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Open Bug 109362 Opened 23 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Installing/setting Mozilla as default mail breaks other clients (e.g. groupwise, outlook) (bad mapi32.dll)

Categories

(MailNews Core :: Simple MAPI, defect)

Product:
MailNews Core
Component:
Simple MAPI
Platform:
x86
Windows 2000
Type:
defect

Tracking

(Not tracked)

People

(Reporter: edschaum, Unassigned)

References

Details

(Whiteboard: [see comments 6, 9, 11, 12]) 

From Bugzilla Helper:
User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Win98; en-US; rv:0.9.5+) Gecko/20011108
BuildID:    2001110803

(Note: I'm not posting this report from the machine with the problem)

I posted the following in the mozilla mail-news ng and I was asked to file this
as a bug.  I hope I've provided all the necessary info:

Hi,

Not really sure where to start with this, I have a couple of problems which may
or may not be related.  Also not sure if any of this is bugs, so I hesitate to
report this in bugzilla unless I'm sure.

Setup:
win2k running latest netware client

Running Groupwise 5.5, and it was necessary to install a Novell patch for
Windows Messaging System, which installs an old, large mapi32.dll in system32.

Netscape 6.2 and possibly Mozilla replace that file with a different mapi32.dll
every time it's run

Also, my mail topics have become invisible.






Reproducible: Always
Steps to Reproduce:
Path to problem:
Run Groupwise 5.5, everything is ok.

Run NETSCAPE 6.2, everything seems to be ok, but it looks like my 600k mapi dll
is being replaced by a 5k one without the necessary hooks for Groupwise (didn't
check, but mozilla might do this too, since the old file is saved as
mapi32_moz_bak.dll).

Try to run Groupwise , it doesn't run anymore unless/until I put the old mapi
dll back.

Run Mozilla 2001110803 and...

Here's the other problem:
Mail topics are invisible in Mozilla.  All folders appear, and status line show
number of messages in each folder (both read and unread), but can't view email
topics or messages.

If I go back to netscape, mail appears normally in netscape, but I can't get my
mail to show up in mozilla anymore.


Actual Results:  1. groupwise won't run after running netscape or mozilla

2. can't see mail topics in topic pane in mozilla, can't see email in text pane.
 Folders are there with message counts



Expected Results:  I want Groupwise to continue to run after using netscape
and/or mozilla

I wanted to see email

Had a similar situation about a week ago, and after going back and forth between
mozilla and netscape several times, I was greeted by a "thank you for dl'ing,
now you can create an account".  Profile data was still there, but neither
mozilla or netscape recognized my existing profiles, I had to recreate them,
paste the mail files into the new folder, and recreate each pop/news account
before anything would show up.

Questions:

How can I get my mail to show up again in mozilla?

Is there a single mapi dll which will work with netscape, mozilla and groupwise?

many thanks,

Ed

Sorry if this is confusing!
simple mapi -> rajiv.
Assignee: sspitzer → rdayal
Component: Mail Window Front End → Simple MAPI
I believe this is resolved, but I'm putting my notes in for general information.

Regarding invisible mail headers, I've narrowed it down a bit.  If I go back to
.95 or any nightly up to Nov 1, my mail appears normally in mozilla.  It also
appears normally in 11/02 build, but 11/02 through 11/05 have the form bug, so I
am not using them, and haven't tried 11/03 through 11/05.

11/06 build and beyond ...no mail is visible.  I've installed just about every
nightly 11/06 and newer, including both trunk and .96 branch, mail is invisible
in all of these builds.

My mail reappears anytime I load the earlier builds.  

************************

Loaded 2001111403, mail has reappeared and works fine.  

Checked further on the mapi32.dll replacement.  Mozilla does NOT seem to do
this, only Netscape, so I think this no longer belongs here.

Sorry for the disturbance, and unsure how to mark this.  Thanks.
*** Bug 119789 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Status: UNCONFIRMED → NEW
Ever confirmed: true
Mapi's landed so it probably does this for mozilla as well.  Rajiv, is the
solution here not to use Mapi in Mozilla or Netscape?  If he unchecks the pref
will it restore the old .dll.  Also, if he upgrades his version of IE, will apps
like IE, Word, etc do the right thing regarding our dll and then Groupwise will
use its dll?  My guess is that this is a Wontfix with the recommendations
mentioned above. Rajiv, if you agree, you can mark Wontfix if you don't, please
update the bug.
Status: NEW → ASSIGNED
It simply won't do to have Mozilla breaking GroupWise.  If we cannot get the two
applications to play nice together, then we need a way to ensure that Mozilla
will not change the MAPI DLLs that GroupWise needs.

To be perfectly honest folks, GroupWise is more important than Mozilla or
Netscape at my organization. If it comes down to a choice between the two, we
will still use GroupWise and not use Mozilla or Netscape.

I really believe in Mozilla and do what I can to support it, but if Mozilla is
breaking other applications, then it will not be used.
Mozilla checks the mapi dll in windows systems dir before replacing it for
providing Simple MAPI support. If it is the smart Dll (provided by IE 5.5 or
later, Outlook Express), which checks the Windows registry settings and
redirects the call to the dll mentioned there, Mozilla does not replace it and
just updates the registry.

However if the mapi dll is not the smart one, the case where some other
messaging application replaces the dll there  with its own version rather than
just changing the Windows registry with the path to its mapi dll, Mozilla cannot
do anything else but replace it with its own version to enable mapi support.

The solution for this is to make sure that you have the smart version of mapi
dll in the windows system directory, the best way is to look for mapi*.dll in
your windows directory, the smart Dll is of size 128 KB. If you can not find
there check in the directory where you have IE (5.5 or later) or if you have
Outlook express you can check there too. Replace the dll there with this smart
version (size ~ 128KB) and then start Mozilla and check the preference to make
it the default mail application.

This will enable you to use Mozilla and also not break Groupwise or other
messaging apps.


I have searched Google, Microsoft and Novell's web search engines, but have not
found any information on such "smart" MAPI DLLs, where to get them, or how to
configure the related registry entries.  I would be very happy if someone would
provide links to web-based documentation (especially a Novell TID, Microsoft KB
article or even documentation on MSDN) that would explain it all.

Here is some additional background info.

In order to run Groupwise 5.5 (can't speak for other versions) on Windows 2000,
the full Windows Messaging System must be installed.  It is available on Novell
support at http://support.novell.com/servlet/tidfinder/2955774 . You might have
to log in to download Novell products.  It may also be available at Microsoft.

Not sure if this is a custom version of wms, but the mapi32.dll is a 621k file,
dated 10/14/96.  Groupwise won't run with any other file (that I've encountered
so far).  

I just read where someone made their mapi32.dll read-only, which supposedly
worked in preventing Mozilla from pushing the dll aside.  I'm about to try this,
not sure what effect it will have on Mozilla.

[Side note: I've just discovered Act2000 won't run either, and it generates the
same error message about a missing ordinal in the mapi file, but I haven't
researched this any further].
See the link below about this version of mapi dll (provided by IE 5.5 / OE) that
passes the calls to the default mail application as mentioned in comment # 6
(btw 'smart Dll' is not a generic term, we just call this version smart, with
this one no need to replace one another mapi dll versions !)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/mapi/html/_mapistub__installing_or_restoring_the_mapi32.dll_stub.asp


I reviewed the MSDN doc you posted and am very encouraged.  Thank you for
posting the information.  It always helps to know the exact cause and nature of
the problem.

Despite Novell's recommendation to always reinstall the Windows Messaging
System, I realize now that the correct solution, and one implimented and
supported by Microsoft, is a MAPI stub that redirects calls to the appropriate
MAPI DLL(s) for each application.

I've been experimenting with the MAPI stub solution and have got part of it
working.  The GroupWise client no longer gives the ordinal errors and Mozilla
does not replace the MAPI DLLs, but now GroupWise claims that the Address Book
is not installed correctly.  

I will continue researching this and report my findings here.  Anyone interested
may contact me directly.


OK. I think I have a solution that should work for everyone.

1. Install the Windows Messaging System.
2. Run FIXMAPI.EXE from the System32 directory.

Now try running GroupWise and Mozilla a few times, starting one first and then
the other.  If all went well, both should work and not cause any problems. 
Neither program should replace the MAPI DLLs.  If not, please note your results
here.



Also if you want to use Mozilla and groupwise together donot make any other
messaging apps that donot follow the mordern rules and replaces the mapi Dll
like Eudora, Outlook, etc, the default mail application. Everytime you do so and
then try to run Mozilla (or use it as default) and Groupwise it will break
Groupwise. 

Even if by mistake you do, run the Fixmapi.exe and then use Mozilla and Groupwise.
Using fixmapi works for me.  Now mozilla, groupwise and act seem to be
coexisting without any problems.

It has also had the very nice side effect of getting rid of another recent
problem-I was getting an error message that mozilla could not be set as the
default mail because a registry key could not be written to.



Awesome!  It seems that you can "fix" any MAPI programs with this method.  Just
install the program as you would normally, then run FIXMAPI to make it work nice
with all the other MAPI applications.  An entry is placed in the registry under
HKLM\Software\Clients for each one.

I'm very happy with this fix and will spread the word, especially on the Novell
newsgroups.  I'm sure many system administrators will go there looking for help.

*** Bug 124396 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 135681 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 141031 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 167084 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 167084 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 168599 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
I think that one is resolved, as I use both GW 6.02 client and mozilla on my
notebook here.

Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.0; en-US; rv:1.2b) Gecko/20021016

*** Bug 182426 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
QA Contact: esther → stephend
*** Bug 186907 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Depends on: 125830
to the Mozilla Gods 

It looks like many people have the same problem for different applications.

Will this be solved/fixed/patched ????
*** Bug 103230 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Glen, fixing this requires fixing application like Outlook 97 which in the first
place overwrites the default smart Mapi32.Dll. Please look at comment #6 above
for a detailed explanation and comment #9 of how to get this working.
Rajiv 
I ran the fixmapi.exe and it changed the size of the MAPI32.dll.
Mozilla runs ... Outlook does not.


Glen, try this, if Mozilla is already the default mail app, go to
Edit/Preferences and unselect the checkbox (use Mozilla Mail as default mail).
Close Mozilla. Now run fixmapi.exe. Run Outlook and make it the default mail app
and see if it works.
Severity: normal → minor
That WORKED !!!

I am running both Mozilla *AND* Outlook at the same time !

Thank You very much!
*** Bug 188408 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Summary: groupwise, mapi, netscape, mozilla mail → Installing/setting Mozilla as default mail breaks other clients (e.g. groupwise, outlook) (bad mapi32.dll)
*** Bug 195911 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Keywords: relnote
BTW, on my XP system with Outlook 2002 (and Chapura's PocketMirror Palm Sync
software), Mozilla seems to have replaced mapi32.dll, even though I have
(naturally) IE 6.0 and the smart mapi32.dll version. 

Running fixmapi seems to work (once I traced down why things were broken), but
I'm wondering why this isn't done automatically after Moz replaces mapi32.dll?
*** Bug 196025 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
In addition to "breaking" Outlook, this bug "breaks" all versions of MS
Activesync which use Outlook to sync files on Windows cD and PocketPC devices.

I have to deal with this every update of Mozilla... after install, Outlook opens
with the message "another app has interfered with mail settings..." and Outlook
then reports that it cannot fix it (outlook 97 and 2000)

Activesync can no longer connect with PocketPC devices.

The "fix" is to find all copies of MAPI32.DLL and either rename or delete them,
then re-start Outlook.  Outlook will then recreate MAPI32.DLL which is 128k as
opposed to the 6k Mozilla file.

Bottom line, Mozilla works with the Outlook MAPI32.DLL, but Outlook and other
apps will not work with the Mozilla file...

...let's keep Mozilla's name clean and not tarnished with a "programmer
arrogance" reputation. ;-)

Beverly Howard
I strongly disagreee with the designation of this bug as "minor"

While it does not impact Mozilla, it is having "major" impact on two apps that I
support on a national forum... it is especially disastrous on low tech users.

Beverly Howard

I would like to point out that this issue is not a "Mozilla problem," but a generic problem that has 
to do with the way MAPI was implemented by Microsoft and it affects several different mail clients, 
like Eudora, Outlook, GroupWise, and others.  

If you want to complain, please complain to Microsoft.  If you want a solution, then read the 
comments for this bug carefully.

I would remind everyone that FIXMAPI.EXE should fix ANY MAPI APPLICATION, as Microsoft 
designed it specifically for that purpose. All you should need to do is this...

1. Install the application of your choice that breaks MAPI.
2. Run FIXMAPI.EXE to put MAPI back in working order.

This works for more than just GroupWise. FIXMAPI.EXE was written by Microsoft to fix all MAPI 
client problems. For more information, see comments #9 - #14 and read the MSDN document 
linked to in comment #10.

As far as I'm concerned, there is a Microsoft provided and recommended solution, so this bug not 
really a bug and should be marked INVALID. 

And yes, I too suffered for weeks because of this issue just like everyone else that doesn't know to 
use FIXMAPI.EXE. Once I found the solution, I haven't had a problem since.
This problem wasted several of my hours too. And before reading the comments
here, I was very upset on Mozilla because Outlook 97 worked just fine before
installing Mozilla, but after the installation it did not even launch and I lost
hundreds of important emails. I could not import them into Mozilla either,
however the Outlook import capability was the reason for me to use Mozilla mail
in the first place.

So I'm absolutely supporting comment #34 and comment #35. It is a Mozilla
problem, because installing Mozilla breaks a working configuration. Please do
something about this, as it damages Mozilla's reputation.

My proposed solution for this: If Mozilla detects any broken or incompatible
mapi32.dll, it should display a prominent warning dialog box, perhaps including
a link to a web page, and it should leave the whole mail subsystem alone. In
particular, it should inform the user that a work around is unchecking the "Use
Mozilla Mail as default mail application" setting. This approach would a) be
user friendly, b) identify the real problem, which is broken MS software.

My setup is : Windows XP german, MS Office 97 SP 2 german, which uses Outlook
97. Another system shows the same symptom, but is using Windows NT SP 5 german.

After deselecting the "default mail app" checkbox I was able to start Outlook
and to import all emails.
Here's a related problem, which is in fact "major" in my opinion. Bug owners,
please change the severity.

If one deinstalls Mozilla, after installing it as the default mail client and
thus "breaking" Outlook 97, the original mapi32.dll is not restored and Outlook
will not work. This happened to my Windows NT system mentioned above. I had to
reinstall Outlook.

The deinstaller should perform the equivalent of "unchecking the default mail
client checkbox" before continuing with the deinstallation.
If I recall correctly, Mozilla's current behavior is this...

1. Determine if the correct MAPI DLLs are installed.
2. If correct then do nothing
3. If not correct then replace MAPI DLLs with version known to work with Mozilla

This is with "correct" being defined as the MAPI "stub" DLLs that FIXMAPI puts into place, which 
checks registry entries and then calls an appropriate full set of MAPI DLLs depending upon which 
program is making the calls.

So, the only way that Mozilla would "break" MAPI, it if it was "broken" already. If the correct DLLs 
are installed, then nothing should break and there should be no problem when Mozilla is removed 
from a workstation.

Now, I do especially like the idea of Mozilla displaying a dialog if it detects the "wrong" MAPI DLLs. 
Perhaps this dialog should offer the option to replace the files or leave them alone, saying that 
replacing the files could cause other applications to malfunction. I think it should also refer to the 
Microsoft Developer Network article listed in comment #9 for more details.

Also, the MSDN article mentions that FIXMAPI and the stub MAPI DLLs became available with 
Windows 2000, Outlook 2000, and IE5. Any Windows OS before 2000 has either gone off support 
already or will no longer be supported as of January 16, 2004 (Win98/SE). Windows 2000 is 
supported until March 31, 2007. If you're still running Outlook 97 and anthing before Win2K, you 
should seriously consider an upgrade to an actively supported platform.
*** Bug 169104 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 227356 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 240814 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
I'm not 100% sure that Bug #224824 isn't a dup of this bug, however, this bug
does block it.
Blocks: 224824
I have also experienced problems from this bug. I installed thunderbird 0.8 and
it "broke" my groupwise 5.5.1 install. This should be properly dealt with. Here
is a possible idea:

If an older version of mapi32.dll is found, can thunderbird put the new version
in the thunderbird directory. This way it will not affect other programs but
will have the new dll for thunderbird.
(In reply to comment #44)
> I have also experienced problems from this bug. I installed thunderbird 0.8 and
> it "broke" my groupwise 5.5.1 install. This should be properly dealt with. Here
> is a possible idea:
> 
> If an older version of mapi32.dll is found, can thunderbird put the new version
> in the thunderbird directory. This way it will not affect other programs but
> will have the new dll for thunderbird.

This 109362 is a BUG of the high order. I have read the listings and most seem
to be submitted by techie types. I tried the fix only to have it break again
with a different error msg but the result of the same BUG. This not the way to
push Firefox/Thunderbird. Most enterprizes would not use this program if it is
going to break the mail.
My install was the latest Firefox and then the latest Thunderbird. I am in a
Groupwise shop. So the corporate email is Groupwise. I like the programs. They
are very elegant. But They should not break other programs and then tell you
that it is either Microsoft's problem or somebody elses problem. Over 90% of the
installed OS base is Windows. So Firefox/Thunderbird NEED to play ball in
Microsofts playground or go back underground. And beleive me I don't want You to
do that. Someone NEEDs to keep Microsoft honest.

I also have the same problem using Thunderbird 0.8 (20040913). Once Thunderbird
is launched, I simply copy c:\winnt\system32\mapi32_moz_bak.dll to
c:\winnt\system32\mapi32.dll, and run Outlook, and it works fine.

I have to do it everytime I launch Thunderbird again.
Product: MailNews → Core
*** Bug 257313 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 257019 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 248003 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 219270 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 236825 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
This was the _only_ problem that I had with ThunderBird and it almost made me 
abandon it as GroupWise is the corporate email that I _have_ to use and 
ThunderBird is what I _want_ to use.

ThunderBird broke GroupWise! Who cares if it is MS fault? Everything is their 
fault ;-).

The 'fixmapi' fix worked of course but this is not very professional imho.

It's a sociability bug and should be fixed in Mozilla to avoid scaring off 
newbies (like me). But then again I'm only a miserable GroupWise user :-).
Whiteboard: [see comments 6, 9, 11, 12]
*** Bug 311389 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 303994 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Weeks ago after installing Thunderbird my Groupwise was broken afterwards. I reported this bug. Some hours ago it has been marked as duplicate of this bug.

If the bug cannot be fixed (?!) the users should be warned in the installation documentation that Thunderbird will break a working Groupwise.

However this bug which was opened on 2001-11-09 (!) is not mentioned on page http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/releases/1.0.7-release-notes.html

I am surprised how many people are having the same troubles, which I would classify "critical". Not from a technical but from a marketing point of view.

Privately this bug is not a problem for me, however, Groupwise is the only official mail client in our company and Thunderbird breaks the official installation. At least our sysadmins think that way. They do not want to have troubles with hundreds of users and argue that Thunderbird is not mature for production use.
Fixmapi.exe does not resolve everything.  While it did allow me to start Groupwise again, replying to News groups within Groupwise not longer works.

I know this is a mapi32 / M$ issue in some of your minds, but if it "walks like a duck..."

GWise was running fine.  I installed T-Bird and GWise was broken.  Who am I supposed to blame again?

Thanks
As a public service, you can download the correct mapi files(s) from my website: www.ez-as.net/gwmapi.zip   

I replaced several mapi files in order to restore NNTP fucntionality in GWise and you may not need all of the files included in the zip.  I used them all and things are fine.  I do NOT run Outlook or Outlook Express on my system, so your mileage may vary.
Microsoft admits that FIXMAPI may not always work. A fix that seems to work for OUTLOOK97, Thunderbird 1.5.0.5, WINXP sp2 is to place the correct (big) MAPI32.DLL in the WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 directory then use DOS to lock out Thunderbird by using the c:> ATTRIB Mapi32.dll +A +R +S command to write protect the file. Afterwards both OUTLOOK and Thunderbird are functioning on my PC.

*** Bug 350431 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Nominating as wanted for Tb3.  A more elegant solution is needed since Vista places more controls on what a user account can do.  That seems to push more of a requirement onto a smart trusted installer if Vista system files are involved.

A comment was also made to Tb 3.0a1 draft release notes for this to be included.
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=429235
Flags: wanted-thunderbird3?
Assignee: rdayal → nobody
Status: ASSIGNED → NEW
QA Contact: stephend → simple-mapi
Product: Core → MailNews Core
(In reply to comment #60)
> Nominating as wanted for Tb3.  A more elegant solution is needed since Vista
> places more controls on what a user account can do.  That seems to push more of
> a requirement onto a smart trusted installer if Vista system files are
> involved.
> 
> A comment was also made to Tb 3.0a1 draft release notes for this to be
> included.
> https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=429235

We've stopped replacing mapi32.dll altogether now on XP and Vista. Don't know about Windows 2000.
Removing relnote keyword from bugs that are no longer significant or not needing to be mentioned in the release notes.
Keywords: relnote
Severity: minor → S4
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