Outlook Express folder "in use" ????
 

This has only started happening in the past week or so.
XP Home. SP2.
I regularly 'compact' all folders in Outlook Express and it has always worked quickly and smoothly.
Recently however, I have been getting an error message., see attachment.
By experimenting with individual folders, I have narrowed it down to the 'Deleted Items' folder. Even when the folder is emptied then compacted this error message flags up.:dunce:

Re: Outlook Express folder "in use" ????
 

Have you tried looking in task manager to see what else is running that might be accessing the files?

Re: Outlook Express folder "in use" ????
 

Try clicking

File > Work Offline

Before compacting

Re: Outlook Express folder "in use" ????
 

I did have a look, nothing obvious,
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No joy, still does it :confused:

Re: Outlook Express folder "in use" ????
 

Is Outlook set to check mail when it first opens, or when every few minutes?

Do you have AV running?
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Also might want to try the following:

Click File > Work Offline.
In the Folder list, click on Outlook Express at the very top of the list.
Click View > Layout and turn off the Folder list (or click the Folder button if you have added it to the toolbar.
Then click File > Folder > Compact All Folders.

If an error occurs, close OE, wait a few seconds for the disk to stop, then open and go through the process again. If the same error occurs, the folder that stops compaction is damaged and should be replaced.

Move all items out of that folder into another temp folder, then delete the original folder and compact all again. If the folder is one of the OE default folders (Inbox, Outbox, Sent Items, Drafts), close OE and manually delete the <foldername>.dbx file for the problem folder.
OE will create a new one automatically when you re-open OE. Then compact all again.

Re: Outlook Express folder "in use" ????
 

I don't have OE set to check messages, I always run mailwasher first, then manually download messages. My AV is the same one I have used for almost 8 years and was updated several months ago.
The only program that sends out periodic e-mails automatically is Visualzone to the GShield web site, have tried it with that disabled and it still does it. It does not seem to be causing any other problems but you know how annoying things like this can be.;)

Re: Outlook Express folder "in use" ????
 

What about the instructions in the second bit of the post? Any luck?

Re: Outlook Express folder "in use" ????
 

Corruptions can occur at any time that will cause something to alter in the way it operates for no apparent reason and with no visible sign of change.
I was going to post about AVs etc but Raist beat me to it lol Try using msconfig to stop the av from loading at start up and see if anything changes.

Re: Outlook Express folder "in use" ????
 

TBH it sounds like the deleted items folder is corrupted. Replacing it might sort things out.

Re: Outlook Express folder "in use" ????
 

Got it in one, deleted the 'Deleted' and all is now fine , thanks guys.:tu:

Re: Outlook Express folder "in use" ????
 

YaY!!

Glad you're sorted :)