Can anyone please tell me why my OE6 is taking 2-3 minutes to open and if
there is a fix to solve this issue? The program just hangs on the splash
screen for several minutes until the Inbox finally appears. It started to be
a problem after I recently installed the 2008 Trend Micro Internet Security
software. I'm not sure if this what caused it or not as the 2007 version
didn't cause this problem.

Trend Micro has caused some problems with OE, so that may be the cause.
Consider the possibilities here first. A poor upkeep of OE can cause this
also.

Performance Problems:
http://www.insideoe.com/problems/performance.htm

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


"Casey" wrote in message
...
Can anyone please tell me why my OE6 is taking 2-3 minutes to open and if
there is a fix to solve this issue? The program just hangs on the splash
screen for several minutes until the Inbox finally appears. It started to
be
a problem after I recently installed the 2008 Trend Micro Internet
Security
software. I'm not sure if this what caused it or not as the 2007 version
didn't cause this problem.

Thanks, Bruce, you are a wealth of information. I plan to follow your
instructions. The first link you provided for performance problems seems
outdated or maybe just beyond my level of expertise as I don't quite
understand what to do. Isn't it referring to win98 and win95/NT which I at
least know are obsolete operating systems? I am running XP/SP2.

Again, thank you and especially for taking the time to write a very useful
answer to my question. Much appreciated!

A few things refer to older versions of Windows, but in general, most apply
to OE6 still. For instance in the same part that mentions W98:

Another cause of slow starts is opening OE at its home page, rather than the
Inbox. Because that page is an HTML file, it is usually slower to display
than is the Inbox. Click Tools| Options and place a check mark for "When
starting, go directly to my Inbox folder."

On the other hand, this might also cause the problem if the Inbox is very
large. The Inbox is a very active folder, and I strongly recommend that you
not use it to store messages. Create subfolders and move messages into them
as soon as possible so that the Inbox stays small.

Leaving the Preview Pane open in combination with opening directly to the
Inbox can result in a slower startup. You can turn the Preview Pane off
under View| Layout, or add the Preview button to the OE toolbar to toggle
the pane on and off with a single click.

This applies still.

Cleaning out your Inbox and compacting can make a world of difference too.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA



"Casey" wrote in message
...
Thanks, Bruce, you are a wealth of information. I plan to follow your
instructions. The first link you provided for performance problems seems
outdated or maybe just beyond my level of expertise as I don't quite
understand what to do. Isn't it referring to win98 and win95/NT which I at
least know are obsolete operating systems? I am running XP/SP2.

Again, thank you and especially for taking the time to write a very useful
answer to my question. Much appreciated!

Casey

What Bruce is telling you is good advice.

How much RAM and what CPU do you have?

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Casey wrote:
Thanks, Bruce, you are a wealth of information. I plan to follow your
instructions. The first link you provided for performance problems
seems outdated or maybe just beyond my level of expertise as I don't
quite understand what to do. Isn't it referring to win98 and win95/NT
which I at least know are obsolete operating systems? I am running
XP/SP2.

Again, thank you and especially for taking the time to write a very
useful answer to my question. Much appreciated!