How Do I Kill Messages in Outlook Outbox

I have never suffered what you describe, but if you are certain they have not been delivered, then I would try "recall document".

Go to your outbox, right click on the email and look through the options. When it is recalled you might be able to then handle it with normal delete commands.

Good luck.

Actually, they HAVE been delivered--five or six times. That's what happens when Outlook goes berserk with the 2GB fiasco. So, I'll try your suggestion.

Hasn't happened to you, mate? Well, there are two kinds of Windows XP Outlook users--those which HAVE suffered the 2GB disaster, and those that WILL suffer it. See, when you delete an email, even when you empty the trash, Outlook doesn't really delete it. It keeps everything. Then, when it reaches 2GB of stored stuff, it goes berserk.

Just for the halibut, as we say in the fishing business, go to Tools, Clean up mailbox, and check the size of your Outlook files. If you are anywhere near 1.9GB, disaster is imminent. Go ahead and empty your deleted files. It won't change a thing. And what's more, there ain't nothing you can do about it.

On a related note, I have windows VISTA and I have deleted emails that I would like to recover, is this possible?My computer is about 2 1/2 years old. Of course I have emptied the trash bin quite a few times but I understand that this does not copletely get rid of the emails.

oilcan13

That worked, mate! Thanks.

Not only that, but I feel like I just left Jupiter Space (from the movie 2001), and something wonderful is happening. Now, when I delete things, and empty the trash, it actually decreases the space count. It never did that before. Of course, after I do that, Outlook goes into its "Outlook Not Responding" snit, and I have to kill the program. But--wonder of wonders--It comes right back, and doesn't have to go into Safe Mode. I've managed to kill 400MB of old stuff in the past 15 minutes. As long as it keeps actually deleting things, I'll keep working on it.

I feel like I've entered the Twilight Zone. Wonder what weird thing Outlook will do next?

I hope that, when you consider a new computer, you at least consider Linux (or even consider Linux with your existing computer).

I'm not sure what exists in the way of a Linux equivalent or workaround for Outlook (if your employer requires you to use Outlook), but Open Office seems to be a reasonable replacement for most of Microsoft Office.

If you want to ask about replacements for Outlook on Linux, do some googling or start a thread.

Re: Isn't evolution the mail program for most linux distros?

I don't know. It's not what I use (I use kmail, partly because I use kde). Is evolution an outlook workalike by any chance?

Re: oracle killed OO, which forked over to Libre Office

I'm pretty sure OO is still available, but I couldn't remember the new name (Libre Office), so just said OO. ;-)

Shoot it!!!

Oops sorry I have been enjoying Single Barrel Jack.....oh what the heck shoot the computer that should kill all messages or viruses.

If you're gonna stick with Windoze on your next 'puter, please consider Mozilla Thunderbird for your next email client. Outlook sucks so bad and if it isn't mandated by an employer I wouldn't touch it with your... er, a ten foot pole.

If I had a buck for everytime somebody asked me about a problem with Outlook I could've retired 10 years ago. I can count on one finger how many people have approached me with a problem with Thunderbird. Of course, to be completely fair, there are a whole lot more idiots people using Outlook.

Hooker

Email database files are often corrupted in Outlook, I was told runing under Exchange server is much better. 1- You can have many .pst files so you don't run out over the limit, I have 6 with relevant content. 2- Run scanpst.exe regularely, this comes with Outlook but is somewhat hidden. I use it so often I made a shortcut and still wonder why MS does not make it visible.

I second the vote for ScanPST utility. Here's a Microsoft blurb about the proper usage for ScanPST, which you do get with Office installation.

ScanPST Usage link

Tom D.

Tools like ScanPST are very nice when they work. I also found a tool that allows me to cut a GB of old messages off. And Outlook somewhere has a tool that compacts existing files, thus cutting down the space requirements.

Unfortunately, when Outlook goes berserk, few of these actually work. I have to run the programs several times, battling past the interminable error messages, failure to execute, and the long, long execution times. And, all this time, Outlook refuses to work, even in Safe mode. I've done this three or four times in the past three years, and each time it takes almost a full day to get everything working again.

I've paid service companies to get on my machine remotely, and they use an entirely different method, where they go into a maze of internal systems functions, but they do it so fast I can't write down where they are going. If you are a Microsoft Certified Engineer, you know where all these programs and functions are, what files to kill, and so on. But none of us know.

Windows and Outlook are terrible systems, but some of us are forced to use them. I have Windows 7 and Office 2007 on two laptops, but I much prefer the old 2003 XP, Word and Outlook on my desktop. Alas, XP has its problems, like this.

Double-click Scanpst.exe, located at drive:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\LocaleID folder - where LocaleID is the locale identifier (LCID) for the installation of Microsoft Office. The LCID for English - United States is 1033

Cool file path, ain't it? Who would ever find it, no wonder there is a market for paid applications doing the exact same job.

Numerous rules also tend to corrupt PST's more often. I get over 500 emails per week, some automation is very important for me.

I now have all mail go thru gmail (Use POP3 retrieval, don't forward to, some WILL get lost, support for free gmail services is null) for classifying, spam scanning and backup.

Searches are also more efficient in gmail than Outlook.

I'm running XP with OUtlook2003. Just checked by database size: 2.6GB. Doesn't seem to cause me a problem. Am I just lucky?

My laptop is now over 3 years old. I used to have more problems with Outlook crashing but a complete reinstallation seemed to solve it. I don't think having to do this once in 3 years is bad.

Go to Tools - Options - Maintenance - tick the boxes...

"Empty.. and purge... delete messages on closing" - Save - job done.

Remember (as habit) to save to a folder any emails you would like to keep
as the deleted are all removed on closing.

Help - contents and index (F1) can be a source of enlightenment.

Hope this helps.

jt

"I don't worry about terrorism. I was married for two years."