To free up disk space, Outlook Express can compact messages. This may take up to a few minutes.

Hi,

I upgraded the pc to sp3 and outlook express started having this problem.  I finally solved it by doing two things:

I reset the compact count to 0 using these instructions:

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. Right click on compact Check count, and select Modify 4. change value to 0 5. Click OK 6. Close the registry editor.

then I do this:

 open Outlook Express,

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

I put checkboxes in all the following:

1. Empty message from deleted items folder on exit
2. Purge deleted messages ...
3. When compacting messages:

          delete read message bodies...

          delete news messages ....

then I clicked on the "clean up now" button

and then clicked APPLY.

I rebooted, and no more issues.

Hope this helps someone out.

Private

I reset the compact count to 0 using these instructions:

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. Delete the lunch inbox..... 4. Make Sure You only have 34 registry entry 5. Reboot your PC 6. Close the registry editor.

This probably sounds dumb, but I am having the same problem.  How do you get to registry editor?