Outlook not displaying message content

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#2706500 12-May-2021 11:40

@Idiot60:

Hold down the Ctrl key when starting up Outlook.

This will cause a prompt to start up in safe mode, so some some functionality (and security) is lost (including preview), but it is a quick hack to get it working immediately (though likely not as safe as rolling back to the earlier version or waiting for the fix to arrive).

This won't work in this case.

old3eyes

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#2706501 12-May-2021 11:43

freitasm:

@Idiot60:

Hold down the Ctrl key when starting up Outlook.

This will cause a prompt to start up in safe mode, so some some functionality (and security) is lost (including preview), but it is a quick hack to get it working immediately (though likely not as safe as rolling back to the earlier version or waiting for the fix to arrive).

This won't work in this case.

Going to safe mode worked in my case

Regards,

Old3eyes

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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#2706502 12-May-2021 11:46

old3eyes:

Going to safe mode worked in my case

I tried on two different machines and it didn't. The more permanent workaround is the one highlighted as answer in this thread, until the fix Microsoft is deploying goes live.

Idiot60

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#2706503 12-May-2021 11:46

Sorry to hear, I'm in no position to argue either way, but for me I had the problem this morning, and starting in safe mode is working (for me at least).

The above method is noted here: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-outlook-bug-prevents-viewing-or-creating-email-worldwide/

(The above is also where I originally found it)

But looking at the twitter feed for Outlook it appears a fix is going to be rolled out in the next few hours (https://twitter.com/MSFT365Status/status/1392208966231355392)

tmoose

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#2706508 12-May-2021 11:57

Espio:

Yes, noticed on 5+ users this morning. We are running the following to resolve till a fix is announced.

"C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun\officec2rclient.exe" /update user updatetoversion=16.0.13901.20462

This worked like a charm. Thank you!

GrantB

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#2706511 12-May-2021 12:03

Going to be really interesting to see the root cause analysis of this one.

Running systems on Windows 10, I used to get paranoid about waking up one morning and finding a Microsoft update had clobbered all our production sites and end up with lots of screaming customers, so I disabling Windows updates in prod units. Updates are via controlled deployments.

I really had thought though it was just my paranoia and Microsoft had pretty decent system to ensure that they would not push out a worldwide Windows update that badly broken functionality.

You have to wonder how this release made it through beta channel testing. If something this clearly broken can get through, it really does make you wonder what else could get through.

I am guessing it is in the DLL that renders HTML/RTF for Word, Outlook and other tools.

But then you see that Teams for instance is unaffected, so clearly different code base.

JaseNZ

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#2706512 12-May-2021 12:03

Wow thats a big slip up for MS.
It's ok for us to be able to apply that work around but imagine you average home user they would be in the dark.

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding : Ice cream man , Ice cream man

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sampler

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#2706515 12-May-2021 12:11

Whoop Whoop ... Made it to "main stream media"

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/125104417/microsoft-outlook-users-face-problems-accessing-email

MelJ

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#2706523 12-May-2021 12:28

So, newbie here who is relatively "normal computer" literate but steers well clear of running commands - I've found "a" Run box (not sure if it's the right one?) and copied the link in, but get the error message as below...

What am I doing wrong? :-)

freitasm

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#2706525 12-May-2021 12:30

@MelJ:

So, newbie here who is relatively "normal computer" literate but steers well clear of running commands - I've found "a" Run box (not sure if it's the right one?) and copied the link in, but get the error message as below...

What am I doing wrong? :-)

You seem to have too many quote marks. You have to enter only this on the line:

"C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun\officec2rclient.exe" /update user updatetoversion=16.0.13901.20462

Also, that seems to be Powershell. You should just hit the Windows key and type CMD to see the Command prompt icon:

zzzzzzzt

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Wannabe Geek

#2706526 12-May-2021 12:35

We are seeing the same issue this afternoon in the USA.

Post by

Espio:

Yes, noticed on 5+ users this morning. We are running the following to resolve till a fix is announced.

"C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun\officec2rclient.exe" /update user updatetoversion=16.0.13901.20462

Fixed issue across multiple systems.

Thank You

MelJ

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2706529 12-May-2021 12:39

Take 2, not much more successful.... 🤣. (sorry, not sure how to have this as a reply to a specific post!)

MeatLover

3 posts

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#2706533 12-May-2021 12:45

I also faced this issue and it made me crazy. I can read my mails (and new mails) in the webmail, but all Emails in outbox is unavailable. Hope Microsoft can solve this issue soon.

MeatLover

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Wannabe Geek

#2706534 12-May-2021 12:49

It seems that you used a different path to install your office.

If you can wait for some time, the best solution is to wait the official solutions, should be sometime later today.

MelJ:

Take 2, not much more successful.... 🤣. (sorry, not sure how to have this as a reply to a specific post!)

tanivula

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#2706535 12-May-2021 12:50

MelJ:

Take 2, not much more successful.... 🤣. (sorry, not sure how to have this as a reply to a specific post!)

Another way to fix:

download the office deployment tool
extract and within the folder create a config.xml file using notepad or similar which has
<Configuration>
<Updates Enabled="TRUE" TargetVersion="16.0.13901.20462" />
</Configuration>
Open command promp with admin privilages
Navigate to the extracted folder
run this command: setup.exe /configure config.xml
Open an office365 app (word/excel/outlook) and look for an update via the office account area

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