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
    2011-03-04T05:54:03+00:00

    this error may occur even when Outlook Express is not in use on Windows XP, because Outlook Express is indexed by Windows Search. We can open Windows Indexing options and uncheck Outlook Express by the steps below:

    ==============

    1.       Click Start > Control Panel, and switch to classic view.

    2.       Click Indexing Options, and then click the Modify button.

    3.       Uncheck the checkbox before: Microsoft Outlook Express.

    4.       Click OK, and then click Close to save the settings.

    If this problem persists, I would like to confirm if the error occurs when you start up the computer. If this is the situation, we can also disable the Outlook Express program from the startup menu by the steps below:

    ============

    1.       Right-click Start button, and choose Properties from popup menu.

    2.       Choose Start Menu tab.

    3.       Click "Classic Start Menu" radio button and choose the Customize button.

    4.       Click the Remove button.

    5.       Click on "Outlook Express" to highlight it.

    6.       Click Remove button.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-03-03T20:35:50+00:00

    Cybertek,

    I was having the same problem with the annoying Outlook Express pop-up message. Editing the registry key didn't help at all. 

    I am currently running Windows XP Professional SP3 --

    I found what appears to be the problem in the following file(s):

    [This applies to all active user accounts on your computer.]

    Navigate to:

    C:\Documents and Settings(Username)\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

    If you are still having the same message display at startup, you will probably see a shortcut entry in the Startup folder labeled "Address Book" (about 4 KB in size).

    When I displayed properties for that shortcut I discovered that it was linking to Outlook Express! (Which I don't use either)

    I deleted that shortcut key for all user accounts; I then rebooted and logged in...No annoying pop-up message appeared at startup!!!

    Try that and see if it works.

    R~

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-02-24T08:23:55+00:00

    This worked for me thanks it was doing my head in

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