"Alias" wrote in message
...
mikey wrote:
Almost every time I close OE6 it asks if I would like to compact
messages. Sometimes I do this, but I don't need asking every time. Is
there some way to stop this message? It only seems to happen since
downloading XP/SP2.
Thanx
Mikey
--



If you don't let it do its thing, you are asking for it and you will lose
all your messages one day. I hope you have OE backed up if any of your
messages are valuable to you. This new "feature" will pop up every 100
times you close OE

You can stop it by downloading and using OE Tool. It resets the counter
every time you use it to zero. You can get it at:

http://www.oehelp.com/OETool/Default.aspx

Alias

Also, when OE is compacting, do not do anything else with the computer.
--
Ron Sommer

||
| Also, when OE is compacting, do not do anything else with the computer.
| --
| Ron Sommer
|
|


When it's compacting, it's impossible to do anything else with the computer
! -- it seems to take all of the processor up.

Also after it's done the entire pc works at a snail's pace until I reboot.
It seems to do more harm than good. What's the point of it?

Mikey
--

mikey wrote:
||
| Also, when OE is compacting, do not do anything else with the computer.
| --
| Ron Sommer
|
|


When it's compacting, it's impossible to do anything else with the computer
! -- it seems to take all of the processor up.

Also after it's done the entire pc works at a snail's pace until I reboot.
It seems to do more harm than good. What's the point of it?

Mikey
--

How large are your .DBX files? Note that .DBX files are hidden in XP and
Windows 2000. None should be larger than 100MB and you should NOT store
messages in your Inbox, Sent Items, Drafts or Deleted Items. Create
folders under Local Folders for archiving.

Also, do you have some kind of anti virus checking email or an anti spam
program hooked up to Outlook Express?

Alias

Compacting your folders periodically is a must to keep OE functioning well
and at some point, you may lose all your saved messages if you don't. When
you delete messages, they are only marked for deletion and the space they
had used, remains until you compact, or the space is eventually overwritten.
See:
www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#2

With SP2, automatic background compacting was removed due to problems it
caused. Now you will get a prompt to compact after 100 OE closings, which
you should do and don't touch anything until it has finished. See this for
more information:
http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm#compact

If compacting takes a long time, you aren't doing it often enough.

To keep things running smooth, and for faster compacting:

Do not archive mail in default OE folders. They will eventually become
corrupt and you may lose mail. 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.

And this is a very good option:

Steve Cochran has added a button in his new version of OE Tool that will not
only Compact All Folders, but at the same time, resets the "Compact Check
Count" to zero whenever you compact manually. You will see the prompt again
if you do not compact before 100 closings.

http://www.oehelp.com/OETool/

You should still check: Work Offline before you compact.

And backup often.

Backup and Resto

http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/backup/

http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx

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

"mikey" wrote in message
...

||
| Also, when OE is compacting, do not do anything else with the computer.
| --
| Ron Sommer
|
|


When it's compacting, it's impossible to do anything else with the
computer
! -- it seems to take all of the processor up.

Also after it's done the entire pc works at a snail's pace until I reboot.
It seems to do more harm than good. What's the point of it?

Mikey
--