How do I delete messages stuck in my outbox?

Hello computertekkie,

What Outlook are you using?  What PST file are you using?

if using Outlook 2002 or before, Repair a 2GB Outlook Personal Folder - PST2GB
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=B33B1DFF-6F50-411D-BBDF-82019DDA602E&displaylang=en


Hope this helps!
war1

As war1 said the above should work to repair your .pst -tried and tested.

In additon, I've seen this error before when trying to delete a large message from a .pst- what worked was turning off the preview pane as it tries to access the first message and fails. Then you should be able to SHIFT + DELETE then messages you want to remove.

I'm running Outlook 2002.  I've run the PST2GB file and now have outlook (data file) and the repair file as well.  Not sure what to do now.  

Backup the original PST file. Put the edited PST file in its original location. Then open Outlook and test if you still have message stuck in Outbox after hitting send/receive.

Can you delete the message once it is stuck in Outbox.

I've backed up my data file "outlook.pst", left the original in the original location and still messages in my outbox.  NOW, I did change where the email accounts were pointing (created an Outlook 2007 data file), and that moved the messages in the Outbox, but did not delete them.  Of course, I also lost all my personal folders at the same time, so I changed the email settings back and the messages reappeared!

If a message is stuck in Outbox, you need to create a new PST file and drag the other emails into the new PST file.

Create a new PST file.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/829971

Then drag all the emails and contacts addresses to the new PST file.
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?ID=52

I am not able to move any emails.  Error message:  The messaging interface has encountered an error."

You cannot move the emails from Inbox and Sent folder?

Did you use the outlook.pst after it ran through PST2GB utility?

Yes, but I get the same error message if I try to move, copy, delete.

have you tried creating a new pst and then import from the corrupt pst to the new pst.  I know this can be done in office 2003 so it may work in older versions.  look under file import/export and follow the prompts.  We have done this on hundreds of corrupt pst's and have a 99% success rate.

Any luck with this? I read back your comments after you repaired your pst- did you open the recovered pst? You state you left the original where it was, and the messages were still stuck in your outlook. You should be able to repair you pst, as per links and comments above, open the repaired data file (not the original), create a completely new pst, open that as well, and move some emails from the repaired to the new one, to share the load.

Where are you with this?