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
    2010-11-16T00:16:23+00:00

    I have the same problem and I'd like to try your suggestion because others have had success with it. However, I'm a lttle hesitant to get into the registry keys - afraid of making a mistake. Is there no other way to beat this problem? If not, I'll go ahead with your suggestion, but I don't even know how to start the registry editor.

    Thank you.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-11-15T17:06:44+00:00

    Outlookexpress is set as a default in my "newsgroup" with no option to change this.

    I use Outlook 2007 not outlookexpress as my email, which this is set correct.

    I would not want to ever open it and give it a chance to get my email and I believe that has happened anyway. 

    I went to add and remove programs... it is not here to be removed.

    I have also searhed my computer completely for outlookexpress and it can not find it.

    Everytime I turn my computer on this pops up.  How would I make it go away and why did it appear?

    Could facebook have caused this?

    You never once mentioned getting the compact prompt which this thread is about. Is that the problem you are having?

    First, Outlook Express is listed in the Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Add/Remove Windows Components. However, if you are getting the compact prompt, unchecking OE there won't help one bit.

    Have you read the other posts? Is Windows Search installed on this machine?

    As far as OE "getting your mail", all you need to do to remedy that is to make sure you have downloaded all new messages into Outlook. Now open OE and go to Tools | Accounts and remove all the accounts there. If you get rid of them, OE can't possibly get your messages.

    Bruce Hagen

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

    Imperial Beach, CA

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-11-15T16:47:04+00:00

    Outlookexpress is set as a default in my "newsgroup" with no option to change this.

    I use Outlook 2007 not outlookexpress as my email, which this is set correct.

    I would not want to ever open it and give it a chance to get my email and I believe that has happened anyway. 

    I went to add and remove programs... it is not here to be removed.

    I have also searhed my computer completely for outlookexpress and it can not find it.

    Everytime I turn my computer on this pops up.  How would I make it go away and why did it appear?

    Could facebook have caused this?

    Was this answer helpful?

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