Outlook 2007 doesn't close properly after update to 7.0.1426

Outlook 2007 wouldn’t close properly after I updated my Avast 7 Free installation to version 7.0.1426. It would reopen, and after closing it again, a message would appear in the system tray alerting me that Outlook was trying to save my data. I am running Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit.
I fixed this issue by restarting the computer in safe mode, logging on as the administrator and opening Outlook without email support. I then clicked on the “Tools” menu, then on the “Trust Centre” entry, then on the “Addins” item in the left pane, then on the “Go” button next to the “Com addins” field. Once in there, I unchecked the “Avast Antispam” plugin checkbox, clicked OK, closed Outlook, then restarted the computer in normal mode. I then logged back on as the standard user and tested Outlook again. This solved the problem. Outlook works properly again.

Hmmm… But doing that you’ve lost the antispam features…

The version of Outlook that I am running has it’s own anti-spam filter built in. I have mine set to “High” sensitivity so that it catches most spam. This built-in filter has been working very well for me for a couple of years now.

My Outlook 2010 has stopped closing down properly, it leaves Outlook.exe running in the background which delays shutdown. Apart from that there are no other side effects noticed. I was going to get around to trying to find the culprit next week, now I will try Avast first.

Hmmm… now that you mention it, my Outlook 2003 SP3 lately closes normally but, altough it sends the messages correctly, it leaves for each one a correspondent “shadow message” stuck in the Outbox, without subject or text. I can’t remember the exact dates, but this began by the time I installed version 7.0.1426

Same problem… The process outlook.exe 32 doesn’t shut down when Mail Shield is running.

Avast Pro: Engine & Definitions 120319-0
Avast Pro: Program 7.0.1426
Win 7 64 pro SP1
Outlook 2007 SP3

Removing the Avast antispam Outlook “add in” fixed the problem I was having with Outlook. I can finally do my work again.

Now, how do I get Avast to stop showing the warning icon in the taskbar without turning mail shields back on???

Anybody else having problems with Outlook should just follow what’s being said here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/officeitpro/thread/d157e2f5-968d-4fc9-bda6-55cd2238833a

It took me forever to find this simple set of instructions and verify that the problem was with Avast.

In AvastUI, click on Settings at the upper right. In the Settings window that opens click on Status Bar and uncheck Mail Shield.

Thanks Gopher… At least now I know that all my other shields are running.

However, it sure would be a whole lot better if the mail shield was fixed.
I run a business and have more than 20 email accounts. Some get a whole lot of garbage that should really be scanned before previewing is possible.

I sure hope the programmers at Avast are taking this MS Office compatibility issue seriously. I haven’t seen anything addressed about it yet… just more people complaining about it.

Maybe there should be a release that rolls back this latest upgrade would be a smart idea before it becomes a real problem for Avast.
For example, MS currently has a list of 3 known AV’s that are incompatible with Outlook. If just one of my clients sees Avast added to the list, you can bet your bottom dollar that they will be asking me to seek out a new AV.

I am struggling to understand how it slip through the net, office is only the most used office app right? outlook the most used email app? all versions 2003,2007,2010 affected. Do avast run beta testing programs?

Glad to have found this post. This has been driving me crazy. Ever since I updated Avast to 7, Outlook 2007 has been locking up on a very random but frequent basis. I created an Avast support ticket because I had not yet seen this thread.

Been busy (like everyone else) so I have not been able to do a lot of troubleshooting on this (I did verify the problem is not the size of my PST file). When Outlook locks up it usually does so after displaying, sending, OR receiving an email - but not always; it is very random. I recover by ending the application in Windows Task Mgr (using Vista OS on a Dell laptop) and then Outlook automatically restarts. I temporarily disabled Avast mail shield but that did not resolve the issue (I would not want to do that permanently anyway).

I have been using Outlook 2007 for a few years now and Avast (Internet Security pkg) for almost two years - never had this problem until upgrading to Avast 7.0.1426. A permanent fix would be appreciated.

Same here on a Win XP system, it also randomly hangs when I close to change accounts. (Using Task Manager to end process.) It started when I upgraded to version 7 about a week ago. Tried a repair of Outlook but that did nothing. Had the shield turned off for several hours today and it hasn’t happened at all, but I won’t do that long term…hope it’s addressed soon.

Otherwise no problem with version 7. Thx, Avast:)

Avast Free 7.0.1426 (defs up to date)
WinXP Pro SP3
Outlook 2007 (Small Biz edition, if that matters.)

I had this problem and solved it by:

  1. uninstalling avast free completely
  2. I told them the reason was that avast had caused a problem on my machine and that I was reloading avast again.
  3. restarted my computer and XP
  4. re-installed avast free
  5. opened up Outlook 2007
    No issues yet.

Re: Outlook 2007 does not close properly or hangs up after update to Avast 7.0.1426

Having the same problem here. Posting this because I do not see any other posts from people who are running Vista Ultimate 32 bit 6.0.6002 SP2. My Outlook: 2007 SP3.

After reading my e-mail, Outlook does not close properly. Task manager shows that Outlook.exe is still running and has to be closed manually otherwise I cannot reopen Outlook.

After sending an e-mail, Outlook hangs up and does not respond at all. Upon using Task manager to close, it says it is not responding and frequently closes it then reopens it. Usually after that. I can then close Outlook normally.

Have tried to repair Outlook with Scanpst to no avail. Have also thought about looking into Outllok add-ins but i saw all these posts about problem being possibly related to Avast 7.0. 1426. Have unchecked the boxes “Scan incoming e-mail” and “Scan outgoing e-mail” in Avast and problems seem to go away although once it still did not close properly and I had to go the Task Manager route to close it. Thanks.

If this can help someone: flwg installation of Avast 7, Outlook was freezing when trying to send an email. I finally found that there was a conflict with the Business Contact Manager and followed the procedure on http://support.microsoft.com/kb/903094 to disable BCM in my registry. Since then, no more problems!

I have the same problem here after upgrading to AVAST 7 Pro a few days ago.
The Outlook totally freezes after I try sending an e-mail. (The e-mail seems to go away to the recipient).
I have to end Outlook via the Task Manager and restart it, then it works just fine until I send another e-mail.
I have tried to Inactivate Avast shields and the E-mail Shield in particular but not much better.

I also have Contact Business Manager in Outlook - but I need it, since I have all the companys contacts in CBM.

Is this problem only occuring with OL+CBM? I have several PCs CBM-connected via SQL, but the problem occurs regardless wheter I work offline or online on the CBM/SQL…

The problem doesnt occur on all my computers, and they have the same setup. This one with the problem isnt even the SQL-server.

It is enough just to open an e-mail for Outlook to hang/freeze now.

Found this:
http://qbpros.net/2012/03/avast-upgrade-7-0-1426-send-email-outlook-workaround/


If after upgrading to Avast! Antivirus 7.0.1426 causes emails not to send from Microsoft Outlook, try the following steps as a work-around:

1.Close down Outlook
2.Open avast! user interface by clicking on the icon in your system tray (near clock)
3.Under Real-Time Shields (on the left), click Mail Shield.
4.Un-check “Scan outbound messages”.
5.Click the “Stop” button. Wait 30 seconds.
6.Click Start Button.
7.Open Outlook and see if your message sends.
Source: My experience on Windows XP Pro SP3 and Microsoft Outlool 2003 SP3. GoDaddy’s outgoing mail server (smtpout.secureserver.net) was involved and still gave me problems after the avast! setting changes. I switched to my ISP’s outgoing mail server smtp.knology.net. The combination between the mail server and the avast! changes got me back up although I’m not completely sure why.

This does not work for me… :cry: