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.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, December 9th, 2006 at 2:01 pm and is filed under Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

10 Responses to “Cannot Compose or Reply to Messages and Other Errors in Outlook Web Access in Windows Vista”

  1. angler
    February 8th, 2007 22:28
    1

    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!)

  2. Pete Herlihy
    February 12th, 2007 19:27
    2

    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?

  3. De Gardener
    February 22nd, 2007 15:58
    3

    [...] 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. [...]

  4. Windows Vista Webmail (OWA) Fix For Internet Explorer 7- Five Step Fix at Mustech.net: Technology and Music News
    February 22nd, 2007 20:47
    4

    [...] http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/12/09…dows-vista/ [...]

  5. Javier
    February 24th, 2007 01:02
    5

    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!!!!

  6. David
    March 5th, 2007 02:02
    6

    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.

  7. Gary
    March 26th, 2007 04:53
    7

    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?

  8. Paul
    March 29th, 2007 20:31
    8

    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

  9. Alan
    June 5th, 2007 03:23
    9

    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?

  10. Darren
    June 26th, 2007 22:58
    10

    Anyone found a solution for IE7 shutting down when you click send - very frustrating !

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