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
    2010-07-15T13:28:49+00:00

    Workshy-

    Glad your problem is resolved, but I am confident that Steve's answer did not resolve your problem.  I did the same thing and restarted and it came right back.  

    For everyone else the answer that actually DID work for me is above (see Hoosier21's answer).  When you restart the computer, look in the system tray for the magnifying glass.  Right click on it, Click on Windows Search Options.  Click Modify.  Uncheck OE options.  Click OK.  Click Close.  Restart the computer.  I will be gone.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-07-15T23:58:00+00:00

    When I run regedit i get a list of folders, but there is no folder that refers to compact Check Count.

    What am I doing wrong?

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-07-16T00:33:41+00:00

    When I run regedit i get a list of folders, but there is no folder that refers to compact Check Count.

     

    What am I doing wrong?

    1. What exactly is your issue?
    2. Do you use OE?
    3. Do If you let it compact, does the prompt go away?
    4. If the prompt keeps appearing, is  Windows Search installed on this machine?

    Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]

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