I get this message regularly. I think it's caused by OE polling for new
messages. I just close down OE, restart and then compact - successfully.
You could also just disconnect from the Internet.

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway

"sheana" wrote in message
...
Hi, I'm trying to compact my OE. I go offline, collapse the message
"tree"
so "local folders" only is highligted. Then I hit "File --Folder--Compact
all
folders".

Compacting is almost completed and then when it tries to compact the
"folders" it stops with a red x (I think) and the message " can't
....folder
in use"

I do have a lot of folders, but it always worked before. Please help.
Thanks
in advance.