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
    2010-01-17T13:34:19+00:00

    Hi Cybertek

    Many thanks for your suggestion.  Unfortunately, there is no "Compact messages in background" checkbox in the "Cleaning Up Messages" section in the Tools, Option, Maintenance section of Outlook Express.

    Under "Local File Clean Up" the Total size of file(s) is 0 bytes, Total wasted space is 0 bytes (0%).

    Although I have never before installed or used Outlook Express, and despite there being 0 bytes and 0%, I have "Compacted", "Removed Messages", "Deleted", "Reset" without any success.  The message still comes back every time I restart the computer, or at varying intervals.

    My Operating System is Windows XP Home Edition : Service Pack 3.  Outlook Express 6.  Internet Explorer 8.

    Any other suggestions?

    Looking forward to hearing from you.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-01-07T19:53:54+00:00

    Microsoft removed background compaction from Outlook Express in Windows XP Service Pack 2.   It caused too many problems.

    Background compaction is a different issue than the one we're discussing here, which is "To free up disk space, Outlook Express can compact messages."

    Owner, Boulder Computer Maven

    Microsoft Most Valuable Professional

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-01-07T13:42:14+00:00

    Hello workshy

    To turn that message off

    You will have to open Outlook Express,

    click on Tools, Options and then on the Maintenance tab at the top.

    Look for the “Compact messages in the background” checkbox in the “Cleaning Up Messages” section and remove the checkmark.

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