How to get the Calendar or Task Reminders working

Usually it is found that there are scenarios where the outlook reminders
stops cropping up. This article will cover the steps to get this working
and other command line options available to handle other various issues
of outlook.

Let us explore the various options available to get the Calendar or Task
Reminders working in outlook. Firstly these can stop appearing if it is
disabled in outlook. The procedure to get this enabled are as follows

Enabling the Calendar & Task Reminders

Go to Tools->options->Other->Advanced Options->Reminder Options

Click on the "display the Reminder check box"

Troubleshooting the Calendar or Task Reminders

To get the reminders make sure first it is Enabled in the outlook. The
main reason for remainders to stop appearing is due to corrupt Task or
appointment reminder entries in outlooks.

To fix the issues follow the below steps in order. But make sure you
backup before taking up any of these steps just in order to be in safer
side and to fall back in case of mistakes.

1. Typically reminders problems usually get fixed with this command
line switch. Issue the command "outlook /cleanreminders". For detailed
procedure follow this knowledge base "OL2000: Calendar or Task Reminders
Do Not Appear" @
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;195964

2. The alternative command to troubleshoot the problem is to issue
the command "outlook /cleanfreebusy"
3. The /resetfolders outlook command line switch is the mother of
all switches for Reminder problem. It is the last resort to get the
reminders to get this working. Issue the command "outlook
/resetfolders". The Microsoft knowledge base "XCLN: Reminders for
Appointments Do Not Appear" @
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;281315 applies
to Exchange 2000 but it really worked for exchange 5.5 also. This
article has the procedure to perform the step3

To backup the folder use the File->Import/export menu. Choose to export
including the subfolders to a PST file. Than perform the above
troubleshooting steps

Command Line switches

In outlook there are other switches which will help you in fixing other
issues in outlook such as

Command-Line switch Purpose

------------------- ------------------- -------------------
------------------- /CleanFreeBusy Cleans and regenerates
free/busy information.

/Cleanfinders Removes saved searches from the Exchange Server
store.

/CleanReminders Cleans and regenerates reminders.

/CleanViews Restores default views.

/CheckClient Prompt for default manager of e-mail, news, and
contacts

/Recycle Starts Outlook using an existing Outlook
window,if one exists.

/ResetFolders Restores missing folders for the default delivery
location.

/ResetOutlookBar Rebuilds the Outlook Bar.

/Nopreview Turns off the Preview Pane and removes the option
from the

View Menu.

/CleanSchedPlus Deletes all Schedule+ data (free/busy, permissions,
and .CAL file)

from the server and allows the free/busy information from the

Outlook Calendar to be used and viewed by all Schedule+ 1.0 users.

/Safe Launches Outlook without extensions, preview
pane or toolbar

customization

For a detailed procedures and summary of command line refer "OL2000:
Additional Command-Line Switches" @
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;197180