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Outlook folder size not accurate. Help!

We run an exchange server here at work, all clients are XP pro and use Office 2003.

We just upgraded a user from windows 2000, to XP pro with office 2003.
I imported her old .pst file (containing LOCAL personal folders) from outlook 2000, into her new outlook 2003.

She is now getting messages from the exchange server saying "overlimit" etc.. It looks as if the exchange server is counting this .pst file towards her allocated limit?
I went to her PC and checked her total folder size. It said "total=167 meg." However, it only showed 7meg being used when you added all the invididual folders up. That is what makes no sense. Her inbox, sent, deleted, junk all only add up to 7meg total. Why is total size 167 meg?

So I "closed" the 2 personal folders that were added when I imported the .pst file.
Size remained 167meg for her entire mailbox. I then did a search for all .pst files on her hard drive and deleted them. Still, the size of her mailbox remains 167meg.

Is it showing 167 meg because of the initial import of her old .pst file? How do I remedy this situation? I know she does not have 167 meg of mail stored in the exchange server. I think me importing the old *.pst file is the cause of this.

Thanks in advance

jaguarpriest

It looks like you simply imported this information into her Active Mailbox on the exchange server. If there are limits set on the server it triggered it. When you Right Click on Outlook Today icon and then click on properties, and then click on folder size, what does that say. What folder does it report 167MB. try this.

It will list all the folders and their approprieat size.

Jaguar

Lets start with that and then we'll move on.

Jaguar

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ASKER

folder size says 167mb. That was what I had done, right clicked the outlook today.
Total size was 167meg. Below that number, it listed each folder individually. However, when you added them all up it didnt equal 167 meg. It equaled 7meg.
Thanks

jaguarpriest

OK. it sounds like you imported all the message to the "TOP of the information store" this means that they are in the actual "Outlook Today Folder" Folder. Go to Advanced find and search for anything in the Outlook today folder and check of the "Search subfolders" check box. Ensure you highlighted the outlook today folder. Everything you'll find can't be seen in outlook by itself. When you click on outlook today in outlook it displays tasks, calender stuff etc... it won't display the messages underneath. Best of luck.

Jaguar

If you need clearer instructions, let me know :)

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ASKER

Thanks. I sifted through all of the folders and am sure none of them contain 600meg plus. It may be where you say it is.

How do I search the outlook today folder for things?? What is the file type I am looking for?

Will reinstalling outlook fix this?
Thanks

dissolved

ASKER

anyone? This lady is going to kill me lol. She car-pools with my boss everyday.

SOLUTION

mark-wa

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ASKER

I will try that tomorrow mark, thanks

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ASKER

I do have another question though.
if you "import" pst files into someones outlook, it counts against their allowed size limit they can have per mailbox? (in an exchange server anyway). Is that correct? That's what I was told anyway. I was also told you have to use the database manager to add .pst files, this way it doesnt count against their over all size of the mailbox.

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jaguarpriest

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ASKER

Found the problem.

User copied one of her personal folders, to the "outlook today" root. When you highlight the "outlook today", it displays all of the email. Deleted it, problem fixed.
Thanks