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Can't See or Access Contents of Mail Folders Randomly
I have a user whose previous PC was sluggish (in general), so I updated him with a relatively new model (Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB HDD, 256 MB Video Card). His email was server-based, but was using Outlook's cached exchange mode on his old PC. He has a very large Mailbox (7,701,304 KB & 119,804 Total Items), which is probably why he was using cached mode.
However, his new PC Outlook is setup to access his email through the standard, server-based ost (not cached exchange mode). This may be the cause for his problem (Can't See or Access Contents of Mail Folders Randomly). It affects folders randomly (possibly due to a mailbox store or memory cache maximum size being reached...?) The temporary workaround is to have him close Outlook and re-open it. After that, he can access those folders.
Is there a best fix for this that avoids the cached mode, or is that the only fix?
(As you are probably guessing, the user would not be willing to archive or separate his mail into a pst file, and can veto those suggestions.)
However, his new PC Outlook is setup to access his email through the standard, server-based ost (not cached exchange mode). This may be the cause for his problem (Can't See or Access Contents of Mail Folders Randomly). It affects folders randomly (possibly due to a mailbox store or memory cache maximum size being reached...?) The temporary workaround is to have him close Outlook and re-open it. After that, he can access those folders.
Is there a best fix for this that avoids the cached mode, or is that the only fix?
(As you are probably guessing, the user would not be willing to archive or separate his mail into a pst file, and can veto those suggestions.)
OutlookExchange
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catastrophic-failure
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ASKER
As an update:
The Backup Exec 12 backup is running successfully, with no errors on any of our accounts.
I went ahead and deleted the profile. Once recreated, Outlook continued to have the error with the same temporary solution of closing and re-opening Outlook.
The user will be testing the system through OWA, but only by using it to move emails between folders. His Outlook email address history (nk2 file) is extremely important to him.
The Backup Exec 12 backup is running successfully, with no errors on any of our accounts.
I went ahead and deleted the profile. Once recreated, Outlook continued to have the error with the same temporary solution of closing and re-opening Outlook.
The user will be testing the system through OWA, but only by using it to move emails between folders. His Outlook email address history (nk2 file) is extremely important to him.
ASKER
Additional update:
When Outlook folders are inaccessible, the OWA folders are still working properly.
This leads me to think that Exchange is fine and that Outlook 2003 SP3 (up-to-date) as the culprit. Problem is, I doubt that any other version of Outlook, or doing a repair on Outlook, will fix the problem.
I am still working in normal mode (not cached mode). I could use another suggestion...
When Outlook folders are inaccessible, the OWA folders are still working properly.
This leads me to think that Exchange is fine and that Outlook 2003 SP3 (up-to-date) as the culprit. Problem is, I doubt that any other version of Outlook, or doing a repair on Outlook, will fix the problem.
I am still working in normal mode (not cached mode). I could use another suggestion...
Have you tried a repair on Outlook? I think it's certainly worth a try.
Do you use roaming profiles? Have you tried having the user access their mailbox from another machine>?
Do you use roaming profiles? Have you tried having the user access their mailbox from another machine>?
ASKER
I was waiting for that (the repair). It's fairly amazing that Outlook could become damaged with just a couple of days of use, and immediately after being fully updated. I will try that tomorrow.
We do not use roaming profiles.
Yes, he has used Outlook on his older machine and a laptop (both using cached mode) and with only slowness as an issue. (By the way, it was that slowness that caused him to buy a new computer.)
We do not use roaming profiles.
Yes, he has used Outlook on his older machine and a laptop (both using cached mode) and with only slowness as an issue. (By the way, it was that slowness that caused him to buy a new computer.)
ASKER
Update #4
Ran the repair (completed successfully).
Re-checked the update site (no updates needed).
Tried to move some items out of the mailbox after creating a pst on a network drive. Was able to move a specific type of item into it (emails without attachments). Could not move contacts, deleted appointments, nor emails with attachments into the new data file. I was able to move about 11 MB (not GB), but it was moderately time-consuming due to his Deleted Item folder not being searchable (likely related to the other issues) -- I could only sort by attachment or type of item.
After 45 minutes of use, Outlook has not had the standard error, but I expect that within the next couple of hours, it will have the error -- no update for that, just assume it errors, and I'll close the thread if it works properly. More ideas are needed.
Ran the repair (completed successfully).
Re-checked the update site (no updates needed).
Tried to move some items out of the mailbox after creating a pst on a network drive. Was able to move a specific type of item into it (emails without attachments). Could not move contacts, deleted appointments, nor emails with attachments into the new data file. I was able to move about 11 MB (not GB), but it was moderately time-consuming due to his Deleted Item folder not being searchable (likely related to the other issues) -- I could only sort by attachment or type of item.
After 45 minutes of use, Outlook has not had the standard error, but I expect that within the next couple of hours, it will have the error -- no update for that, just assume it errors, and I'll close the thread if it works properly. More ideas are needed.
ASKER
Update #5
As expected, the error recurred about 15 minutes after the post. Is there anything else that can make it work in non-cached mode?
As expected, the error recurred about 15 minutes after the post. Is there anything else that can make it work in non-cached mode?
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ASKER
Update #6
Setting up a new PC with XP SP3 and Office 2003 only to test whether the system is having any issues with other programs and/or hardware. I'm currently trying to correct a problem with MS Update on this, new PC.
Setting up a new PC with XP SP3 and Office 2003 only to test whether the system is having any issues with other programs and/or hardware. I'm currently trying to correct a problem with MS Update on this, new PC.
ASKER
Update #7
The user made a request (or you're fired... j/k) to switch off his old computer and set his first new computer into cached mode. So, over the weekend, I ran that computer with him logged-in and Outlook running in cached mode to give it time to sync.
It is currently running okay (with the expected, several second lag) in cached mode. I'd like to keep it off cached mode, but since it's working, I won't change it until I get his second new computer up and running properly. I will provide another update when I've got updates running and have tried it out.
The new computer effectively tries the new Windows profile suggestion. I've also asked him to look through his folders for any with >3,000 items in them, and to sub-divide any that do. If that doesn't work, I'll hunt for an appropriate command line switch (or switches) to try.
The user made a request (or you're fired... j/k) to switch off his old computer and set his first new computer into cached mode. So, over the weekend, I ran that computer with him logged-in and Outlook running in cached mode to give it time to sync.
It is currently running okay (with the expected, several second lag) in cached mode. I'd like to keep it off cached mode, but since it's working, I won't change it until I get his second new computer up and running properly. I will provide another update when I've got updates running and have tried it out.
The new computer effectively tries the new Windows profile suggestion. I've also asked him to look through his folders for any with >3,000 items in them, and to sub-divide any that do. If that doesn't work, I'll hunt for an appropriate command line switch (or switches) to try.
ASKER
Update #8
Still working okay in cached mode. The new PC is still having trouble with updates. Microsoft has my trouble ticket and isn't moving fast, so this may drag out for another week...
Still working okay in cached mode. The new PC is still having trouble with updates. Microsoft has my trouble ticket and isn't moving fast, so this may drag out for another week...
ASKER
The new computer is working fine, but I still haven't added extra applications. I will start with EndPoint Protection... we'll see if Symantec is a problem.
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Getting some troubling issues in Outlook since adding EndPoint Protection. I'm planning to remove E.P. and finish installing his other apps. After a short test period of a few days, I'll decide on an anti-virus app to install...
(Off topic)
ThinkSmartInc-
I don't entirely disagree. I've been disappointed with Symantec's anti-virus apps in the past. On the plus side, I do think EndPoint Protection is a better app than any of their previous pure anti-virus apps on system resource use (for a decent computer).
P.S.-You're in for partial points if the E.P. was the problem :^)
(Off topic)
ThinkSmartInc-
I don't entirely disagree. I've been disappointed with Symantec's anti-virus apps in the past. On the plus side, I do think EndPoint Protection is a better app than any of their previous pure anti-virus apps on system resource use (for a decent computer).
P.S.-You're in for partial points if the E.P. was the problem :^)
ASKER
Sorry about the delay on points, but adding and testing applications one-by-one takes some time. I did get it up and stable on the newest computer, once I took EndPoint Protection off.
It's possible that the mailbox is corrupt. Any errors on backup? Another possibility is that his Outlook profile is corrupt.
Deleting and recreating the Outlook profile is the easiest thing to try. However, if you're getting errors on the backup trying to access his mailbox, then his mailbox is probably corrupt. In which case, one solution would be to export his mailbox using exmerge, delete then recreate the mailbox, and reimport the mail.