Does anyone here know a lot about OUTLOOK Express...?

[PhotobearSam]

I work with outlook express everyday, and it keeps asking me if I would like to compact my messages everytime I close the program. I have deleted 2/3 of all my emails and it still asks me that everyday.

HOW DO I MAKE IT STOP???

I don't want to compact my emails...I don't even know what this means ...Can anyone help this hopelessly confused Computer gal???

Thanks

 

[Wishing on a star]

Okay, this little demonstration may not be perfectly correct. And it is very simplistic for sure. But, I would let it 'compact'. Here is why.

Even though you have deleted many messages, this just leaves a lot of holes in your memory space. So, if each dash is part of a message, it would look like this. Imagine the line below is your allocated memory space.

Before deleting-
[-----------------------------------------------------------------------]

After deleting-
[- - - ----- - ---- -- - -- ----- - --- -- ---- - - ----]

See, a lot of jumbled unused space for the computer to work around. It has to go around looking through all the holes to find space for new messages.

Go ahead and let it 'compact'.
Then it will look like this, leaving large amounts of free-space

[------------------------- ]

(sorry, the boards delete extra 'spaces' so this doesn't look exactly right. But you can still get the idea.)

 

[PhotobearSam]

So it does nothing to the email I still have on there?

If so, I will let it compact...


Thanks a million...

 

[horseshowmom]

Thanks for asking that question. Mine has been doing the same thing. Why has it just started doing that recently (considering I've had OE for years)?

I'll be compacting mine too now, so it will stop asking. I was leary of it since it seemed to be out of the blue.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I've compacted mine for years, no problems! I chose to do it now and again too without it asking by going to "File", then down to "Folders".

 

[eeyoreiscool]

I think there is a spot in the preferences area of Outlook that will ask you if you want it compacted on a regular basis or not. I use the full version of Outlook and will turn of the auto archive and something else like it when I have to reload it.

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/athome/communication/outlook.aspx

 

[PhotobearSam]

Thanks a bunch...I did it...Now I know and knowing is half the battle, now the question is "How do I handle the other half...???"

 

[Disney Doll]

My OE automatically compacts for me. It doesn't even ask my permission.

I guess DH must have set it up that way, because I'd certainly have no idea how to do it!!!!!

Compacting doesn't make you "lose" anything, just squishes it together more so that it takes up less space.

Wishing's illustration using the dots and dashes is the best explanantion of it I have seen.