WDS 2.6 does not index mailbox and PST while Office Group Policy is used

We have a MS Office 2003 Group Policy (GPO) that turns on many of the Outlook controls. (This is not the GP for Desktop Search...but for Outlook, Word, etc.).

Windows Desktop Search 2.6.5000.5401 will not index emails in the Exchange mailbox and the Outlook PST files until I "turn off" the Office GPO.

Can you help me determine which particular policy/rule within that Office GPO is affecting WDS ?

And what might we do so that we can keep our Outlook/Office GPO as it is but have WDS be "accepted" and get past the GPO rules ?

Thanks.

[590 byte] By [Abe1816] at [2007-12-24]
# 1

Hello Abe,

We've not run into this problem before. This one is going to take a little bit of research on our end. I hope to be back to you after the holiday (July 4th).

Paul Nystrom - MSFT

PaulNystrom-MSFT at 2007-8-31 > top of Msdn Tech,Windows Search Technologies,Windows Desktop Search Development...
# 2

Paul,

That sounds OK. Please let me know if you have questions, etc. Thanks.

Abe1816 at 2007-8-31 > top of Msdn Tech,Windows Search Technologies,Windows Desktop Search Development...
# 3
I wonder if it is possibly this Group Policy setting: (from a printed copy of the MS Office GP) -- MS Office Outlook 2003/Tools - Macro/Security -- Outlook: Trust all installed add-ins and templates. Our setting is currently set to Disabled. So I think that means that Outlook does not trust add-ins. Maybe the WDS stuff is like an add-in. I have not had time to test this setting. Thanks.
Abe1816 at 2007-8-31 > top of Msdn Tech,Windows Search Technologies,Windows Desktop Search Development...
# 4

Abe1816 - that is helpful information. In order for WDS to index Outlook it must install and run an add-in. Could you do me a favor and do the following on a machine to see if it helps:

Go to Outlook and click Help:AboutMicrosoft Office Outlook. Click on the Disable Items button and see if the WDS Outlook add-in is on the list. If it is, enable the add-in. My guess is you will then be able to index email.

Paul Nystrom - MSFT

PaulNystrom-MSFT at 2007-8-31 > top of Msdn Tech,Windows Search Technologies,Windows Desktop Search Development...
# 5
I looked at that area and the little window has this: There are no disabled items. I did NOT see any items there so I could not enable WDS. Thanks.
Abe1816 at 2007-8-31 > top of Msdn Tech,Windows Search Technologies,Windows Desktop Search Development...
# 6
In this document ( http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/office/office2003/operate/o3secdet.mspx ) there is a section that describes how to add DLL into the Trusted Code section for Outlook security controls. Does WDS have a DLL that I should add into this record that is stored in the Exchange Public Folders and that Outlook reads to determine some security settings ? Thanks.
Abe1816 at 2007-8-31 > top of Msdn Tech,Windows Search Technologies,Windows Desktop Search Development...
# 7

Abe - Just to give you an update, I am currently working with a few other people at Microsoft to pin this down. As soon as we have the exact solution I'll post it here. I'll also be making an update to the WDS troubleshooting guide.

Paul Nystrom - MSFT

PaulNystrom-MSFT at 2007-8-31 > top of Msdn Tech,Windows Search Technologies,Windows Desktop Search Development...
# 8

Thanks.

I am still interested in this answer.

Aug. 18, 2006.

= = =

Abe1816 at 2007-8-31 > top of Msdn Tech,Windows Search Technologies,Windows Desktop Search Development...
# 9

Abe,

Sorry - we are not ignoring you. We're just having difficulty reproducing this problem and getting the solution completely pinned down. If you are up for it, I may contact you to see if I can look at your group policies and attempt to find the solution.

Thanks for your patience,

Paul Nystrom - MSFT

PaulNystrom-MSFT at 2007-8-31 > top of Msdn Tech,Windows Search Technologies,Windows Desktop Search Development...
# 10

Abe,

After a fair amount of digging, testing, and trial and error it appears that you can also add .exe files to this list. We had luck adding the indexer and search exes to the list.

Please let me know if this doesn't work for you.

Paul Nystrom - MSFT

PaulNystrom-MSFT at 2007-8-31 > top of Msdn Tech,Windows Search Technologies,Windows Desktop Search Development...
# 11
I cannot see the solution you mention - is there a missing post?
PaulHendley at 2007-8-31 > top of Msdn Tech,Windows Search Technologies,Windows Desktop Search Development...