I was told by someone that knows computers, that compacting folders
makes the computer run slower because it has to go thru the compactness of
more files.
Any say on this?

"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
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.

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. See this for more information:
http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm#compact

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/

It is still advised to check Work Offline before you compact.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS MVP - Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"Tri-Pacer" wrote in message
...
With no action on my part, outlook express has started going through a
lengthy "Clean up and Compaction" routine whenever I shut down the
computer or exit OE.

This is a major pain.

How may I shut off this "feature" and why did it start?

Thanks much

Paul Anton