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
    2010-01-17T18:26:42+00:00

    I started getting this message and Bing'd the message, where I arrived at this board.  In the meantime I left the message up.  While reading this string I noticed that in my system tray my "Indexing" icon (the magfnifying glass) had not yet loaded.  After clicking "cancel", it then appeared.

    I right clicked the maginfying glass in my sys trey (or is it tray), clicked on "Windows Search Options..." and there I saw an option to index Outlook Express.  Highlight, click on Modify and remove the check mark beside Outlook Express.  Click OK and that should do it.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-01-17T14:37:31+00:00

    Have you checked:

    IE Tools \ Internet Options \ Programs tab to be sure OE isn't set as your default mail program?

    It sounds as if OE is in your start-up programs, even though you never use it.  Have you disabled it from StartUp?

    I know it's an annoyance but don't give up.  Someone will have a solution. :-)

    Rosie

    Dell OptiPlex GX260, 2.40 GHZ, Pentium 4, 80G HD, WindowsXP Pro (SP3), IE8, Avira, Spybot S&D, SpywareBlaster 4.2, OnlineArmor 4.0

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-01-17T13:38:22+00:00

    Hi Steve

    Many thanks for your reply.

    Please see my reply above to Cybertek.

    Any other suggestions?

    I look forward to hearing from you.

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