Is there any utility, patch, or technique that I can employ that prevents
multiple instances of outlook.exe from running? I'm not talking about the
issue of Outlook getting stuck in RAM after I close it; I'm talking about
while it is running. I am seeing five, six, seven, eight, and more
outlook.exes when I check the Processes tab of Task Manager.

They are like coat hangers in the closet

Odd. What version of Outlook? Is it happening every time you run Outlook
after so long? Have you tried running in safe mode to see if it repros then
as well?

Usually caused by Comm addins, sync / fax software, AV or other software
intergrated with OL

Thanks, DL. I do not sync my Blackberry automatically; I do it manually. And
yes, Google Calendar Sync was definitely a culprit...and so I temporarily
removed it from memory...and the problem persisted...albeit at a lower
degree.

I have conceded that the cause is unavoidable (i.e., the offending addins,
whichever they might be, are necessary evils) -- my hope is to find a
cleanup or prevention tool.

Rick A.

"DL" wrote in message
news:uBws75%%23tIHA.5500@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

You could check with the addin sites for any update

"Rick Altman" NOSPAMaltman.com> wrote in message
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"Rick Altman" wrote in :

Get rid of (delete) the Outlook icon on the desktop. It isn't a
shortcut but a namespace extension to the dekstop (i.e., an object) but
doesn't support checking if an existing instance of outlook.exe is
already loaded. Replace it with a shortcut to outlook.exe (if you need
the desktop icon) which includes the /recycle parameter in the command
line. Add that parameter to all other shortcuts you have to start
Outlook. Then if outlook.exe is already loaded, the shortcut brings
focus to the existing instance of outlook.exe rather than starting
another one.