Outlook Process Does Not End

Ever try starting Microsoft Outlook and you suddenly get the cryptic error message stating that it somehow can't open a specific file - which may include some verbiage about not having permissions on that file?

Here's one annoying culprit. Third-party plug-ins that well, you didn't even know you installed! You'd be surprised at who the culprit is in my case: APPLE. Yes, the dreaded iTunes Outlook plug-in!

What gives?! This is the 2nd time iTunes has created this issue, which I'm sure has sent more than a few IT brethren into tirades trying to fix this problem, wondering what the user(s) did, going through other tests, and fixes. Ergo wasting a time and money. If you're a home user, you'd likely be screaming at your PC, blaming Outlook, and by extension, Microsoft for yet another crappy error.

Well, this time, point your fingers and focus your wrath at Apple. Yes, Apple. This wasn't the first time this occurred for me. That's why I somewhat immediately knew where to look and subsequently fix the issue.

How to fix Outlook:

1. Go to TOOLS -> OPTIONS
2. Click the "OTHER" tab
3. In the GENERAL section, click "Advanced Options"
4. At the bottom part, click the "COM Add-Ins" button
5. Voila! You'll find the dreadful "iTunes Outlook Addin"
• At this point, I'd just UNCHECK it instead of removing it. Why? I'm playing it safe and don't want to deal with yet another issue. Besides, this does the trick/solves the problem.

Now, back to an even more basic question - WTF is iTunes doing in Outlook? Harvesting my contacts? Oh, I can go on, did you ASK me if I wanted to install some integration with Outlook? Even my anti-virus suite has the courtesy of asking me for permission to integrate with Outlook! You know, for something really useful like filtering for email viruses and SPAM. But iTunes?? Such arrogant crapola!

Yes, I'm a PC and crap can come from Apple.