The developers of email add-in WHS Outlook have released an important update which corrects a serious issue with the application.
Here’s the lowdown – if you’re running this add-in, I’d strongly advise you grab this update.
It has come to our attention that a flaw exists in the WHS Outlook add-in uninstaller that causes the Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) feature of your Windows Home Server (WHS) to stop functioning when the WHS Outlook add-in is uninstalled.
What Exactly Is Causing The Problem?
WHS Outlook uses Microsoft’s Windows Installer engine to facilitate the installation (and removal) of the add-in in the WHS Console. During the installation process, WHS Outlook’s Windows Installer package (i.e. WHSOutlook.msi) sets four values in the RDC branch of the Windows Registry. When the WHS Outlook add-in is uninstalled from the WHS machine, its Windows Installer package wrongly removes the entire RDC branch of the Windows Registry instead of just the four values it added. This results in the complete and immediate loss of all functionality of the RDC feature, thereby causing you to no longer be able to connect to your WHS machine via the WHS Console or via a RDC session.
What Versions of WHS Outlook are Affected?
Version 1.0.2.28 (Beta 3) and Version 1.0.3.30 (Final Release).
The problem has been corrected in Version 1.0.3.31 and higher.
NOTE: You can identify the version of the WHS Outlook add-in that is currently installed on your WHS by opening the WHS Console, selecting the “Settings” link on the Console’s ribbon/toolbar, and looking at the Installed tab of the “Add-Ins” panel of the WHS Settings window that appears.
How Do I Correct The Problem?
A) If you’ve already uninstalled an affected version of the WHS Outlook add-in and you are no longer able to connect to your WHS machine using the WHS Console or a RDC session, then:
i) If you are using a headless WHS machine (i.e. a WHS machine without an attached monitor, keyboard, and mouse – such as the Hewlett Packard MediaSmart Server), then the only way to correct the problem is to use the Server Recovery Disc that came with your WHS and perform a System Recovery (NOT a Factory Reset) of your WHS machine.
NOTE: All of your WHS’s data should be recovered during the server recovery process, but unfortunately, all system settings, User Accounts, installed add-ins, etc. will be lost.
To perform the server recovery process, simply insert the Server Recovery Disc that came with your WHS and follow the provided instructions.
ii) If you are using a WHS machine with an attached monitor, keyboard, and mouse, then you can easily restore the deleted RDC branch of the Windows Registry, and thereby restoring functionality of the RDC feature on your WHS machine, by performing the following steps:
a) Reboot your WHS machine, and during the rebooting process, repeatedly press the F8 key to enter the Windows Advance Options Menu.
b) Use the up and down arrow keys to select “Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)” and then press the Enter key.
c) Use the up and down arrow keys to select the operating system to start (i.e. “Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server”) and then press the Enter key.
After the WHS machine boots, you should now be able to once again connect to the server using the WHS Console or a RDC session.
B) If you haven’t yet uninstalled an affected version of the WHS Outlook add-in and you are still able to connect to your WHS machine using the WHS Console and/or a RDC session, then:
i) Initiate a RDC session to your WHS.
NOTE: If you need help initiating a Remote Desktop Connection to your Windows Home Server please see:
Remote Access to Windows Home Server
ii) Download and install the Windows Installer Clean Up Utility on your WHS.
NOTE: If you get an error message when running the msicuu2.exe program on your WHS (such as “Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have appropriate permissions to access the item“, etc.), then you will need to temporarily disable the Internet Explorer Enhanced Security component of your WHS in order to run the program. To do this:
a) From your WHS desktop, go to Start -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs.
b) In the left-hand pane of the Add or Remove Programs window that appears, click on the “Add/Remove Windows Components” icon.
c) In the Windows Components Wizard that appears, scroll down the list of available components until you find “Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration” and uncheck the box in front of it.
d) Click the Next button and follow any prompts.
You should now be able to run the msicuu2.exe program in order to install the Windows Installer Clean Up Utility on your WHS.
NOTE: Once you have finished performing the WHS Outlook Hot Fix on your WHS machine, you can (and should) re-enable the Internet Explorer Enhanced Security component by simply reversing the steps given above.
iii) Select Start -> All Programs -> Windows Installer Clean Up
iv) In the Windows Installer Clean Up Utility widow that appears, scroll down the list of installed products and select/Highlight “WHS Outlook [1.0.2.28]” or “WHS Outlook [1.0.3.30]”.
v) Click the “Remove” button and answer “Yes” to the warning message that appears.
vi) Click the “Exit” button to close the Windows Installer Clean Up Utility.
vii) Select Start -> Run and type “regedit.exe” (without the quotes) into the Run dialog box’s Open field and hit the “OK” button in order to open the Windows Registry Editor. Once the Registry Editor is open, navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows Home ServerRegisteredAdditions
Locate the subfolder that references the name of the WHS Outlook add-in (i.e. locate the subfolder who’s “Title” value is set to “WHS Outlook”) and delete it.
Exit the Registry Editor.
viii) Install WHS Outlook Version 1.0.3.31 (or later).
NOTE: Click here to download the latest version of WHS Outlook.
NOTE: Click here if you need help installing the WHS Outlook add-in.
ix) Click Start -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs and uninstall the “Windows Installer Clean Up” program.
That’s it! You should now have the latest version of the WHS Outlook add-in installed on your WHS, and uninstalling it will no longer cause any problems with the RDC feature.
We are very sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused our users.
If you have any questions or problems, please contact WHS Outlook Technical Support.
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