
- Send Free SMS Text Messages from iPhone and iPod Touch via AIM and iChat
- Download Windows Live Mail Desktop Beta
Entries (RSS)
January 14th, 2010 12:46
There is a easier solution.
Open the Webmail. Login to your account. From the options on the left page, scroll to the bottom, click on the options.
Under the email security, click and download the S/MIME. This will fix the problem
December 31st, 2009 20:33
Thanx for the information. That helped me a lot!
May 31st, 2009 08:57
Whoa… this site is pretty awesome
your layout is really well designed, and your blogs are (judging from what i’ve read) very interesting. heehee… consider yourself favorited. 
June 26th, 2007 22:58
Anyone found a solution for IE7 shutting down when you click send – very frustrating !
June 5th, 2007 03:23
I installed the update for s/mime and now IE7 shuts down every time I try to send or reply to an e-mail. Does anyone know how to uninstall this update so I am back to where I was before?
March 29th, 2007 20:31
Thanks David the suggestion you made in options solves the problem. You Exchangies that work with outlook and exchange really need your heads read. What a mashed up system and so many little rehashes to a product with lots of problems. Microsoft should start re thinking how they write products
March 26th, 2007 04:53
Shutting down the server for my company is not a realistic option…I tried using Firefox, but it will not allow me to log on to our portal page. Anyone have any other suggestions?
March 5th, 2007 02:02
A work around is to log on to your owa, click options, and install the update for s/mime.
I tried this option but now it shuts down my browser every time I click send. So, I am still unable to send email through OWA unless I use Firefox instead of IE7.
February 24th, 2007 01:02
I have this issue, Vista + IE7, trying to access web outlook. I work for BP and to suggest to our IT group to shut down a server that may hold 30 – 50 thousand accounts is a little preposterous. I will get run off! The other solution is access it using firefox. The sad part of all of this, is that MSFT did not check on a compatibility issue within it’s own products. Rather disssapointing!!!!
February 22nd, 2007 20:47
[...] http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/12/09…dows-vista/ [...]
February 22nd, 2007 15:58
[...] Web Access wouldn’t work anymore (wait, it’s “normal” to see an “X” icon in the compose window with IE 7… Ok, so there is a patch. Alleluiah. [...]
February 12th, 2007 19:27
hmmmm is there any fix for the client side rather than server? The company fix will take months…..
I am Vista, is this an IE7 or a Vista or both issue?
February 8th, 2007 22:28
That update will work, but you have to take the exchange server down, which is not good during the day! A work around is to log on to your owa, click options, and install the update for s/mime. Obviously not a fix for your whole company, but a good immediate fix for a few people. (of course this is assuming that you are using ie7 and Vista!)