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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

0 comments

104 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2011-07-20T01:11:30+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.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2011-07-20T01:03:08+00:00

    In the case of Windows Search, (the #1 offender), you have to tell it to stop indexing OE.

    Windows Search. Set Desktop Search Options:

    http://www.microsoft.com/australia/windows/desktopsearch/search/options.mspx

    In the Windows Control Panel | Indexing Options | Modify. Clear the check box for Outlook Express.

    In the option to exclude selected file types from indexing, be sure to add these file types:

    .eml, .dbx & .nws

    Bruce Hagen

    MS-MVP Oct. 1, 2004 ~ Sept. 30, 2010

    Imperial Beach, CA

     Thanks for your detailed list of suggestions.

    On my PC, Windows Search is definitely the culprit as when I get the popup message, I looked at the logs and it says the message window is created by windowssearch.exe

    I have:

    1. cleared the checkbox for outloook express in windows search
    2. Excluded the outlook express folder from the list of searched locations in windows search
    3. Navigated to the outlook express folder in windows and tuned off indexing via properties /advanced
    4. excluded .eml and .nws from indexing (.dbx was not listed as a file extension)

    However Windows Search is still incrementing the OE counter.

    Obviously there is another little nasty somewhere that I have failed to find

    Will keep looking!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2011-06-17T15:03:33+00:00

    Exactly right.. this solution worked for me perfectly!  Thank you.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments