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

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

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

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

Hi Bruce:

My error, as it should have read Folders File as you indicate. If I go
into the Startup Tab and turn everything off I do not get this error. I
guess that I could start trying each item in Startup until I find the
culprit.

Thanks


"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
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

YW.

Yes about turning back on one at a time. You see that some items have been
rechecked automatically, and there are some things you should be able to
leave unchecked, such as a printer, which will speed up your boot up time.

Please let us know what the culprit program is as it will help us in the
future.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"ColTom2" wrote in message
...
Hi Bruce:

My error, as it should have read Folders File as you indicate. If I go
into the Startup Tab and turn everything off I do not get this error. I
guess that I could start trying each item in Startup until I find the
culprit.

Thanks


"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
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

Tom, I've found that this occurs only if I've moved, created, deleted or
renamed a folder during the OE session. Simply closing & reopening OE then
compacting again resolves it.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)

ColTom2 wrote:
Hi Bruce:

My error, as it should have read Folders File as you indicate. If I go
into the Startup Tab and turn everything off I do not get this error. I
guess that I could start trying each item in Startup until I find the
culprit.

Thanks


"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
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

Hi:

Rebooting does nothing to prevent the error.

If I do a clean boot as follows I do not get the error notice:
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type "msconfig" (without the quotation marks), and then
click OK.
3. On the Startup tab, click Disable All.
4. On the Services tab, check the box before "Hide All Microsoft Services"
and then click Disable All.
5. Click OK.

In trying to run down the cause I did notice the following:

Under Startup Item "ctfmon" I have two locations for this item:
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
and SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

If I remove both checks applicable "ctfmon" and reboot it comes back up
with none checked until I open OE. After opening OE then only the
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\windows\CurrentVersion appears.

Tom


"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

Frequently asked questions about Ctfmon.exe
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=282599

Since disabling items in MSCONFIG seems to clear the issue, I would
suspect an anti-virus program trying to scan the DBX files as a cause.
Another possibility would be some indexing software trying to scan the
DBX files. Or possibly some malware scanning the files for e-mail
addresses.

--

Mike - http://pages.prodigy.net/michael_santovec/techhelp.htm


"ColTom2" wrote in message
...
Hi:

Rebooting does nothing to prevent the error.

If I do a clean boot as follows I do not get the error notice:
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type "msconfig" (without the quotation marks), and
then click OK.
3. On the Startup tab, click Disable All.
4. On the Services tab, check the box before "Hide All Microsoft
Services" and then click Disable All.
5. Click OK.

In trying to run down the cause I did notice the following:

Under Startup Item "ctfmon" I have two locations for this item:
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
and SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

If I remove both checks applicable "ctfmon" and reboot it comes back
up with none checked until I open OE. After opening OE then only the
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\windows\CurrentVersion appears.

Tom


"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

Hi:

The only way that I have found to prevent the error notice is like I say
by doing a clean boot. If I run MSCONFIG and take the check out of "ctfmon"
and reboot it is fine. However, the problem is when I open Outlook Express
it puts the check back in "ctfmon" prior to running the compacting files
folder process. I have to open OE to run the compacting and it sorta like a
Catch 22 situation.

Thanks,

Tom


"Michael Santovec" wrote in message
...
Frequently asked questions about Ctfmon.exe
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=282599

Since disabling items in MSCONFIG seems to clear the issue, I would
suspect an anti-virus program trying to scan the DBX files as a cause.
Another possibility would be some indexing software trying to scan the DBX
files. Or possibly some malware scanning the files for e-mail addresses.

--

Mike - http://pages.prodigy.net/michael_santovec/techhelp.htm


"ColTom2" wrote in message
...
Hi:

Rebooting does nothing to prevent the error.

If I do a clean boot as follows I do not get the error notice:
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type "msconfig" (without the quotation marks), and
then click OK.
3. On the Startup tab, click Disable All.
4. On the Services tab, check the box before "Hide All Microsoft
Services" and then click Disable All.
5. Click OK.

In trying to run down the cause I did notice the following:

Under Startup Item "ctfmon" I have two locations for this item:
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
and SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

If I remove both checks applicable "ctfmon" and reboot it comes back up
with none checked until I open OE. After opening OE then only the
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\windows\CurrentVersion appears.

Tom


"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