Outlook Web Access Vista

carolaryan

i've just got a new laptop with Vista.

when i go into my outlook web access i can receive, open and read my emails, but when i try to reply, i can't type a message in the message box. there is just a small red x.

i thought at first it was because i hadn't loaded microsoft word onto the computer, but i've done that now and it still doesn't work.

i've also loaded microsoft outlook (although a different version to microsoft office) office is 2007 and outlook is 2003.

if anyone has any suggestions i'd really appreciate it.

Lucutus

It's a bug with Vista/IE7, something about the activeX rich text formatting text box control used for writing/formatting HTML iirc.

Use the basic option, which will give you a plain text box instead, as a workaround.

Not sure if MS have issued a fix yet. Likely to be serverside if they do.

mr_disc

Same happens here, getting a 'certificate error' (When using IE)

Works fine in Firefox though !!

Cryos

Think there is a patch for exchange comming out, dont think it happens on exchange 2007.

carolaryan

Use the basic option, which will give you a plain text box instead, as a workaround.

thanks for that, how do i use the basic optioin?

Stephen

Weird. I connect to my work email using OWA on Vista and it works fine in IE7?

Ginger

DHTML Rich text controls are not included with the Vista IE7 so OWA wont work as well...

Try here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/911829

seamus

IE7 has some changes to the default security zones and levels, which will stop certain types of scripting from being run, even if they ran fine in IE6.

carolaryan

DHTML Rich text controls are not included with the Vista IE7 so OWA wont work as well...

Try here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/911829

I tried this, but it still isn't working. if anyone has any other suggestions i'd really appreciate it.

Ginger

Have your admins applied the hotfix for OWA and Vista? There is an updated UI that doesnt use the RichText controls.

carolaryan

Hi Ginger
Thanks for your help, but to be honest, i have no idea what you mean
Is this a problem that needs to be taken back to the shop, or is there anything that even they could do about it?

Ginger

The issue is that OWA requires certain ActiveX controls to be installed on the computer. These were shipped as part of previous versions of Windows but because they presented a security risk, MS decided not to include them in Windows Vista. This is why OWA will still work in IE7 on Windows XP but not on IE7 on Vista.

So, to get around this, you have to install a hotfix (patch) on the server that provides OWA for you. Your system admins would normally take care of this. This provides OWA with a new interface that doesnt require the ActiveX controls and allows you to use OWA in Vista.

Does all that make sense?

carolaryan

that makes sense. i've tried the patch you linked to earlier on but that hasn't worked. do i need to go back to dell now to try and get them to sort it?

Ginger

Its not Dells problem, its the people who supply your Emails problem. You need to apply the patch to the server not the laptop.

The main thing here is that its the server where you get your email (eg https://yourcompany.ie/outlookwa) that need to apply the patch.

Where did you install it before?