Fix for error ”the action cannot be completed” at Outlook startup


PST file corruption is one among the most sought reason for problems with outlook startup. Though the issues can simply be fixed by recreating PST, however for files comprising of important data restoration has to be done from previous backup available. Alternatively there is the need to repair PST & for that very purpose outlook comprises of Inbox repair tool, scanpst.exe.

Though the problem may take place with any outlook version, issues are most commonly observed while starting outlook 2003 0r 2007, the error message one is likely to receive in that situation is

“ The action cannot be completed ”

Post this the ability of outlook to start & function appropriately is lost & this arises critical data inaccessibility & loss like situation.

What cause ‘cannot complete this action' while outlook startup?

The reasons on account of which outlook may fail to open, giving the above mentioned error comprises of –

  • Non availability of LAN or Local Area Network
  • Outlook is actively been locked by antivirus software
  • Outlook profile or the PST file it is attached with is corrupt & in turn made the file inaccessible
  • Read only attributes of outlook.exe or Outlook PST
  • Outlook program file is corrupt
  • Corrupt or missing outlook add-ins, which have one or the other important function to serve & in case the same is unavailable outlook fails to open

To overcome this data inaccessibility situation, the error observed at the moment is to be fixed after its cause has been determined.


How to fix “cannot complete this action. Please try again” error?

Based on what the cause is, the methods to be implemented includes the following –

  • Verifying whether or not the connection is properly done & available
  • Antivirus software is to be deactivated
  • Creating new outlook profile or detaching the file associated to check whether the problem being caused is due to damages in the file
  • Uncheck the read-only properties of outlook.exe or PST file as the case may be
  • Damaged program files are to be replaced
  • Problems with add-ins are to be fixed by starting outlook with add-ins disabled

Following the above steps is likely to sort out the issue but in cases, other than that outlook 2003 repair tool is required, so that the damages existing in the file is sorted out first of all and thereafter its data restored to a new file. With this action cannot be completed error in outlook is sorted out.