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Outlook Default Account Selection - 20.Aug.2008 2:51:34 PM

CGMChris

Posts: 3
Joined: 20.Aug.2008
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Outlook 2003/Exchange 2003:

A client of mine was using their Exchange server for all outgoing email for quite some time, until we recently changed their default Outlook accounts to point to our hosted mail server.

For whatever reason, Outlook appears to randomly select which account it wishes to use as the default account when replying or composing new messages.

I *assume* this is due to some sort of cache that matches the recipient email address with which account it should be sent through.

My question: Is there a way to clear this cache or a way to force all replies/new emails to be sent through the default account?

Note: If this is the wrong place to post this, I apologize. Please move to the appropriate forum. Thank you.

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RE: Outlook Default Account Selection - 20.Aug.2008 2:57:08 PM

mark@mvps.org

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Joined: 9.Jun.2004
From: Philadelphia PA
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Your question doesn't actually make technical sense at the moment.
If you were using Exchange and are now using a hosting provider you shouldn't have any MAPI configuration in there.
If you are still using Exchange, but that it's now hosted you can't have two MAPI connections in one MAPI profile.

You need to explain a little more.

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(in reply to CGMChris)

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RE: Outlook Default Account Selection - 20.Aug.2008 3:13:18 PM

CGMChris

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Joined: 20.Aug.2008
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They have a local domain controller running Exchange. It is used solely for the mailbox store - no SMTP. This makes backing up everyones email easier as it is all stored on the server.

They are *trying* to send all email out through my hosting service. Their Outlooks keep defaulting to their Exchange account when they compose or reply to email. Not all the time, but at seemingly random times. Sometimes new emails will default to their hosting account, and at other times, through their Exchange account. As previously stated, the only sense I can make of this is that Outlook or Exchange has cached that certain recipient email addresses are supposed to be sent through Exchange (rather than the actual default account) and this is what is causing the problem.

Because they are not running SMTP on their Exchange server, all emails destined for external servers sent through Exchange fail. The users are becoming frustrated that they have to always check the "Accounts" button on the toolbar to make sure they are sending through the correct account.

I don't think MAPI has much to do with this problem. Per the image included in my original post, they are using Exchange for internal email and storage, and SMTP for external email.

Hopefully this makes "technical sense". Please let me know if you need any additional information.

(in reply to CGMChris)

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RE: Outlook Default Account Selection - 20.Aug.2008 5:54:34 PM

Sembee

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Joined: 17.Jan.2008
From: Somewhere near London, UK
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When Outlook is configured to use Exchange, you will find that it will always try to use Exchange for email. Having dual accounts in Outlook is troublesome.

What I suspect is happening is that Outlook is resolving one or more of the recipients to an Exchange account. It will then send the entire message via Exchange. There is probably more email that you realise that is going through Exchange.

To be blunt, you cannot stop Outlook from trying to use Exchange. Exchange should not and cannot be used just for storage. Either use it as designed - as an email server - or remote it. A reliable predictable solution will not be possible while you mix connection types.

Simon.

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Exchange MVP
Blog: http://www.sembee.co.uk/
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(in reply to CGMChris)

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RE: Outlook Default Account Selection - 20.Aug.2008 6:38:53 PM

CGMChris

Posts: 3
Joined: 20.Aug.2008
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quote:

What I suspect is happening is that Outlook is resolving one or more of the recipients to an Exchange account. It will then send the entire message via Exchange. There is probably more email that you realise that is going through Exchange.

I just tested this theory and it is incorrect. When I address an email to an internal Exchange account and a @gmail.com account, my Outlook uses my default account (not Exchange).

The fact is we have 50+ sites, including our own, using this exact same configuration and there is only 1 location experiencing this specific problem.

It is apparent that Outlook only behaves in this manner if an existing Exchange server setup is later converted to use dual accounts.

I know that deleting the domain accounts and re-adding them will solve the issue, but I wasn't looking to kill an ant with a bomb. Something a little more subtle is what I am looking for. There must be some sort of cache causing the problem.

If anyone knows, please enlighten me. If I don't get an answer within a few days I will contact Microsoft's fee-based support and post my findings here.

Thanks for your assistance.

(in reply to CGMChris)

Post #: 5

RE: Outlook Default Account Selection - 20.Aug.2008 7:16:18 PM

Sembee

Posts: 3503
Joined: 17.Jan.2008
From: Somewhere near London, UK
Status: offline

It doesn't do what I have said all the time. It is unreliable, unpredictable. If you have 50 sites all working 100% correctly with email not going through Exchange then you have been fortunate. I have seen this tried many many times and I always see some messages trying to go through Exchange.

You can try flushing out the nicknames cache, that is the only cache the user might have. Otherwise it could be Contacts information that is storing Exchange based data.

Simon.

_____________________________

Simon Butler,
Exchange MVP
Blog: http://www.sembee.co.uk/
Web: http://www.amset.info/
In the UK? Hire me: http://www.amset.co.uk/

(in reply to CGMChris)

Post #: 6