You refer to "Read Mail, Outlook/Exchange and Internet Mail". What is
Internet Mail? Are you suing Outlook Or Outlook Express? This group is for
Outlook Express only.

Reinstall AVG and choose Custom Mode. Uncheck E-mail Scanning when you see
that option. For some reason, just unchecking it in the security center
causes a conflict with the Windows Security Center.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA


"Galloping Hairpin" wrote in
message ...
Thanks for you response Bruce. I've carried out most of your
recommendations.
I used OSQuickBackup then drastically pruned my 'Sent Items' (now 234
messages, 20Mb) and 'Read Mail' (now 268 messages, 35Mb). All the
remaining
folders are empty. I then compacted all folders. None of this made any
difference to the time.

I then tried turning off the email scanning in my A-V but this didn't seem
to work either. However, as a last resort I turned my A-V scanning off
completely and this did work.

I'm using Avast 4.7 free version and in the control panel all boxes for
Outlook/Exchange and Internet Mail doesn't work. I can't see what else has
any bearing on email so I'm stumped.

"Bruce Hagen" wrote:

Did you compact after moving the messages?

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.insideoe.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
Imperial Beach, CA


"Galloping Hairpin" wrote in
message ...
The first time I try to open a message after the System has booted it
takes
17 seconds with lots of disk activity. Once that message has opened all
subsequent ones in the session open immediately.

I'm sure this time has got gradually longer ever since XP was first
installed. I thought it might be due to the accumulation of messages in
my
Sent Mail and Read Mail folders so I cleared them out (after making
backup
copies elsewhere) but this has had no effect whatsoever.

Can anyone throw any light on this problem?