There is no dbx file named Folder Options. There is Folders File. Is that
the folder it is stuck on?

Do you have any exotic third party programs for OE like a e-mail
notification program? Anything like that can cause this.

If not, go to Start | Run and type in:

msconfig

Go to the Startup Tab and uncheck everything. Restart the computer and go
directly into OE and try to compact now.

If it still won't compact, close OE and open the message store and delete
Folders.dbx. Reboot, open OE and now try.

Note that after you delete Folders.dbx, subfolders in the folder tree will
be out in the open and will need to be dragged back to where they were.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"ColTom2" wrote in message
...
It happens at the last item "Folder Options" and appears to have processed
everything except at the end I am getting this error notice.


"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
Reboot and try again. If it still fails, grab the blue strip of the error
prompt and drag it out of the way. This will expose what folder it got
stuck on. Let us know.

General precautions for Outlook Express:

Do not archive mail in default OE folders. They will eventually become
corrupt. Create your own user defined folders for storing mail and move
your mail to them. Empty Deleted Items folder regularly. Keep user
created folders under 100MB, and Default folders as empty as is feasible.

After you are done, follow up by compacting your folders manually while
working *offline* and do it often.

Click on Outlook Express at the top of the folder tree so no folders are
open. Then: File | Work Offline (or double click Working Online in the
Status Bar). File | Folder | Compact all folders. Don't touch anything
until the compacting is completed.

Turn off e-mail scanning in your anti-virus program. It is a redundant
layer of protection that eats up CPUs and causes a multitude of problems
such as time-outs and account setting changes. Your up-to-date A/V
program will continue to protect you sufficiently. For more, see:
http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#3

In Tools | Options | Maintenance: Uncheck Compact messages in background
and leave it unchecked. {N/A if running XP/SP2}.

And backup often.

Backup & Resto
http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/backup/

This is a great two click program:

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB)
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"ColTom2" wrote in message
...
Hi:

At the end of the compacting files folder process I am getting an error
notice as follows: "This folder is currently in use by Outlook Express
or by another application""

I have all applications that I can think of turned off that could cause
this including Anti-Virus, but I am still getting this notice at the end
of the compacting process.

Does anyone have any idea as to what application could cause this
error? I am currently using Selected Startup and have any associated
application that I can think of turned off, but apparently I am missing
something.

Thanks