mtbound811
asked on
Reset Outlook Express Compact Check Count
I am running Outlook 2003 and am getting an annoying pop up to compress Outlook Express files every time I open Outlook. I located the following resolution which partially solved the issue.
The compact function runs every 100th time OE is closed. There is no way to disable this function. You set allow the function to run without prompting you.
Go to: Start>Run>Regedit>Enter and follow this path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identiti
In the right pane right click on the appropriate entry and enable the key.
I entered a number one to enable the key, but the compact dialog box still showed up. I was successful in resetting the Compact Check Count to 0 which stopped the dialog box from popping up.
What I would like to be able to do now is run a batch file on login that resets the following key to 0.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identiti
Express\5.0\Compact Check Count
Not sure how or if the batch file can be created or if there is a better solution.
The compact function runs every 100th time OE is closed. There is no way to disable this function. You set allow the function to run without prompting you.
Go to: Start>Run>Regedit>Enter and follow this path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identiti
In the right pane right click on the appropriate entry and enable the key.
I entered a number one to enable the key, but the compact dialog box still showed up. I was successful in resetting the Compact Check Count to 0 which stopped the dialog box from popping up.
What I would like to be able to do now is run a batch file on login that resets the following key to 0.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identiti
Express\5.0\Compact Check Count
Not sure how or if the batch file can be created or if there is a better solution.
ASKER
Well the second link was closer than the first, but no solution to the issue other than Microsoft is looking into it.
The PC is running XP Pro SP3. IE is disabled as a component. The PC runs in a SBS 2008 domain with Exchange 2007 as the mail source. Outlook 2003 is the mail client.
So far, the only way I have been able to work around the pop up has been to reset the Compact Check Count in the registry as also mentioned in the first link in your comment.
Thanks for the input, stil looking for a solution.
The PC is running XP Pro SP3. IE is disabled as a component. The PC runs in a SBS 2008 domain with Exchange 2007 as the mail source. Outlook 2003 is the mail client.
So far, the only way I have been able to work around the pop up has been to reset the Compact Check Count in the registry as also mentioned in the first link in your comment.
Thanks for the input, stil looking for a solution.
ASKER
Opps, clarifcation note. Outlook Express is disabled as a component. Browser is IE 7.
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ASKER
It has been longer than expected to be able to get back into the clients PC and check the registry. Disabling Windos Desktop Search did stop the OE counter, so that did resolve the issue. I wish MSFT would send an update toresolve this unfortunate and reoccuring issue.
mtbound811--What was the solution?
ASKER
Disabling Windows Desktop Seach in services.
mtbound811--Yes, that is why I suggested it might be the culprit in the first post after yours at the top. See the Open Discussion at the end of the link I provided https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/23771901/How-do-I-prevent-Outlook-Express-from-asking-to-compact-messages-on-Windows-XP-start-up-i-don't-use-Outlook-Express.html
ASKER
Sorry about that, I was still looking for a way to resolve the issue and allow users to continue using Windows Desktop Search, but Microsoft seems to have hosed that capability for now.
Surely there is a way of accessing the correct key and resetting it via script. The long guid type number is a pain because it means I can't just create a key and merge it in via script.
ASKER
It would be nice, for now I am creating a registry merge file with the relevant guid for problem PC's and leaving it in the C Drive for quick resolution down the road or just running the merge if I happen tto be in the PC. I'd still perfer something I could automate, or better yet, Microsoft fix it.
Simon.
>>> "The long guid type number is a pain because it means I can't just create a key and merge it in via script" <<<
Yes you can create a *.reg file very easily, but you have to specify that "long GUID" or else your script will not know what key to write the data value into.
There is no "correct key" if you are just referring to some universal registry key that contains this counter setting for all users. The long GUID number is what identifies each user's Outlook Express profile, so it is necessary to know which number relates to which identity. That's why, in the explanations on the various linked pages, the registry key containing it is under HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
Of course, the settings for other user profiles on that computer are stored in the HKEY_USERS key under a key named with another equally long number like this:
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-527237
Note that "-1003" at the end of the hyphen-separated numbers? That tells you that the user whose settings are stored in that key is a standard user rather than the Administrator account or any of the other "system" accounts.
Each of those keys will have a mirror of what would be in the relevant key containing the Outlook Express "counter" value if viewed under the HKEY_CURRENT_USER key.
So,
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identiti
Express\5.0
is mirrored by this key:
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-527237
You can reset the counter there for each of the user profiles using a script in just the same way as you did to the value under the HKEY_CURRENT_USER key. Applying a change to the HKEY_USERS key is not always transferred to the CURRENT_USER key for the currently logged on user until the system is rebooted. Obviously for others the change is apparent when they log into their own user profile that has had its registry changed.
>>> "The long guid type number is a pain because it means I can't just create a key and merge it in via script" <<<
Yes you can create a *.reg file very easily, but you have to specify that "long GUID" or else your script will not know what key to write the data value into.
There is no "correct key" if you are just referring to some universal registry key that contains this counter setting for all users. The long GUID number is what identifies each user's Outlook Express profile, so it is necessary to know which number relates to which identity. That's why, in the explanations on the various linked pages, the registry key containing it is under HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
Of course, the settings for other user profiles on that computer are stored in the HKEY_USERS key under a key named with another equally long number like this:
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-527237
Note that "-1003" at the end of the hyphen-separated numbers? That tells you that the user whose settings are stored in that key is a standard user rather than the Administrator account or any of the other "system" accounts.
Each of those keys will have a mirror of what would be in the relevant key containing the Outlook Express "counter" value if viewed under the HKEY_CURRENT_USER key.
So,
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identiti
Express\5.0
is mirrored by this key:
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-527237
You can reset the counter there for each of the user profiles using a script in just the same way as you did to the value under the HKEY_CURRENT_USER key. Applying a change to the HKEY_USERS key is not always transferred to the CURRENT_USER key for the currently logged on user until the system is rebooted. Obviously for others the change is apparent when they log into their own user profile that has had its registry changed.
Thanks, guys, I get that but what I am after is a way to script it for all users. I guess I would need to query for the GUID of the current user and then use that to construct the key change.
These two references wander around a bit but may help. Note the possibility that Windows Search 4may cause the problem.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/23771901/How-do-I-prevent-Outlook-Express-from-asking-to-compact-messages-on-Windows-XP-start-up-i-don't-use-Outlook-Express.html
http://www.vistax64.com/live-mail/163144-using-live-mail-but-outlook-express-want-compact-folders.html (This talks about LIve Mail and OE, but the same could apply to Outlook and OE.)