Since the October updates were installed to our test systems yesterday
(WSUS) we have been seeing that Outlook 2003 is experiencing slow downs when
accessing PST files. We are running: Windows XP SP2, Office 2003, Dell
hardware (various models).

When attempting to browse through any PST files (local or network - yes,
network is not supported) Outlook reports back with "Outlook is preparing
the requested view" and hangs for anywhere from 30 seconds to several
minutes. It does eventually display folder contents but very slowly. After
having viewed a specific folder it doesn't experience any slow down when
attempting to browse it again until Oultook 2003 is restarted.

I am starting to go through and uninstall the Office related patches one by
one and testing after each reboot. So far I have uninstalled the below:

- Security Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 (KB973705)
- Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter (KB974771)

Unfortunately, uninstalling these patches have not made any difference. I
will go ahead and remove the below also and test:

Security Update for Microsoft Office 2003 (KB974554)
Security Update for Microsoft Office 2003 (KB972580)


Appreciate any feedback from others who may have noticed the same issue and
possibly found the cause/fix. Thanks.