Outlook crashes due to iTunes sync add-in

rcgrabbag · 07-02-2007, 09:21 PM

Add me to the list of folks who can't sync their iPhone to Outlook. After installing iTunes 7.3, whenever I launch Outlook (ver 2007), I get the application crash window (with the option to send an error report) followed by another message box that reads "Outlook experienced a serious problem with the 'outlook itunes sync addin' add-in...", then it asks me if I want to disable the addin. The only way Outlook will run is if I disable the addin. But then I can't sync!!! I re-enabled the addin, but Outlook simply crashes again. Anyone else have this problem and found a workaround?

Kozyinn · 07-02-2007, 10:16 PM

I was using Entourage on a Mac but changed to the Apple suite of applications as I figured there would be problems syncing. I'd been down that road with my Palm Pilot before! Anyhow, I'm having trouble syncing my iPhone with iCal so that the begin and end times show up correctly. The events show up but the times listed are always five hours off. If I enter an event in iCal on my computer and then sync it shows up five hours later on my iPhone. If I enter it on my iPhone and sync it shows up five hours earlier in iCal. I've checked my time zones but they are set to Central. I've reset my iPhone software but that didn't work. I heard using ampersands "&" can cause problems with iCal syncs so I removed them. I've tried exporting and re-importing data to no avail. I've even completely backed up, zeroed out my disk, and re-formatted my computer. Still the same thing. Finally I checked a friends computer and he had the same thing happen except his events were consistently 6 hours off. Very puzzling and disappointing since I was really hpoing to use this feature to organize my schedule. It appears to be a software problem but I'd still sincerely appreciate any ideas or suggestions to try and fix this. I was about to put my Palm Pilot on eBay but think I better hold on to it for awhile!

dscales · 07-03-2007, 08:19 AM

An Apple Tech and I worked 3 hours on this last night. Export contacts from Outlook to Windows Address Book in a csv file. Then synch with it instead of Outlook.

Unfortunately, you can't synch your calendar. You'll have to synch with an online calendar and use safari to browse to it. So much for the calendar function!

rcgrabbag · 07-03-2007, 11:08 AM

Good news, for me, that is. I gave up trying to sync Outlook on my desktop Windows XP machine. I switched to my Windows XP laptop and now everything works. I was able to sync my Outlook email accounts, contacts, calendar (yes, even the calendar synced), Explorer bookmarks, all that junk. I dunno, something on my XP desktop must be causing some sort of conflict between Outlook and iTunes. At some point I may rebuild the desktop machine (something you Mac folks aren't familiar with!), but that's a lot of work.

reidsch · 07-03-2007, 02:26 PM

i had the same problem and i found a fix online... try adding iTunes to the Data Execution ignore list.

http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=570450

i have NOT tried to sync it since i did the fix, but at least I can open outlook again.

rcgrabbag · 07-03-2007, 05:26 PM

I tried adding iTunes to the ignore list, but I still can't sync. The add-in seems to have been permanently disabled from Outlook. I try to re-enable it, apply the changes, but when I view the add-in settings again, it's disabled. I even tried adding both Outlook and and iTunes to the DEP ignore, but the add-in still cannot be re-enabled and sync still doesn't work. I tried reinstalling iTunes, no change. I'll just stick with my laptop solution. Good luck with yours...

reidsch · 07-03-2007, 09:26 PM

i finally tried to sync again, and it worked... sorry i could not be more help.

dscales · 07-03-2007, 10:14 PM

Here is the fix:

Yes but Outlook 2003 disables one of the add-ins which causes Outlook to crash when you load program. Then the add-in is disabled and you can't enable it just by selecting the box in tools>other>advanced>com add-ins because it won't happen.It just keeps unchecking itself.
Here's what to do: with outlook open go to "about Outlook" You'll see a button "disabled components" under that will be the offending iphone addin. RE-enable it. Then do the manouevre I mentioned in second sentence. Then sync iphone and all contacts, calendar etc will sync to phone. BUT the next time you start up Outlook it will tell you that the addin causes a serious error and will disable it. I guess we will have to enable it each time we want to sync for now -Microsoft had no idea (nor did Apple) after several hours on support lines. God only knows when and who will fix this. This seems to work for now however.

rcgrabbag · 07-04-2007, 01:21 PM

WOW! It actually works!!!! Following dscales and reidsch's advice, I added iTunes to the DEP exclude (reidsch's advice) and re-enabled the add-in (dscales' advice), and it WORKS!!!! As an added bonus, the iTunes add-in no longer crashes Outlook, so I don't have to keep re-enabling it. Thanks!!!

reidsch · 07-04-2007, 04:55 PM

in the words of Hannibal Smith "I love it when a plan comes together"