Outlook Error 0x80040154
Posted By Chris Stinson in Exchange Server, Windows on November 20, 2007
If you have received outlook error 0x80040154 you may have a big problem. This is one of those generic “no one knows” or “has a thousand fixes-and none work for you” errors. In outlook it comes up as “unknown error” which is very frustrating.
Files that were once registered become unregistered or something in the registry is corrupt. In Outlook 2003 the major offender is inetcomm.dll. I’ll guide you through a few common solutions:
- Click Start -> Run and type regsvr32 inetcomm.dll
- Restart your computer and try to start Outlook. If it works, fantastic! The problem was inetcomm.dll somehow became unregistered.
- Restart your computer in Safe Mode with Networking (F8 a second after boot-up but before the Windows load screen pops up) and try to open Outlook. If it works, you may have a virus or piece of software that is conflicting with Outlook. If you have recently installed any software that could be the culprit, uninstall it and try again. Otherwise, while still in Safe Mode, start an antivirus program and scan for viruses/trojans/spyware, etc.
- If that doesn’t work, try removing the current Outlook profile you are using. Be sure to backup your email folders and settings first. Go to Control Panel -> Mail -> Profiles. Either delete the current profile or add a new profile and set it to default. Since it is likely a problem with the old profile, you do not want to use any of the old outlook files* or settings but reenter or import them. Setup an email account with the new profile and test it out before you import your old personal or archive folders.
- If that doesn’t work, try repairing Outlook/Office*. Go to Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs -> Outlook or Office and click uninstall or repair (depending on the version of Windows). A dialog box will appear and walk you through the repair process. Be sure to backup your folders and settings.
- If the repair doesn’t work, you will need to uninstall Outlook and reinstall it.
* When you repair or reinstall Outlook it does not delete the personal folders by default. This is a good feature in case Outlook does get damaged, however, when Outlook is damaged as a result of the folders or profiles, not removing them during the above operations does not help. I recommend once you backup your folders and settings to delete all traces of Outlook information from the location: C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\ . Then reinstall outlook or create a new profile. This is a last resort of course, because it is 100% starting over. With many people Outlook is their lifeline and keeping all information within it is critical.
Related posts:
- RPC over HTTP/s with Outlook 2003 / 2007
- Outlook 2003 Auto-Complete Cache (History List)
- Outlook Print Margins Cut Off
- Slimming down Windows XP Pro SP2 Install
- Outlook Web Access Out of Office Assistant
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I have this error – because I don’t have Outlook Express installed on my system. So I installed it, read hundreds of pages like this on how to fix the error but still have not fixed it. I believe it is due to the inetcomm.dll file being unregistered, but I can’t get it to register. Having it in the system32 folder, and running regsvr32 inetcomm.dll I receive this error: ‘LoadLibrary(”inetcomm.dll”) failed – The specified module could not be found.’ … I have tried about 4 different versions of the dll, I have tried to regsvr dirpath/inetcomm.dll, etc – and it fails everytime. Any further ideas?
Thanks
Yes, fantastic, I was going to reinstall everything,
I was going to try a new mail program because of this
error 80040154, it was driving me nuts, and then I found this website.
The first solution, the one with inetcomm.dll was the
right one. Again, Fantastic and thanks a lot.
Ben
yyyyyyyyyyyyes it works..thank you very match.Adelsadok uit Holland.
See that’s the problem. People seem to be so frustrated and then they do the inetcomm.dll register and they shout for joy.
But for the rest of us…we knew enough to try that in the first 4 seconds but then spent 4 days wondering why that “solution” simply does not work.
I tried a scannow but its taking more than an hour to do the scan. I will try renaming the inetcomm.dll file.
If something takes more than 3 hours to fix, it might be best to backup your files and wipe your harddrive and reinstall XP and everything else from there.
I’m in agreement with Dislike80040154!
Either inetcomm.dll registers and everything is fine, or you spend days chasing your tail round in circles trying to get it all working again.
I have 3 Virtual Machines, all clones of each other. 2 work fine whith no problems, but the last one refuses to work. Period.
I’ve tried swapping the various dll’s from the working to dead machines to try and make it work, but I’m still not having any luck.
I’ve read that going back to IE 6 – which is not a quick task – and then re-installing Outlook Express again, has worked for some people.
Hi all. I work in a pc-fixing shop and had this problem. A worker here said that this problem was impossible to fix because he required some dll wich was missing coz outlook express was deleted. But i refused to reinstall windows (just coz ist so much more work) and then i found this website and tried the first solution and it worked =)
really thank you very much.
Olment from Holland
Olment, glad I could help.
Almost everything can be fixed without reinstalling Windows – it’s just a matter of balancing time.
If it’s the first time you’ve seen something, it will likely take much thought and trial and error before you come up with a solution, but when you do, it always saves more time than reinstalling Windows. Some IT people do not have the luxury of finding solutions, and only go with what they know.
Chris
Thank you so much! The very first solution “regsvr32 inetcomm.dll” fixed my outlook error as well, saved me a lot of headaches.
I’m in the process of resolving the same problem, but it involves Win 7 and Outlook 2010. Kind of afraid to take a stab at the regsvr32 thinking it may not apply to the new software
After installing Outlook 2010 over Outlook 2000 then uninstalling 2000, could not receive mail and got error-0x80040154 during send/receive.
Tried a few suggestions but the ‘repair Outlook 2010′ option worked for me. Thanks.