[Lotus Notes Sucks: Example 24]

When Lotus Notes Crashes

Problem

I was trying to figure out how to create a "hotspot" in a mail message. A "hotspot" is text or a button that the user clicks to perform an action, such as open your browser to a specific web site. Instead, Lotus Notes crashed. When I restarted Lotus Notes, I received this message instead of the goofy login dialog box:

Analysis

Let's examine the three sentences in this message, shall we?

1. "Unable to open desktop file."
   What is a desktop file? What does this have to do with anything? Why is this a problem?
2. "Notes may have terminated abnormally in an earlier session."
   So what? I like the euphamism "terminated abnormally" for "crash and burn."
3. "Please logoff or shut down the operating system before running Notes again."
   Why? Can't Notes fix itself without having to shutdown the computer?

Notice the formatting of the text in the dialog box. This is EWDB Syndrome. Is this the widest dialog box you've ever seen? A user should never see a message like this. Lotus Notes should fix itself and not burden the user with having to shut down the computer to fix a problem like this.

Update

I found a product called NotesMedic that might help. Also, I could avoid a reboot by doing the following:

To avoid restarting your computer after Lotus Notes crashes

1. Start Task Manager.
2. Click the Processes tab.
3. In the Image Name column, select nhldaemon.exe.
4. Click End Process.
5. Restart Lotus Notes.

This might work for you.

Update for Version 6.5.2

Lotus Notes 6.5.2 crashed. When I started Lotus Notes again, I received this message:

According to Jeff:

In 6.5.2, if Notes crashes, you have to go into Task Manager and kill a process called "ntaskldr.exe." This is the 6.5.2 version of the "nhldaemon.exe" executable that causes you to get the message that won't let Notes start again after a crash... that or restart.

BTW everyone at the office likes the site.. Notes Sucks.

Then the applcation quit. At least before, I was told to restart my computer.

User Interface Guideline Violations

• Interrupting the user's work flow with a dialog box that should never have a reason to appear.
• Forcing the user to deal with stupidity.

Conclusion

Lotus Notes sucks.

Last Updated: June 2, 2005