Background

When processing any MSG file, an error is thrown stating one of the following:

Unable to process msg request [0xfffffffd]

or

Outlook has not been launched one time on this machine or the Outlook installation needs to be Repaired.  Error [0xfffffffd]

Discussion/Resolution

This error is ultimately caused by Symphony being unable to work with the Outlook MAPI sub-system.  We have seen a few causes of this:

1.  The Outlook installation is corrupted (in which case, use Programs & Features to do a Repair on the Microsoft Office installation)

2.   Outlook is in the middle of an automated update and is waiting for the machine to be rebooted (in which case, reboot the machine and see if that takes care of things)

3.  Outlook hasn't been launched and set up on the machine (you don't have to set up an actual mail account - but you do need to go through the Outlook Welcome Wizard)

4.  There are multiple instances of Outlook installed on the same machine (e.g. Outlook 2010 and Outlook 365 on the same machine), MAPI is configured to use one of the versions, but the user is launching and using a different version (in which case either run a Repair on the install that the user does use, or launch the other Outlook install one time and go through the Outlook Welcome Wizard)

 NOTE: SOCR is not compatible with Outlook 64bit. To resolve, install Outlook 32bit and launch one time.