To free up disk space, Outlook Express can compact messages. This may take up to a few minutes.

Anonymous
2010-01-04T16:48:32+00:00

Every few minutes the message :

"To free up disk space, Outlook Express can compact messages.  This may take up to a few minutes."

This is irrelevant for two reasons :

(1) I do not use Outlook Express, and therefore have no messages to compact.

(2) I do not need to free up disk space as I am currently using only five per cent of a very large disk.

Could someone please tell me how I get rid off this very irritating message.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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Anonymous
2012-06-10T21:36:30+00:00

Here are the things I did that resolved the issue for me:

I reset Compact Check Count to 0, and I uninstalled Windows Search 4.0. 

As for Outlook Express: I don't use it.

Thank you for the reply...and thanks for the advice & info.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_xp-performance/outlook-express-can-compact-messages-how-do-i-turn/b7e41d7f-d0db-4930-9c64-19e3c7b7d5cf?tm=1339359499078&page=1#_self

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Anonymous
2010-01-17T22:00:57+00:00

Try resetting the compact count in the registry:

  1. Start the registry editor.
  2. Open this key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities{identity}\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0

where identity is a string of letters, numbers, and dashes. 3. Set the value of Compact Check Count to 0. 4. Close the registry editor.

For more information, see Why You Should Let Outlook Express Compact Messages When It Asks You .

Warning: Incorrectly editing the registry might damage your system and prevent Windows from starting. Before doing it, back up your important data, make a restore point, and make sure you know how to repair a damaged system.

Boulder Computer Maven

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-07-20T07:07:13+00:00

    What about removing WS, rebooting and adding it back. Maybe a fresh install will let the setting stick.

    Thanks for the suggestion

    I have uninstalled, rebooted and reinstalled WindowsSearch and excluded outlook express and it is still incrementing the "compact check count"

    Just to be absolutely sure I set the Windows Search indexing service to disabled and rebooted and the count didn't increment. Set the indexing service to enabled and rebooted and it did increment. So 100% sure it's the Windows Search that's doing it.

    Have now written a .reg update file to update the counter to 0. At least I can just double click on that when necessary rather than having to remember where to navigate to in the registry

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-07-20T02:08:40+00:00

    Just playing the devil's advocate here, but what would happen if I delete the "Compact Check Count" Key completely from the registry. If it's not there nothing can increment or check it but will they choke?

    At best, it will just recreate itself. At worst, it'll screw up things worse. I don't understand why WS keeps resetting to index OE. This thread is the first I have heard of that and I have seen many people with this issue.

    What about removing WS, rebooting and adding it back. Maybe a fresh install will let the setting stick.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-07-20T01:44:59+00:00

    Did you let it compact once to reset the registry counter? If WS is still causing this, do you ever actually use it? You can always remove Windows search. I for on have never had a reason to install it myself.

    Hi

    Thanks for your reply.

    I manually reset the counter to 0.

    It is still incrementing every time I start the PC

    Yes I do use Windows Search. It seems to do a reasonable job. It is actually a LOT faster than the standard search in windows and works well in outlook 2007.

    Just playing the devil's advocate here, but what would happen if I delete the "Compact Check Count" Key completely from the registry. If it's not there nothing can increment or check it but will they choke?

    Thanks

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