jd987
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Outlook 2003 Rebuilds "Personal Folders" Every Time App is Started
I recently transfered my .pst files to a PGP encrypted partition and ever since when Outlook 2003 is started I receive a "Data File Personal Folders is Corrupted Outlook Will Check the File" message. This takes about three minutes after which Outlook starts normally. Any ideas as to how I could resolve this?
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Can you please explain the C grade?
My first suggestion was that the encryption software might be causing the problem, and so we should take it out of the equation. Per your reply it wasn't causing the problem, so there is no reason this suggestion should have been accepted as the solution.
My second recommendation was this:
("If it doesn't go away then I'd recommend opening a new PST file in Outlook (on the encrypted partition) and see if it opens OK. If so import the data from the old PST file")
If this works, it specifically means the PST file is corrupted. The fact that you fixed any PST corruption using scanpst.exe (which sometimes works) instead of using a new PST file (which always works) seems like a matter of preference or style when troubleshooting. I cannot see how you can possibly justify giving this a grade of C. Per your response the diagnosis was correct, the solution would have worked perfectly, you simply decided to use a differnet "style" to fix the corruption.
You do realize neither I nor anyone else here has any obligation to assist you at all? I certainly regret having tried to help you on this problem, and I won't make that mistake again.
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The following information is from https://www.experts-exchange.com/help.jsp#hi73
Although we use an A-D scale here at Experts Exchange, it works differently than, say, school grades. If one or more Experts' proposals are accepted as answers, they should usually be given an A or B grade, since they have taken the time to provide you with a working solution. If a possible solution is incomplete - ask for clarification or details before accepting the answer and grading it. People should not be given lower grades because of incorrect grammar or because you just accepted their answer or comment to close the question. Keep in mind, your question and any follow-up comments should be focused so that there can be a specific answer. The following is a good guideline to follow when grading:
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C: Because Experts' reliability are often judged by their grading records, many Experts would like the opportunity to clarify if you have questions about their solutions. If you have given the Expert(s) ample time to respond to your clarification posts and you have responded to each of their posts providing requested information; or if the answers, after clarification, lack finality or do not completely address the issue presented, then a "C" grade is an option. You also have the option here of just asking Community Support to delete the question.
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Remember, the Expert helping you today is probably going to be helping you next time you post a question. Give them a fair chance to earn an 'Excellent!' grade and they'll provide you with some amazing support. It's also true that a "C" is the lowest grade you can give, and the Experts know that -- so use it judiciously.
My first suggestion was that the encryption software might be causing the problem, and so we should take it out of the equation. Per your reply it wasn't causing the problem, so there is no reason this suggestion should have been accepted as the solution.
My second recommendation was this:
("If it doesn't go away then I'd recommend opening a new PST file in Outlook (on the encrypted partition) and see if it opens OK. If so import the data from the old PST file")
If this works, it specifically means the PST file is corrupted. The fact that you fixed any PST corruption using scanpst.exe (which sometimes works) instead of using a new PST file (which always works) seems like a matter of preference or style when troubleshooting. I cannot see how you can possibly justify giving this a grade of C. Per your response the diagnosis was correct, the solution would have worked perfectly, you simply decided to use a differnet "style" to fix the corruption.
You do realize neither I nor anyone else here has any obligation to assist you at all? I certainly regret having tried to help you on this problem, and I won't make that mistake again.
**************************
The following information is from https://www.experts-exchange.com/help.jsp#hi73
Although we use an A-D scale here at Experts Exchange, it works differently than, say, school grades. If one or more Experts' proposals are accepted as answers, they should usually be given an A or B grade, since they have taken the time to provide you with a working solution. If a possible solution is incomplete - ask for clarification or details before accepting the answer and grading it. People should not be given lower grades because of incorrect grammar or because you just accepted their answer or comment to close the question. Keep in mind, your question and any follow-up comments should be focused so that there can be a specific answer. The following is a good guideline to follow when grading:
.
.
.
C: Because Experts' reliability are often judged by their grading records, many Experts would like the opportunity to clarify if you have questions about their solutions. If you have given the Expert(s) ample time to respond to your clarification posts and you have responded to each of their posts providing requested information; or if the answers, after clarification, lack finality or do not completely address the issue presented, then a "C" grade is an option. You also have the option here of just asking Community Support to delete the question.
.
.
.
Remember, the Expert helping you today is probably going to be helping you next time you post a question. Give them a fair chance to earn an 'Excellent!' grade and they'll provide you with some amazing support. It's also true that a "C" is the lowest grade you can give, and the Experts know that -- so use it judiciously.
ASKER
OK. The grading scheme equates "C" to "Average". I have used EE many times and I simply considered your suggestion to be average in that context. If EE in fact intends "C" to be interpreted as "poor" or otherwise sub-par then I don't understand why they don't so state on the relevant page. I concur with your comment but would observe that scanpst.exe would appear to be the more straightforward solution; it uses a standard Outlook tool and does not require porting or otherwise manipulating files outside of the context of the underlying application. I intended no offence. I am confused by the last two sentnces in your message.
The fact that your post states the problem came after moving the pst file to the encrypted partition means that an obvious step would be to move the PST file off the encrypted partition. You either did not try this before posting or did not mention this in your original post. Additionally, my experience and a search of the internet and all internal resources I have available indicates that the error message you included in quotes may not bebthe actual error message you are receiving. Whie it's possible that it's an error message that has never been reported on the internet, the MS site, or on my troubleshooting tools, but it also may have been summarized from memory, even though including something in quotes indicates that it is verbatim. Finally, because the error message you posted specifically says that the PST file is corrupted, trying to repair the corruption would be an obvious step that someone familiar with troubleshooting Outlook would try before posting this problem.
All of the above combined to make me believe, rightly or wrongly, that you weren't familiar with troubleshooting Outlook. This does not mean that you are, it simply means that is the assumption I was working under. Because running scanpst.exe on an corrupted PST file can damage the PST file to the point where the data is no longer recoverable, and even if it does recover some of the data some of it that is corrupted might be deleted, it is absolutely essential to make a copy of the PST file prior to running this utility. In my experience, there is a significant chance that scanpst.exe will not repair the file, either at all or completely. Therefore importing or manually moving the data from the old PST file to a new file is often required.
When working thru email (or thru this site) with someone who I think might be inexperienced at this type of problem, as compared to working with them on the phone, rather than directing them copy the PST file somewhere, locate scanpst.exe, explain how to run it, then explain what will occur if it is unsuccessful, then describe the steps to take if it was not successful, I often just go directly to the "sure thing" solution.
So, in my opinion you provided an average (at best) description of the problem, to which I replied with two suggestions, one of which accurately identified the problem and described a totally reliable solution. The fact that you disagree that the solution I provided was the most "straightforward" is a matter of opinion, and I find you characterizing my solution as "average" and worthy only of a C, not because it is wrong, but because you disagree it to be the most optimal solution, to be insulting.
The fact that you chose not to apply the solution I suggested, instead using a solution you decided to be better, means that you should not be given a low grade simply so you can close the question. Perhaps you think a "charity" C added to someones grade history will be appreciated, but the site rules which you are required to agree to to use this site say not to do this, and if you are experienced with the way this site works (which your history suggests you are) then you would normally be aware of that from past experience.
The last two sentances in my reply mean that the people who help you here are not employees of experts exchange, they are simply members just like you. They have no requirement to help you in any way. The only compensation for helping other users is the ranking on the site, and the points I receive or don't receive on this specific question will have no impact on my ranking in the Outlook forum. I'm not trying to make myself out as some Mother Teresa out to save the world, but I am trying to help others just because I think it is fun (or supposed to be fun). And I will freely admit I like the challenge, it helps me expand my knowledge and keep my skills honed. I'm not asking you to send me flowers or post gushing messages of thanks for trying to help, I just don't expect you to slap a C on my only post on this thread without giving me any chance to reply, and then when I object, to have you categorize my suggested solution as "average". Every user here can see your scoring history just by clicking on your user name, and I make it a point not to assist other members who are giving out C's, especially when they don't seem to be warranted in any way like this one. It's simply not worth the frustration to do so.
All of the above combined to make me believe, rightly or wrongly, that you weren't familiar with troubleshooting Outlook. This does not mean that you are, it simply means that is the assumption I was working under. Because running scanpst.exe on an corrupted PST file can damage the PST file to the point where the data is no longer recoverable, and even if it does recover some of the data some of it that is corrupted might be deleted, it is absolutely essential to make a copy of the PST file prior to running this utility. In my experience, there is a significant chance that scanpst.exe will not repair the file, either at all or completely. Therefore importing or manually moving the data from the old PST file to a new file is often required.
When working thru email (or thru this site) with someone who I think might be inexperienced at this type of problem, as compared to working with them on the phone, rather than directing them copy the PST file somewhere, locate scanpst.exe, explain how to run it, then explain what will occur if it is unsuccessful, then describe the steps to take if it was not successful, I often just go directly to the "sure thing" solution.
So, in my opinion you provided an average (at best) description of the problem, to which I replied with two suggestions, one of which accurately identified the problem and described a totally reliable solution. The fact that you disagree that the solution I provided was the most "straightforward" is a matter of opinion, and I find you characterizing my solution as "average" and worthy only of a C, not because it is wrong, but because you disagree it to be the most optimal solution, to be insulting.
The fact that you chose not to apply the solution I suggested, instead using a solution you decided to be better, means that you should not be given a low grade simply so you can close the question. Perhaps you think a "charity" C added to someones grade history will be appreciated, but the site rules which you are required to agree to to use this site say not to do this, and if you are experienced with the way this site works (which your history suggests you are) then you would normally be aware of that from past experience.
The last two sentances in my reply mean that the people who help you here are not employees of experts exchange, they are simply members just like you. They have no requirement to help you in any way. The only compensation for helping other users is the ranking on the site, and the points I receive or don't receive on this specific question will have no impact on my ranking in the Outlook forum. I'm not trying to make myself out as some Mother Teresa out to save the world, but I am trying to help others just because I think it is fun (or supposed to be fun). And I will freely admit I like the challenge, it helps me expand my knowledge and keep my skills honed. I'm not asking you to send me flowers or post gushing messages of thanks for trying to help, I just don't expect you to slap a C on my only post on this thread without giving me any chance to reply, and then when I object, to have you categorize my suggested solution as "average". Every user here can see your scoring history just by clicking on your user name, and I make it a point not to assist other members who are giving out C's, especially when they don't seem to be warranted in any way like this one. It's simply not worth the frustration to do so.
ASKER