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
    2011-08-01T05:33:33+00:00

    The following, copied from another site, worked for me:

    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.

    • Marked As Answer bySally TangWednesday, May 19, 2010 9:09 AM

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-08-01T11:20:55+00:00

    I did all of the above suggestions, and have the same issue and it still comes back.  Lets have some valid answers please.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-08-01T13:18:51+00:00

    Did you take care of Windows Search? Nero Scout? Anything else here?

    <canned>

    The problem is with the registry counter that gives you the prompt after 100 closings of OE. It is being increased quicker than it should be and even if you are not using OE.

    There is a growing number of programs and actions that may be causing this after installing SP3. Do you have any of the following?

    IBM Rapid Access keyboard (driver) RAKDLL.DLL

    Windows {Desktop} Search

    Mailwasher

    Nero plug-in(s)

    Opening EML files while OE is closed will also contribute to the registry count.

    Various anti-virus, anti-spyware and third party firewalls, especially if they were running when you installed SP3.

    Archived thread discussing this issue in June 2008:

    http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general/browse_frm/thread/fcd35fbfa457fd6f

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

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

    In the case of Nero Scout, see Item 2.3 on page 8 here.

    ftp://ftp6.nero.com/user_guides/nero8/scout/NeroScout_Enu.pdf

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

    .eml, .dbx & .nws

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