Appears to be a bad patch from Microsoft.
KB3114409 dated December 08 2015 has caused many users to only be able to launch Outlook in Safe Mode.
If you need to roll back, I wrote this recently on ‘Rolling back from a bad KB Update‘
Feel free to comment on your experience with this KB, I’ll update this post with any other information I find.
I also found this forum thread on Windows TenForums about the issue.
Update 10th December 2015:
Thanks for all the comments – glad it’s helped you all out. We’ll see if the patch gets reissued. Rehash of some of the details below:
Webmaster advises: This is being sold as an improvement: “Adds administrative support to prevent Outlook 2010 from booting into safe mode. Administrators set this function in some scenarios when they have add-ins that must be enabled.”
This technet article contains the key you can modify to stop Outlook going into Safe mode.
Alexej Kucher advises that: On a 64 bit machine with 32 Bit Outlook you have to create following registry key:
HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook\Security\ DWORD: DisableSafeMode = 1
Wayne DeJulia advises that the command to uninstall is: msiexec /package {90140000-0011-0000-0000-0000000FF1CE} MSIPATCHREMOVE={14CDCBF7-3CCC-42E2-A5BB-2D4926E16FAA} /qn /norestart
boozydaboozer advises: Looks like Microsoft has removed KB3114409 from Windows Update.
Update 6th Jan 2016
I’ve noticed clients keep getting prompted to uninstall this, so once your desktops are all unpatched, you will have to decline the update.
With today’s updates, I have a number of machines that have this issue. Now Outlook opens in Safe Mode instead of the normal mode. I will roll back KB3114409 and post again with the results. Not a happy camper!
Nope not good at all, and the update removal requires a reboot!
Once this update is uninstalled, Outlook opens normally again. The uninstall of this update doesn’t require a reboot. Follow the instructions from Microsoft https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3114409
Hopefully, they resolve this bug soon so this isn’t a problem for too many people. As this is being pushed out today, there will likely be many people complaining about this. Hopefully, uninstalling this update will solve the issues until Microsoft gets the update fixed.
i’ve uninstalled the KB3114409 update, unclicked all add-ons, re-booted, etc. outlook is still opening in safe mode. any other suggestions about how to undo that?
From Microsoft https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3114409
This is being sold as an improvement: “Adds administrative support to prevent Outlook 2010 from booting into safe mode. Administrators set this function in some scenarios when they have add-ins that must be enabled.”
Thankfully, the document goes on about how to uninstall it:
How to uninstall this update
Windows 10
1. Go to Start, enter View Installed Updates in the Search Windows box, and then press Enter.
2. In the list of updates, locate and then select update KB3114409, and then select Uninstall.
Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then select Search. If you’re using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, and then select Search.
2. Enter windows update, select Windows Update, and then select Installed Updates.
3. In the list of updates, locate and then select update KB3114409, and then select Uninstall.
Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP
1. Go to Start, enter Run, and then select Run.
2. Enter Appwiz.cpl, and then select OK.
3. Use one of the following procedures, depending on the operating system that you’re running.
*Windows 7 and Windows Vista
a. Select View installed updates.
b. In the list of updates, locate and select update KB3114409, and then select Uninstall.
*Windows XP
a. Select the Show updates check box.
b. In the list of updates, locate and select update KB3114409, and then select Remove.
I would actually really like the ability to prevent Outlook 2010 booting into safe mode! Maybe the patch is setting a registry key to 1 instead of 0 :)
Thanks for sharing the info.
Thank you for identifying the KB that was causing the issue. Have a great one!
After uninstalling that particular update outlook 2010 opened normally without any restart of machine.
Thanks for sharing info
Thanks Adam! Now, how to keep it from reinstalling….that’s the trick. (because IT WILL)…cheers
If you’ve got WSUS, check the link in my article on how to remove/disable :)
Adam is the hero of the day! None of the macros on our server ran because of this “Safe Mode” issue – I spend over 5 hours trying to solve it before coming across this post. Thanks for identifying! Shame on you Microsoft! Releasing buggy “updates”!
Looks like Microsoft has removed KB3114409 from Windows Update.
Hello Adam. Thanks for this post. Super useful. I am running Windows 10 and had a Windows update yesterday, after which my Outlook has started up in safe mode. However, KB3114409 was not one of the updates. Any other thoughts on how I work out why my Outlook is starting up in safe mode?
See if this key exists
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3114305
You can also change a registry key to get around the safe mode issue… looks like my guess was correct on 1 instead of 0 :)
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3114305
Actually, I made a mistake and KB3114409 was installed for me. I uninstalled and this has solved the problem. Thanks for all the help.
On a 64 bit machine with 32 Bit Outlook you have to create following registry key:
HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook\Security\ DWORD: DisableSafeMode = 1
Thanks for sharing!
Working. Thanks!
Thanks, that worked.
Alexej: This registry key is the one that worked for me. I had already uninstalled the update which did not help. Good answer! Thank you.
Thank You!! Exactly what I needed, worked great!
thanks Adam! It was the pain of the day…
Thank you Adam! Helped us a lot!
Thank you – Thank you! I’ve been all morning trying to sort this and now all done
Thank you so much for posting this!
Thank you Adam that was a useful info… it helped me to resolve the issue..
Glad you found this fix. We ran into the same thing this morning. Wednesday hangover from Microsoft patching. Thanks for posting.
msiexec /package {90140000-0011-0000-0000-0000000FF1CE} MSIPATCHREMOVE={14CDCBF7-3CCC-42E2-A5BB-2D4926E16FAA} /qn /norestart
I successfully uninstalled KB3114409 and everything is back to normal after about 3 hours of searching for a remedy. Thanks for your insight everyone!
Process for Windows 10:
–Go to Start, enter View Installed Updates in the Search Windows box, and then press Enter.
— In the list of updates, locate and then select update KB3114409, and then select Uninstall.
Did not need to reboot but I did anyway. Also if there are multiple users on your PC, make sure all are repaired.
Awesome post Adam – thank you, worked like a treat after hitting head against a few brick walls.
Really fantastic, great work.
Fantastico!!!
Nice to find this! Fixed four workstations and an RDP server with many clients
Thank you Mr. Fowler for this information. It was very helpful.
Thanks for the write up. Worked great on two of my workstations. However the third one is still loading into safemode, even after the Regedit entry. Hopefully there will be a patch fix tonight. Thanks again
Two faulty patches in last two patch Tuesdays. What is going over on at Microsoft HQ? Windows 10 made them drop the ball? i am now being forced to reevaluate all of our MS patching processes.
Same, not allowing critical patches by default is going to be the answer I think :(
Agreed Jason! Microsoft ~ I can read you like a book! A Short Story. They are forcing technology to work one way. Their way.
Soon Everyone will be Windows 10 or beyond ~ a subscriber ~ and ~ merely a (paying) player in the band.
NOT THE LEAD SINGER.
If you have been in Technology long enough, you should be seeing the pattern. There are less choices and much less control.
signed,
feeling strong-armed
For years now, and just before or right in the middle of the holiday season, an update comes out and screws things up…causing a lot of frustration..in which most will just throw in the towel and go buy a new computer…which is EXACTLY what MS wants…especially when pushing a new OS. It’s the same old marketing trick they have done since 95. It is a regular pattern and easily tracked.
Thanks for quick and good post
My problem solved through this one.
Great find. Worked for me!
Thanks alot for this had several users with this issue. Tried almost everything but this was the trick
Thanks. This was good information ;)
Any way to get it out of my SBS 2011 console updates?
Good to know…especially when there is a mixed platform. My users affect all had (2)XP Pro OS or (1)Win 7 Pro OS but all had 32bit install on Outlook…Outlook 2010 client. The common factor being the last 2 mentions.
anyone come across the issue where you cannot find the update in the view installed updates windows? But in your windows updates, it says it was installed.
Registy and the msiexec command was not able to fix fr me so far. Still looking around for a solution.
You may need to have Windows take a fresh look at what is installed. If you’re familiar with the process, simply stop the Windows Update service, then rename the SoftwareDistribution folder, restart the Windows Update service again and have it check. It will look like there are no updates at first, but when you check, it will let you know what you still need if any. Hope that helps. -Doug
Here is one way to do the renaming from a post on Microsoft’s TechNet:
Hi,
To rename the SoftwareDistribution folder, please try below:
1. Log on an account with administrator privileges.
2. Click the Start Button, click “All programs”, and click “Accessories”.
3. Right-click “Command Prompt”, and click “Run as administrator”.
4. In “Administrator: Command Prompt” window, type in “net stop WuAuServ” (without the quotes) and press Enter.
Note: Please look at the cmd window and make sure it says that it was successfully stopped before we try to rename the folder. However, if it failed, please let me know before performing any further steps and include any error messages you may have received when it failed.
5. Click the Start Button, in the “Start Search” box, type in “%windir%” (without the quotes) and press Enter.
6. In the opened folder, look for the folder named “SoftwareDistribution”.
7. Right-click on the folder, select Rename and type “SDold” (without the quotes) to rename this folder.
8. Still in “Administrator: Command Prompt” window, type the command “net start WuAuServ” (without the quotes) in the opened window to restart the Windows Updates service.
Hope it helps.
Tim Quan – MSFT
@Robert Burns….Well put!
Thank you for your information and support. My download was on 09.12.2015 (Dutch computer) however same problem; outlook in safe mode. Just fixed it by deleting the download. THANX again, Marielle
Thanks for posting this fixed my issue!!
Thanks to all for the information; now i have to fix it on more than 200 PC’s
thanks !! I uninstall this : KB3114409 and outlook open nice again !
I can’t see the Security in the registry, Please help
HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook\
and
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook\
Even after uninstalling, MS Update just re-installs it the following night. After three times of having to uninstall the file, I’ve just turned off auto update.
I would suggest you to go through the below steps to hide the windows update KB3114409:
a. Press Windows key+X.
b. Click on Control Panel.
c. Click on Windows Updates.
d. Click on important updates.
e. Right click on the update KB311409 and select hide update.
Dude – thanks for the tip. I’ll give it a try.
Hello – not having spotted this thread until now – I used System Restore to restore to the restore point on the 8th – before the ‘Critical Update’ this has worked on my 3 machines.
Removing the update worked for me. THANKS GUYS!
removed KB311409 and like magic OUTLOOK SAFE MODE is gone.
DAMN IT MICROSOFT, its a love and hate relationship with you!
Found an uninstallation script in this article: http://blog.jocha.se/tech/uninstall-outlook-kb3114409
Enjoy
when i try to uninstall kb3114409, it stalls/freezes/hangs at about 90% of the uninstall process. please help!
Ataboy Adam.Thank you
Thank you, Great Job!
Windows updates are being pushed from my SBS 2011 to each client computer. I remove the KB3114409 update from each computer and when shutting down the update is reinstalled. This update is not listed in Windows Update on the server so not sure how to prevent this from happening again. Please advise.
Are your clients actually pointed at the SBS2011 server, or are they getting it via online?
Removing the update fixed my Safe Mode headache instantly – thank you!