Error in registry for extension "Exchange Extensions;?

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Microsoft Office Outlook
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Error in registry for extension "Exchange Extensions;?". The syntax or format of the registry entry is incorrect. Check the registry settings and compare the registry for this extension to other extensions in the registry.

Some fine day my Outlook 2003 denied to start with the above error message. Either starting it in Safe Mode did not helped. Finally I have to use the ultimate google for rescue and got numerous links for handling htis problem. Almost all of them asked me to either delete "Exchange Extensions" registry key or set to a specific value. Nothing worked for me and my outlook was consistently not opening, to be specific it hangs.
At the end I opened "Control Panel->Add Remove Programs", clicked on "Microsoft Office Standard Edition 2003" entry and clicked on Change->Repair.  After it was over I started my outlook and it asked for "Detect and Repair" which I allowed him to go ahead 'patiently'. Once that is done I was able to open my Outlook successfully.

On the other hand I am not sure why did it occured however my guess is because of some software I installed which also installed the outlook extension and in that course it corrupted the outlook registry.