Symptoms
- The client is experiencing synchronization problems.
- Outlook has created a copy of shared folders in the Outlook root.
- A copy of the Shared Information folder or individual shared folders exist in Deleted Items.
- The client synchronization fails with the error “Incompatible Data File”.
Resolution
Completely un-install and re-install the client as described in the Details section.
More Info
This solution applies to the following FAQs
How can I completely re-install my WorkgroupShare client?
After upgrading the WorkgroupShare server, I am having client connection/synchronisation problems.
What should I do when I get the error message “Incompatible Data File”?
Outlook has created a copy of all shared folders in the root folder. How can I remove these?
Note: If synchronization problems are being experienced, where data entered into a shared folder are not being synchronized correctly to the server (and other clients), any recently created records should be copied to another local folder before following the un-install procedure below. All data in the Shared Information folder will be deleted and any unsynchronized records not backed up in this way will be lost.
Please note that uninstalling the client will irrevocably remove all public folder data. Please make sure that if you have public folders you first export them to a new PST file by using the Outlook import/export wizard thus:
File >> Import and Export, Export to a file, Personal Folder File (.pst), [ Select the required folders] and [Select the required PST file]
Before uninstalling the client, make sure that the PST file is backed up.
The default location and name for the PST file is %userprofile%Local SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlookoutlook.pst for versions of Windows prior to Vista and %userprofile%AppDataLocalMicrosoftOutlookoutlook.pst for Vista and is successors. The location and name of the PST file may be determined by opening the Mail applet in Control Panel and clicking on Data Files.
The Mail Applet and Outlook will need to be shut down before the file can be copied.
Detail
Shut down Outlook and check using Task Manager that there are no instances of Outlook.exe in the process list. Un-install the WorkgroupShare client using the Add/Remove Programs applet in Control Panel. Note, you must be logged in as a power user or Administrator to do this. Choose to un-install and when prompted, choose to remove shared data from the server. If a server connection error or an incompatible data file error is reported, choose to un-install anyway.
Open Outlook and check that the Shared Information folder has been deleted and also check that it does not exist in the Deleted Items folder. If Outlook had created copies of shared folders at the root level, delete these manually.
Check that there is no Share menu option in the Tools menu in Outlook. If one exists, remove it as described in this FAQ: How do I remove multiple Share menu items from the Tools menu in Outlook?
If you are planning to re-install the client, open the WorkgroupShare Administrator and check that no shared folders exist for the un-installed user. If they do, delete and re-create the user account. Failure to do this will result in duplication of shared items after re-installing the WorkgroupShare client.
Check that the following folders and their contents have been deleted from the file system. If they have not been deleted then delete them manually:-
C:Documents and SettingsUserLocal SettingsApplication DataSoftalkWorkgroupShareClient
C:Program FilesWorkgroupShare Client
Check that Outlook is configured as the default mail client. Open an Internet Explorer window and click Tools >> Internet Options and on the Programs tab choose Outlook as the default program for e-mail.
Re-install the WorkgroupShare client using the ‘WorkgroupShare Client Setup’ shared folder on the WorkgroupShare server.