Fix ‘Messaging Interface Error’ in MS Outlook

You may have witnessed many error messages while working with MS Outlook application. One of those error messages might have been, “The messaging interface has returned an unknown error. If the problem persists, start Outlook again.”

This error mostly occurs while reading new mails, deleting mails, managing entries in contacts and calendar. If you have got this message, it is possible that there is some internal problem with the messaging interface of MS Outlook. Sometimes the area of problems is not the messaging interface but the size of the PST file. Most of the MS Outlook systems, running on user computers, have a 2 GB size limit. If the PST file gets over-sized above this limit, It reports error messages while accessing.

Users get panicked after getting this message. They don’t know what to do. Solution to the problem is simple. You have to just restart the MS Outlook application. If the problem is in the messaging interface, it gets rectified itself while the MS Outlook application gets started. After restarting the Outlook, if the problem subsists then you have to mend the PST file by help of some PST repair software.

Resolve Through Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe)

It is provided by Microsoft and can be used for PST file repair. This is stored as scanpst.exe executable file in the system. You can search it or locate it in C:\ Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14 folder. 

To run the Inbox Repair Tool, follow the underlying steps if you don’t know its location.

1. On the Start menu, click on the Search option.
2. In the Search for files or folders named box, write scanpst.exe.
3. Click Find button. The scanpst.exe file is listed in the Search Results window.
4. Double click the Scanpst.exe file to run Inbox Repair Tool.
5. If you know the path of the corrupt PST file specify it in the tool. You can use Browse option to locate the file.
6. Click Start to perform Outlook PST repair.

After repairing you can open the PST file using MS Outlook. If the corrupt PST file is over sized, you have to reduce its size before using it. Microsoft provides an “Over-sized PST and OST Crop Utility” to diminish the size of PST files. It is possible that while using the tool, you will get some error messages. If you get a message, “Run-time Error '713': Class not Registered”, you must install MSSTDFMT.DLL file on your system.

If you are using Windows 98 or Millennium operating system, you can install MSSTDFMT.DLL by coping it to C:\Windows\System\ folder and then running it from command prompt. If you are using XP or 2000 editions, then you have to copy MSSTDFMT.DLL to \Windows\System32 folder. After that register the file by running, “REGSVR32 C:\windir\System32\MSSTDFMT.DLL” command from cmd prompt.

After reducing the size to a considerable limit, your PST file is error free. You can also move some of the mail items to a new PST file. If the above solution does not solve your problem, you can try an Outlook PST Repair Software to get back all your Outlook data.

Reference:

http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/recover-outlook/get-the-outlook-messaging-interface-error-fixed-55764