This past Monday I started a new consulting project, working in the
client's office. Naturally, I got an email account on their Exchange
Server.

So, running Outlook in SAFE MODE with the newly created (and very
small) OST file, I still had Outlook crashes.

I have had the same crash problem on my main desktop system and on my
laptop, both running OL 2003 under Windows XP SP3. I have had the
same crash problem with my own very large email system, with multiple
PST files, and with the client's OST file.

My conclusion: Both systems are suffering from "bit rot." My desktop
system has been weird for several weeks now, and after the last freeze
up, can no longer boot into Windows. Time to re-install.

My laptop system has intermittent problems the with UP/DOWN keys,
which mysteriously disappear with a reboot. An IT guy at work
suggested that I re-install Windows or try some other way to detect a
bad file. I just bought a larger drive for my laptop, for this
project. Instead of copying over the installed Windows install, I'll
do a clean install and leave all the rotten bits behind.

After all this is done, when I have some "free time" again, I'll look
into more powerful PST repair utilities.

One of my business colleagues keeps telling me that all these problems
would go away if I bought a Mac. I'm beginning to think he's right.

-AH