Microsoft Outlook MAPI32.dll is corrupt error message

We got a new computer in a few days ago and it had a trial version of Office 2007 on it. Since it was trail version and we have the licenses for Outlook 2003, I had no desire to go the 2007 route just yet. So after uninstalling 2007 and installing Office 2003 I get this fun message when starting Outlook 2003 that reads something like “Cannot start Microsoft Office Outlook. MAPI32.DLL is corrupt or the wrong version. This could have been caused by installing other messaging software. Please reinstall Outlook.”.
I should also mention that when I went to Control Panel > Mail…I would get some random error message about not having enough memory. Either way, the first MS support article I found was of no use. And my first urge was just to delete or rename the Mapi32.dll file, but I want something solid to say “This won’t screw things up worse.” Which I finally found here (MS Support Article 926196)

The short of the fix is to go to C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Msmapi\1033\ and rename MSMapi32.dll to MSMapi32.old (I also renames Mapi32.dll to Mapi32.old since it was referenced in the error message).

After you do this restart Outlook 2003, this will make Office rebuild the files and things should be fine.

error messages, install error message, MAPI32.dll, microsoft, microsoft outlook

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This entry was posted by aaron on June 25, 2007 at 4:08 pm, and is filed under Software. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

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Comments (63)

#1 written by Peter
about 4 years ago

YOU ARE A GENIOUS!

I visited other threads and all they said was to rename the SYSTEM32 Folder MAPI thing… but i read yours and it said to do somthing else as well and it worked!@

GENIOUS I SAY

[Reply]
#2 written by Brian
about 4 years ago

Thank you so much.

I finally fixed it!

Sending good karma your way,

Brian

[Reply]
#3 written by aa!2on
about 4 years ago

Peter…good to know that you found the correct solution for your problem. I know how annoying it is to try “fixes” that don’t work..or in some cases just make things worse!

Brian…glad I could help and thanks for the karma!

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#4 written by LB
about 4 years ago

Hi there. I tried the fix however as I don’t have the install disk, it stops and prompts me for SKU112.cab on the disk.

I’ve gone through every possible fix I’ve found, but without the disk it appears I’m done for. Any other ideas?

[Reply]
#5 written by aa!2on
about 4 years ago

LB…. that is quite interesting. I have seen this issue twice and neither time was asked for the install disk. I doubt your issue would come from trying just this fix so maybe it was some of the “other” advice that is prompting for the install disk.

Are you trying to reinstall 2003 or 2007? Let me know and I will be glad to try and help.

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#6 written by DEA
about 4 years ago

OMG I AM SUCH A COMPUTER NOVICE AND EVEN I WAS ABLE TO FIX THIS WITH YOUR HELP THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOO MUCH!

YOU ROCK!!!!

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#7 written by aa!2on
about 4 years ago

Thanks DEA..glad I could be of service

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#8 written by Your the Man!
about 4 years ago

that’s the concise, relevant, solution I needed. YOU Rock!!!

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#9 written by Dave`
about 4 years ago

THANK U THANK U THANK U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

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#10 written by Anand
about 4 years ago

Tusee Great ho. Translation – You are great

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#11 written by miksee
about 4 years ago

mwah mwah MWAHHHHH!!!!

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#12 written by tj
about 4 years ago

Thanks a bunch. This fixed the problem immediatly and I was able to get Outlook working. I greatly appreciate it:)

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#13 written by aa!2on
about 4 years ago

Thank to all of you for the linkbacks and letting me know the solution helped!

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#14 written by Cody Royster
about 4 years ago

OMG – I love you thank you so much for sharing I defiantly appreciate it, I can not thank you enough for being so freaking awesome and sharing this information!!

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#15 written by Ellen
about 4 years ago

I have just got a new laptop and Windows Vista is the OS. I can’t find the path c:\program files\……….. and a search for mapi32.dll or msmapi32.dll produces nothing.
Can you help?

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#16 written by aa!2on
about 4 years ago

On Vista I’m not too sure..I have never encountered this issue on a Vista system…just XP…but you should have c:\Program Files….hmmm… what folders do you see on the root of your c: drive?

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#17 written by ryetyson
about 4 years ago

I found this solution several other places. I do it and then when I restart outlook it just recreates the old MSMapi32.dll anyway and still shuts down.

Please help, before I throw the computer out the *#&%*@ window!!!

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#18 written by aa!2on
about 4 years ago

have you tried changing both files and not just the MSMapi32.dll?

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#19 written by kevin
about 4 years ago

Ace. Thanks very much, fixed it instantly!

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#20 written by Shaan
about 4 years ago

Awesome. I read similar fixes on other sites but they were directing me to the wrong file in the wrong folder. I finally fixed it after reading this post.

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#21 written by ES
about 4 years ago

Hi there. I tried the fix however as I don’t have the install disk, it stops and prompts me for SKU112.cab on the disk.

Any other ideas?

[Reply]
#22 written by Ramjet
about 4 years ago

Worked first time for me…good tip…always wonder of the effects though, does this cause some other hidden problem, renaming the files, or are they legacy and not used now…..cheers.

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#23 written by zoltan
about 4 years ago

Hi,

I tried this, renamed the files, but when I start outlook it starts the installation as before (even though I have installed it months ago) and gives the same error message and doesn’t recreate the file.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Z-

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#24 written by zoltan
about 4 years ago

I solved my problem with system restore. My Office 2003′s case more severe. Email client wasn’t found, etc. The system restore worked perfectly though.

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#25 written by Dana
about 4 years ago

THANKS SO MUCH! Several sites suggested renaming mapi32.dll which is in the Windows\system32 folder. MSMAPI is the answer.

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#26 written by Mahmoud Atef
about 4 years ago

i make this steps and the problem its still on
what can i do to repair this problem

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#27 written by kar_76
about 4 years ago

Hi and thanks a lot

I thought i’ve lost all my mails once again

U’re a genius

God Bless U

[Reply]
#28 written by DaveV
about 4 years ago

Let me throw in a twist. We publish Outlook 2003 through Citrix. On the same computer, one user logs on and outlook opens fine, another user logs on and outlook won’t open giving the same mapi error. Other users are connecting to the same server with no problems with outlook.

Any ideas?

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#29 written by David Lamoureux
about 4 years ago

Wow! That took 30 seconds after spending hours. Thank you.

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#30 written by michele
about 3 years ago

Wooo Whooo! You saved me many headaches!

[Reply]
#31 written by Elle
about 3 years ago

I cannot rename msmapi32.dll, nor can I delete it. When I try I receive a message saying:

“Cannot delete MSMAPI32: Error performing inpage operation”

I have tried removing/renaming with AVAST antivirus, in safemode, scanned with some free registry scanners and nothing seems to work. All I know is that I cannot install MSOutook XP with it there. I would reinstall OS, but don’t have the disk.

Any help you can give would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[Reply]
#32 written by Aaron
about 3 years ago

@Elle
Have you ever heard of zap.exe?
It’s a very handy little utility that will allow you to delete any file. I can’t remember where it first came from but it’s now part of the Microsoft SMS 2.0 Support Utilities.
Try here for the download or contact me for help.

[Reply]
#33 written by Elle
about 3 years ago

Hi Aaron,

Thanks for your advice. I downloaded zap.exe, opened and nothing happened. I also tried this in safemode. I am running Windows 2000 and Office XP. Is zap.exe suitable for this OS? Would you advise downloading the MS SMS 2.0 Support Utilities package?

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#34 written by Aaron
about 3 years ago

Sorry, I should have included some more instructions…
take zap.exe and put it in your %system dir%\System32\ directory….in Windows this should probably be something like c:\windows\system32 or c:\WIN\system32
Then you need to use it from the command line… navigate to the C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Msmapi\1033\ directory and then type “zap MSMAPI32.dll”

[Reply]
#35 written by Elle
about 3 years ago

Hi Aaron,

I tried what you suggested – only I believe my system folder is WINNT, so I placed zap.exe in the system and system32 folders to be on the safe side. Upon execution I receive the following message:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Mapi\1033>zap msmapi32.dll
Failed. GetLastError() = 999

Certainly seems as though this one doesn’t want to budge.

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#36 written by Sean
about 3 years ago

Wow! I’ve been working off my on line Outlook for a week now, what a pain! Thanks a lot, that really worked!

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#37 written by Simon
about 3 years ago

hi thanks u r my savior i spent 24 hrs trying to open outlook and keep getting this error message. i spent all day downloading and doing everything but the problem wont go away until i found you. Thanks i owe it to you. thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks

[Reply]
#38 written by Ray
about 3 years ago

I tried all the solutions above and it did not work, plus i did not have the CD, so i did this: search for “msmapi” (without the quotes) on your computer, go to advanced and make sure to include “search in hidden files and folders”. I found several copies of MSMAPI32.DLL_0001_1033 so i copied one into the current location of the msmapi folder and then renamed msmapi32.dll to msmapi32.xxx then renamed MSMAPI32.DLL_0001_1033 to msmapi32.dll. After which, outlook started wihtout a problem.

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#39 written by Udeni
about 3 years ago

Thanks for your help! It worked!

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#40 written by Louis
about 3 years ago

i found that for my case, renaming of msmapi32.dll is also necessary to make it work…

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#41 written by bob the mul
about 3 years ago

Fantastic… I was moments away from shelling out £99 for microsoft office 2007.

You have saved my sanity and my e-mails.

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#42 written by gisele
about 3 years ago

I love you.

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#43 written by mikeyj
about 3 years ago

ditto – been stuffing around all morning trying to save myself some bucks – nothing wrong with Office 2003 – especially when I own it. worked first time.

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#44 written by Star owner
about 3 years ago

Thank you very much – this worked perfectly for me!! Youre a star!

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#45 written by jamie
about 3 years ago

Nice one. Worked a treat.

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#46 written by Ian
about 3 years ago

Thanks for the help – Worked 1st Time – Microsoft site only gives 1/2 the info

Ian

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#47 written by venkatesh
about 3 years ago

Hi, thanks its working fine……

[Reply]
#48 written by Ismail
about 3 years ago

Hi

I would like to fix my problem that i am gettin

on my operating system,however i am broke and my parents wont let me use there credit card how else can i fix the problem of the mapi32.dll file corruption

[Reply]
#49 written by paulb
about 3 years ago

I am battling with this, I installed 2007 and after it being a little slow decided to go back to 2003.

I have had the Mapi conflict and renamed it first to .xxx then to .old and still can’t start Outlook…it comes up with the ‘Outlook 2003 has experienced a problem and has to close’ standard XP message and then I tried safe mode with the result being ‘Unable to open the Outlookwindow. the set of folders could not be found.

It is a legal program

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#50 written by paulb
about 3 years ago

The Mapi file seems to have reverted back to the original MAPI32.DLL….

I am about to pull what little hair I have left clean out….please help…

[Reply]

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