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OE folder size is not reduced

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10 replies

by rohintonsc

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I am using Winxp sp2 home edition with Outlook Express 6. After deleting mails from Inbox, Sent Items and Deleted Items folder, mails from these folders cannot be seen (which is right) but the size of inbox, sent items and deleted items.dbx files are not reduced. It stays the same. How can i reduce it.

10 replies

by bfilmfan

You will have to manually compact the PST. Steps are detailed below:

PST Compaction

1. On the File menu, click Data File Management.

2. Click to select your Personal Folder, and then click Settings.

3. On the General tab, click Compact Now.

4. Click OK, and then click Close.

by rohintonsc

It is for Outlook Express. You have given me the solution for MS Outlook. I shall keep your procedure in mind. Thanks for the input.

by hyoi

Unfortunately the previous answer won't do much for you since you are using OE, and the suggestion he is giving is for Outlook. Granted it is the right thing to do in Outlook, but...
Anyhow, my first suggestion would be to verify your OE pathing. Since Windows uses the wonderfully specific GUID to describe each possible account it is possible that you are in the wrong directory for your current account.

by rohintonsc

I have changed the store folder from the normal path and am using it in D:\Mails. Could it be due to the change of the store folder? Have not tried it though as the folder size are huge. Thanks

by etoile

My response is similar to Answer 1, but is specific to Outlook Express.

Select the FILE drop-down menu, select FOLDER and then COMPACT ALL FOLDERS.

That should do it.

by etoile

You need to do as answer 2 suggests as well. There may be several sets of OE mail folders on your system, and though what I suggest WILL compact your folders, you may not be looking at the set of OE folders your profile accesses, and you will not therefore observe any reduction in file size unless you are looking at the right ones!

by rohintonsc

No luck by compacting folders either. re-installed OE6 with SP1. loaded msg, but finally same prob. Thanks

by thechas

How big are the files?

My smallest DBX file is 59K with 3 messages in it.

Even with no messages, a DBX file will not drop to zero bytes.

Windows Explorer may not show the new smaller file size until OE is closed after moving and deleting messages.

My OE file path is:

C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{a string}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

If have Explorer set to show hidden and system files.

There is a bug in OE that can cause DBX files to remain large in size after being emptied. But, I thought the bug was limited to the deleted items folder. When I had this problem, my deleted items DBX file stayed at 5MB no matter what.

One fix for the file storage bug is to move your DBX files to a different folder and then Import your messages back into OE.

Chas

by hyoi

Please don't take this as I'm trying to insult your intelligence, but have you verified from within OE what your path is? The easiest way that I know of for doing that is to select your inbox, and then hit alt+enter. This should give your the properties of the account and where the account is stored. As I said, I'm not doubting your intelligence or ability, but I have done more than a few things that have caused me to doubt my own sanity and ability.

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