Google Apps and Outlook not playing nicely
Microsoft has warned users of Google Apps that a new tool for syncing the system to Outlook is faulty. Using the tool unintentionally stops Windows Desktop Search from accessing Outlook messages.
The Google Apps Sync plug-in for Outlook allows users to access Gmail services through the Outlook interface. It’s designed to promote Gmail use among users who are wary about using an unfamiliar interface. For example, some companies may want to experiment with Gmail but have staff who are trained in, and most comfortable with, using Outlook.
Unfortunately there’s a screw-up. And you know it’s a notable screw-up when the normally stoic Reuters agency headlines a story “Google Mucks Up Outlook.”
The bad news is that installing the tool modifies a key in the registry (Windows’ master database of software settings), which means that Desktop Search no longer finds any data from Outlook, regardless of whether it’s set to sync with Gmail. That in turn makes Outlook’s own search feature stop working.
The worse news is that uninstalling the tool is not guaranteed to reverse the problem. The only sure-fire fix is to manually edit the registry using the settings detailed in a Microsoft blog post on the subject.
The Google tool also produces a separate problem for users who have already installed a Microsoft tool syncing Outlook with Hotmail. The first time they use Outlook after adding the Google tool, they’ll get an error message warning “some functionality will be disabled.” Microsoft advises clicking “Yes” on this error message as Outlook will automatically fix the problem which created the message.
Both companies say they are working with one another to solve the problems. While it may be tempting for Microsoft to simply blame it all on Google and condemn the entire idea of syncing the services, that’s not really an option given how much pressure it’s under to avoid restricting competition.
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