How to Resolve the “Outlook.exe Entry Point Not Found” Error?

Microsoft Outlook is one of the best email clients for personal and professional email communication. It packs features like DLP (data loss prevention), email filters, and task creation for maximum productivity and email data security. However, many Outlook users face one error that disrupts their workflow. This error is “Outlook.exe entry point not found.” If you are also among the many Outlook users facing this problem, don’t worry anymore! We will explore the solutions for fixing this error and the reasons for it in this blog.

Why Outlook Users Face This Error?

Outlook users encounter this error while starting the Outlook app on their computers. Simply put, the Outlook app attempts to access a DLL (dynamic link library) file function but can’t do so. We will explore some reasons for this error in the following points:

• Missing/Broken/Damaged SCNPST32.dll File: Whenever Outlook users attempt to repair their PST data file using the inbuilt Inbox Repair Tool (also called ScanPST tool), they encounter a broken, damaged, or missing SCNPST32.dll file. This file is a crucial element for the ScanPST.exe file. Ultimately, users can’t access the ScanPST tool without the SCNPST32.dll, which causes the “Outlook.exe entry point not found” error.
• Incomplete or Wrong Outlook Installation: Another reason for the error is the erratic Outlook app installation on the computer. Many Outlook users may skip the installation process to save time, affecting your crucial data and causing the entry point error.
• Damaged or Corrupt Profile/App: A severely corrupt or damaged Outlook profile or application can affect your data and cause the error on your computer, effectively locking you out of your crucial database.
• Corrupted/Missing System Files: Just like other apps, Outlook depends on certain system files for efficient functioning on the computer. These files may get corrupted, damaged, or mistakenly deleted, leading to this error.
• Oversized PST File: The PST data file becomes oversized due to the consistent filling of the mailbox without trimming unnecessary data. This leads to slower Outlook performance, even file corruption and damage. Since the Outlook app can’t function properly due to the oversized PST file, it leads to the Outlook entry point error.

Now that you have read the reasons behind the error for Outlook, it’s time to know the solutions to resolve it, and the following section describes them in detail.

Solutions to Resolve the “Outlook.exe entry point not found” Error

We will explore a few solutions to fix the “Outlook.exe entry point missing” error in this section, starting with the manual methods.

Solution 1: Repair Microsoft Office

The first method to resolve the entry point error in Outlook is to repair MS Office on your computer. The following steps mention the entire Office update process:

1. Open the Control Panel on your computer.
2. Select Uninstall a program in the Programs menu.
3. Go to Microsoft Office and right-click on it.
4. Now, select the Change option and click Yes to open the Office Repair wizard.
5. Choose either Quick Repair or Online Repair based on your preference.
6. Click the Repair button to start the app repair process.
7. Open the Outlook app to see if it runs without any hiccups.

Solution 2: Run the System File Checker

Another method to manually fix the “Outlook.exe entry point not found” error is the System File Checker built-in tool that comes with all Windows computers. Follow these steps to resolve the error using the tool:

1. Open the Command Prompt on your computer by running it as an Administrator.
2. Now, type the “sfc /scannow” (excluding the inverted commas) command and press Enter.
3. The tool will scan all system files and attempt to repair corrupted or missing files.
4. Restart the computer after the scan process gets completed and re-open Outlook.

One thing to clearly remember is that you can’t close the Command Prompt window until the file scan is 100% complete; otherwise, you may face more issues with your system.

Solution 3: Update Outlook

You can update the Outlook app if you wish to skip the first two solutions for a direct error resolution. The steps to update Outlook are very easy, and we will mention them in the following points:

1. Open MS Outlook on your computer.
2. Go to the File menu and navigate to the Office Account option.
3. Next, select Product Information and click Update Now under the Office Updates option.
4. The Outlook app begins to update itself if an update is available.
5. Restart the app to check if the error persists.
6. If the error gets fixed, it signals frequent Outlook updates to prevent future issues like this.

Solution 4: Move Outlook Data File to Secondary Computer

Another method to resolve the “Outlook.exe entry point not found” error involves moving your PST data file to another computer with the Outlook app installed on it. However, this method involves the same app version installed on the secondary computer to which your PST file belongs.

All these solutions look easy to fix the error and many Outlook users will try one of them to resolve it. However, these methods have certain limitations, and we will mention them in the next section.

Limitations of the Manual Solutions

• All the methods don’t guarantee complete error resolution.
• You have to be extra careful when using either method since a misstep can lead to data loss and even corruption.
• You may have to reinstall Microsoft Office, and, consequently, the Outlook app to fix the problem.
• The fourth solution involves another computer and, therefore, can be expensive to execute.

Best Solution for Resolving the Outlook Entry Point Error

Now that we know the drawbacks associated with the four manual solutions, it becomes imperative to discuss the best solution to resolve the main problem discussed here. The only option to fix the “Outlook.exe entry point missing” error is automated software, and SysTools has developed the Outlook Recovery Tool to help you resolve the error with total ease and no data loss in the process. Use the software to recover the deleted emails, calendar entries, contacts, and other Outlook data from the corrupted PST files. Moreover, you can also recover permanently deleted data and save it in a new PST data file with the help of the software.

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Conclusion

This blog explored the “Outlook.exe entry point not found” error with a detailed explanation of the reasons behind this problem and the solutions to resolve it. The manual solutions mentioned here look easy to fix the error but they pose certain limitations, as described here. Therefore, the automated software becomes the perfect method to resolve the error and repair Outlook data files.