Can't create new Outlook email

DP001 · Apr 24, 2024

I have a new Lenovo laptop, with new (to me) Win11 OS. Currently using Office 2010, with MS Outlook as my default email clent. I cannot creat a new email on command, nor can I reply to a received email. Instead, I'm presented with a message telling me that there is no profile associated with the account. I'm instructed to go to Control Panel / User Accounts / Mail and select an appropriate profile. Unfortunately, under User Accounts, there is no "Mail" option. This happened a week ago, and I seemingly fixed it by "repairing" my Office 2010 installation. Today, I encountered the same issue. Any thoughts on how to resolve this?

Thanks,
Dave

BruceR · Apr 24, 2024

DP001 said:
I'm instructed to go to Control Panel / User Accounts / Mail and select an appropriate profile. Unfortunately, under User Accounts, there is no "Mail" option.

Try Control Panel / Mail

antspants · Apr 24, 2024

1. Search Windows for Control Panel
2. Open Control Panel
3. In the top right corner of Control Panel, search for "MAIL"
4. Open "Mail (Microsoft Outlook)"

5. This box will open

6. Click on "Show Profiles" to see any curent profiles / click Email Accounts to see if there are any email accounts. If you have a current data file .PST (Are you using IMAP or POP3?) make sure in the process of setting up your POP3 account, you select always use this data file and direct it to the one you have saved (Most likely in Documents\Outlook Files\)

If you don’t see a profile, click add, if there is no email address you will be asked to add one. (Ignore the name, use anything you liike)

For IMAP, Check the Email Account (top) and fill in the details, it will more than likely find the settings at your ISP, for POP3 click on Manual setup.

(Once again, ignore the names I have here)

Sorry that I am not clearer as I am not at my PC, I am limited on my iPad currently.

Edited.

antspants · Apr 24, 2024

In my opinion, it is never wise to add an email account via Outlook itself, it can be problematic. Going through control panel is a wiser option.
I also just realised you said Outlook 2010 (good job getting that to run, I hear it can be diuficult) But I believe the process is the same.

If at you’re wits end and have no other choice, I could help you remotely via Microsoft Quick Access, I have done it for one other member here after a long drawn out (kind of similar) issue with Outlook

Help me change Outlook from IMAP to POP

I suspect that it is the new pst file that you referred to earlier. No, it isn’t, Denis.

www.elevenforum.com

But we would have to organise a time, I can make myself available at any time that suits you, I am happy to get out of bed to help. I am in Australia.

DP001 · Apr 24, 2024

BruceR said:
Try Control Panel / Mail

My options are Contol Panel "Mail (32-bit)" and "Mail (Microsoft Outlook)". Neither seem to lead me in the right direction.

DP001 · Apr 24, 2024

antspants said:
1. Search Windows for Control Panel
2. Open Control Panel
3. In the top right corner of Control Panel, search for "MAIL"
4. Open "Mail (Microsoft Outlook)"

View attachment 94390

5. This box will open

View attachment 94391

6. Click on "Show Profiles" to see any curent profiles / click Email Accounts to see if there are any email accounts. If you have a current data file .PST (Are you using IMAP or POP3?) make sure in the process of setting up your POP3 account, you select always use this data file and direct it to the one you have saved (Most likely in Documents\Outlook Files\)

If you don’t see a profile, click add, if there is no email address you will be asked to add one. (Ignore the name, use anything you liike)

View attachment 94394

For IMAP, Check the Email Account (top) and fill in the details, it will more than likely find the settings at your ISP, for POP3 click on Manual setup.

View attachment 94392

View attachment 94393

(Once again, ignore the names I have here)

View attachment 94395

Sorry that I am not clearer as I am not at my PC, I am limited on my iPad currently.

Edited.

Thanks, but I've been through that already. Doesn't work.

antspants · Apr 24, 2024

So you repaired it and it isn’t retaining the information?

I would suggest that you go over to the TenForums and create a thread in the dedicated Outlook section (there isn’t one on this forum)
Blame me if they complain that you have Windows 11 and tell them that I was sure they’d be welcoming. Not that I am anybody to them but still… they can bring their complaints to me.

Microsoft Office and 365 - Windows 10 Forums

Microsoft Office and 365 - Help with Microsoft office products.

www.tenforums.com

antspants · Apr 24, 2024

You could try ignoring the Control Panel advice and follow this, going through Outlook itself, but I assume you have?

https://help.one.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005594505-Setting-up-Microsoft-Outlook-2010

DP001 · Apr 24, 2024

BruceR said:
Try Control Panel / Mail

Did that. Same result.

DP001 · Apr 25, 2024

antspants said:
You could try ignoring the Control Panel advice and follow this, going through Outlook itself, but I assume you have?

https://help.one.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005594505-Setting-up-Microsoft-Outlook-2010

That worked!! The last settings screen image in that link showed a couple of settings that were different than the ones provided by my email host, Comcast. I tweaked them, and all is good again. I now owe you TWO milkshakes!

antspants · Apr 25, 2024

DP001 said:
I now owe you TWO milkshakes!

HA! You remembered. Thanks! Glad it worked.
Outlook 2010 is slightly different in the setup. I should of read your first post better and could of saved some time.

antspants · Apr 25, 2024

The problem often arises with the Incoming/Outgoing. Especially with new versions of Outlook and IMAP, if the email settings aren’t inputed manually, the autodetect generally uses defaults. Not all ISP’s use the defaults.

DP001 · Apr 25, 2024

antspants said:
You could try ignoring the Control Panel advice and follow this, going through Outlook itself, but I assume you have?

https://help.one.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005594505-Setting-up-Microsoft-Outlook-2010

Correction . . . that partially worked. The last screen in that link shows "INBOX" as an entry in the "Root Folder." I have never had to use that in all the years I've used Outlook, but I tried it. That enabled me to create a new email and reply to a received email. However, it killed the link to my "Sent" items. So, I traded one issue for a different issue.

Back to square one . . . attempting to create a new email (with a blank Root Folder entry in settings) generates the following pop-up:

Attempting to reply to an email gives me this one:

antspants · Apr 25, 2024

Some ISP’s or Email clients need the setting as INBOX (all caps) for you to receive mail properly.

I have never encountered those errors before.
I am assuming because you had to enter “INBOX” you are using IMAP?

DP001 · Apr 25, 2024

antspants said:
Some ISP’s or Email clients need the setting as INBOX (all caps) for it to receive mail properly.

I have never encountered those errors before.
I am assuming because you had to enter “INBOX” you are using IMAP?

IMAP-Correct, via Comcast/Xfinity. Yeah, I've never seen those messages myself, until about 10 days ago.

antspants · Apr 25, 2024

You’ll have to forgive me because I have not used Outlook 2010 to 2016 for many years.

I can’t 100% remember if IMAP for those versions use a PST or OST. I am actually remembering that IMAP in 2010 and earlier created 2 PST files.
Non the less, do you actually have a data file in Documents\Outlook Files\ ?

antspants · Apr 25, 2024

I am going to assume that either a PST file wasn’t created for your email address or you’re linking to an old one that is corrupt.
I am also wondering if you can see a Profile via Control Panel and that “Always use this profile” is checked for that profile

So via Control Panel (or outlook) Can you see a profile? Can you see a data file?

DP001 · Apr 25, 2024

antspants said:
You’ll have to forgive me because I have not used Outlook 2010 to 2016 for many years.

I can’t 100% remember if IMAP for those versions use a PST or OST. I am actually remembering that IMAP in 2010 and earlier created 2 PST files.
Non the less, do you actually have a data file in Documents\Outlook Files\ ?

Yes, and therein may lie the problem. Between my current two systems, my previous HP laptop, and One Drive, there are links to Outlook pst files all over the place. As Outlook is currently setup on the problem child machine, the data file is an ost file. No pst files are shown. That's strange, because one of the sources I came across (Microsoft?) stated that Outlook 2010 used a pst file. It's also confusing, because there has always been an ost file somewhere in all of my previous systems, even though the default Outlook data file was pst. I suppose my fallback position is to try adding one or more of the pst files and see if that works.

I'm frustrated because when I first set up this new Lenovo laptop, Outlook seemed to be working correctly. Something has changed since then.

antspants · Apr 25, 2024

My guess is something along the way has gotten corrupted.

In all honesty, i’d delete every profile, every PST every OST, remove any email addresses, totally clear it out and start from scratch, but first remove everything. (Backup the files if they are important) Just reinstalling wont do it, you need to remove everything.

To be honest, it’s hard doing this without actually having a copy of outlook 2010 in front of me, because it’s so long ago. which is why I suggested you politely intrude on the dedicated ~~Outlook~~ Office forum section in TenForums

antspants · Apr 25, 2024

antspants said:
i’d delete every profile, every PST every OST, remove any email addresses, totally clear it out and start from scratch, but first remove everything. (Backup the files if they are important) Just reinstalling wont do it, you need to remove everything.

if restarting, start with the profile, tell it to always use that profile, then setup the email (of course) double check it created a PST (or possibly strangely, an OST)

I am also going to throw it out there and say that creating an email address via Control Panel might be a problem, and maybe the reason why an OST is being created. (Because like you, I know it to use PST files in 2010)

And that perhaps creating a profile/email address via Outlook 2010 itself, might produce a PST file instead. You may have already tried this though.
Because the error suggests it can’t find the mailboxes/data file , it wont find one if it’s looking for a PST and all there is an OST.
I am obviously winging it now. Suggestions out my piehole.