vB Easy Archive - iTunes Outlook sync causes Outlook to lose connection to offline file store

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iTunes Outlook sync causes Outlook to lose connection to offline file store
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Posted by: poseidoncharger

Environment:
* iTunes v7.5.0.20
* Outlook 2003 SP3
* Windows XP SP2
* iPhone firmware v1.1.1

I've been experiencing a repeatable, consistent problem for the past few weeks, while trying to allow iTunes to sync my Outlook Contacts & Calendar to my iPhone.

Here's the repro steps:

* start Outlook, let it connect to my Exchange server (configured with support for Offline email - i.e. caching my Inbox to the outlook.ost file)
* plug my iPhone into the sync cradle, which is plugged into my PC
* wait for iTunes to start synchronizing, then to throw the following error:

"Microsoft Office Outlook Offline Folders"
"The file C:\Documents and Settings\msmithlo\Local Settings\Application Data\microsoft\outlook\outlook.ost is in use and could not be accessed. Close any application that is using the file, and then try again."

Once this error occurs, even if I shut down iTunes (i.e. kill the process in Task Manager), Outlook will be unable to display any messages that are stored in the Outlook.OST file. It can neither show the contents in the Preview Pane, nor can it open the message, Calendar item, Contact or Task. The only way to resolve this is to restart Outlook (i.e. kill its process and launch Outlook again).

However, even after restarting Outlook in this manner, the next time that iTunes synchronizes the iPhone with Outlook, this same error will occur and I will have to exit from Outlook and restart it.

I have confirmed:
* that synchronization did complete successfully for a few weeks
* that Outlook hasn't disabled the iTunes Outlook Add-in (it's still checked in COM Add-ins)
* that the iTunes diagnostics all complete successfully
* that there are no updates available from iTunes or Windows Update

I have followed other discussions in these support groups but there's still no resolution (e.g. http://discussions.apple.com/thread...ssageID=5256112, http://discussions.apple.com/thread...ssageID=5256115)