Outlook Express Compact Folders

BarGin

Can anyone help please? We have a machine running Windows XP and not much else which is mainly used for sending/receiving emails a lot of which come with quite large attachments.

The problem is the machine is now running short of hard disk space. We have deleted lots of messages in Outlook Express but are unable to compact the folders because because of the space shortage!

I have tried copying the OE dbx files to another machine which wasn't using its copy of OE with the intention of compacting them there. This started off OK but it now keeps stopping because the folder is in use by OE or another application (or words to that effect).

I have Googled but not come up with much. Have tried re-starting and even tried compacting in safe mode to no avail.

Any more suggestions please?

BarGin

Chippy_Minton

Try to free up some disk space first. Download https://www.ccleaner.com (when you install it untick the Yahoo toolbar if you don't want that) and run the Cleaner.

Also delete all but the last system restore point (if you are happy that you won't need to go back to them) by doing this: click Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Cleanup. Tick all the options on the Disc Cleanup tab (most should show 0KB after being deleted by CCleaner). On the More Options tab, click Clean Up under System Restore, click Yes and then OK.

BarGin

Thanks Chippy (button not working for me at the moment). That freed up enough space to run the compact process on the original machine but still getting the error message half way through - about the folder being in use.

Can't seem to get beyond that.

BarGin

Chippy_Minton

Try this: In OE, click View - Layout and make sure Folder List is ticked. Next, click File - Work Offline. Click on Outlook Express at the top of the folder list and now try to compact. If you still get the error message, close down OE and repeat these steps. If still no joy, restart your computer and try the steps again.

albertross_2

You could also try compressing some folders.

BarGin

Just had another go following all the suggestions. All the folders can be compacted except the inbox (it's file size is approx. 1.5GB!). So I can only assume it must be corrupted.

Thanks for all the replies.

BarGin