This is for my customer; I fix PCs for a living. I have never personally done an Outlook Archive. I use Outlook Express on my Office PC, not Outlook. Please note there are TWO questions below.
MS phone support said if Outlook 2007 PST files are over 5 GB, problems will intermitently occur like opening Outlook and getting a message that Outlook is repairing the Outlook data file with a progress bar; occasionally much worse, it says it can NOT repair it and then we are in big trouble. Also there is lower performance and sometimes long delays.
The solution recommended by MS phone support was to Archive enough stuff to reduce the PST file to below 5 GB. MY customer did that.
THE PROBLEM IS AFTER THE ARCHIVE, THE OUTLOOK.PST FILE IS THE SAME SIZE IT WAS TO START WITH 8.5 GB. (Note: The Archive.pst file is 3.5 GB meaning he did not do enough BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT I AM ASKING ABOUT HERE).
QUESTION: THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE OUTLOOK.PST FILE BY THE SIZE OF THE ARCHIVE.PST FILE (APPROXIMATELY).
Is the answer that Archive DELETES (i,.e moves the archived emails into the Deleted Items folder) AND THAT DOES NOT REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE OUTLOOK.PST FILE UNTIL MY CUSTOMER ***EMPTIES THE DELETED ITEMS FOLDER***
PLEASE CONFIRM THAT THE ABOVE IS THE CORRECT ANSWER
or
Provide another answer to reduce the size of the Outlook.pst file thru Archiving.
NOTE; The following is an Unacceptable answer. "Go to the deleted Items folder and check if all the archived items are there. If they are,. Empty the Deleted Items folder" It is Unacceptable because I am providing a solution by email and phone (as I am leaving for a trip and can NOT return onsite to check this and my customer leaves for Russia in 2 days). AND MY CUSTOMER WILL NOT TAKE THE TIME TO DO THIS CHECK. He pays me to provide accurrate answers; he has no time or interest in DOING MY JOB. He wants me to provide a reliable solution.
IMPORTANT: Do not reply to either question here UNLESS YOU ARE 100% SURE MEANING YOU PERSONALLY HAVE ARCHIVED (Outlook 2003 or 2007) AND NOTICED THAT THE ARCHIVED ITEMS GOT MOVED TO THE DELETED ITEMS FOLDER
or
Provide a link to a MS web site that says that (AND YOU ARE UNLIKELY TO FIND IT; THE MS OUTLOOK 2003 ARCHIVE HELP FILE IS EXTREMELY VAGUE ON THIS ISSUE).
(2) THERE IS A 2ND QUESTION.
Over time my customer will want to Archive again when the Outlook.pst file again gets over 5 GB. He will choose a date for the Archving to begin later in time (more recent).
QUESTION: DOES THAT CREATE DUPLICATES IN THE ARCHIVE.PST FILE OF ALL THE ITEMS HE ARCHIVED THE FIRST TIME. Note: The MS Outlook Archive Help file does not show a choice for DO NOT CREATE DUPLICATES like the Outlook Import Function does. So Archive must be "smart" enough to know that it makes no sense to create duplicates.
AGAIN NO GUESSING HERE. IF YOU ARE NOT 100% SURE THRU DOING OUTOOK ARCHIVES (EITHER 2003 OR 2007) or have a link to a MS article do NOT REPLY TO THIS POST.
Mike
