In earlier versions of Microsoft Outlook, users could right-click an Outlook desktop icon and then click Properties, allowing them to create e-mail accounts, change profiles, and so on.

Problem

So that Microsoft Office Outlook® 2003 complies with Microsoft Windows XP certification requirements, the desktop icon is not installed with Outlook. Users can access the Properties option by clicking Start and then right-clicking the Outlook icon, or by double-clicking Mail in Control Panel.

Solution

To re-create the Microsoft Outlook desktop add a registry key.

1. On the Add/Remove Registry Entries page in the Custom Installation Wizard or the Custom Maintenance Wizard, click Add.
2. On the Add/Modify Registry Entry page, complete the fields to create a new registry key:

Root: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Data type: REG_SZ
Key: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}

3. Select the Create empty key check box.
4. Click OK.

Source

• https://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ork2003/HA011840101033.aspx