How to reduce size of PST file

  • Thread starter Thread starter Andrew Chalk
  • Start date Start date
A

Andrew Chalk

I archived a lot of data and my .PST file has not shrunken at all. Why not?
Is there something else that I need to do? I assume that there is a lot of
wasted space in it now.

Many thanks.
 
Have you compacted it?
Look in the properties of your PST file > Advanced > Compact Now
 
Yes. It runs for about two seconds and the file is no smaller afterwards.

Any other ideas?

Thanks
Russ Valentine said:
Have you compacted it?
Look in the properties of your PST file > Advanced > Compact Now
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
I archived a lot of data and my .PST file has not shrunken at all. Why not?
Is there something else that I need to do? I assume that there is a lot of
wasted space in it now.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Then you had nothing more to compact.
Remember the reported size in Outlook won't change. The file size change
will be noticed in Windows Explorer.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
Yes. It runs for about two seconds and the file is no smaller afterwards.

Any other ideas?

Thanks
Russ Valentine said:
Have you compacted it?
Look in the properties of your PST file > Advanced > Compact Now
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
I archived a lot of data and my .PST file has not shrunken at all. Why not?
Is there something else that I need to do? I assume that there is a lot of
wasted space in it now.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I was using Wondows Explorer as the basis for comparison. I am surprised
that, having archived everything prior to Jan. 1st 2004 I did not see a
larger reduction in file size. I know that I have not archived this file
before. But this may be around the tiume that I switched from Outlook
Express.

Thanks anyway.

- Andrew
Russ Valentine said:
Then you had nothing more to compact.
Remember the reported size in Outlook won't change. The file size change
will be noticed in Windows Explorer.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
Yes. It runs for about two seconds and the file is no smaller afterwards.

Any other ideas?

Thanks
Russ Valentine said:
Have you compacted it?
Look in the properties of your PST file > Advanced > Compact Now
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I archived a lot of data and my .PST file has not shrunken at all. Why not?
Is there something else that I need to do? I assume that there is a
Click to expand...
lot
of
wasted space in it now.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
It really depends on how much you archived. Don't forget that Outlook
compresses in the background when you have periods of inactivity, so there
may not have been much more to compress.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
I was using Wondows Explorer as the basis for comparison. I am surprised
that, having archived everything prior to Jan. 1st 2004 I did not see a
larger reduction in file size. I know that I have not archived this file
before. But this may be around the tiume that I switched from Outlook
Express.

Thanks anyway.

- Andrew
Russ Valentine said:
Then you had nothing more to compact.
Remember the reported size in Outlook won't change. The file size change
will be noticed in Windows Explorer.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
Yes. It runs for about two seconds and the file is no smaller afterwards.

Any other ideas?

Thanks
Have you compacted it?
Look in the properties of your PST file > Advanced > Compact Now
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I archived a lot of data and my .PST file has not shrunken at all.
Why
not?
Is there something else that I need to do? I assume that there is a lot
of
wasted space in it now.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thanks. It is 2GB. Is that large?

- Andrew

Russ Valentine said:
It really depends on how much you archived. Don't forget that Outlook
compresses in the background when you have periods of inactivity, so there
may not have been much more to compress.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
I was using Wondows Explorer as the basis for comparison. I am surprised
that, having archived everything prior to Jan. 1st 2004 I did not see a
larger reduction in file size. I know that I have not archived this file
before. But this may be around the tiume that I switched from Outlook
Express.

Thanks anyway.

- Andrew
Russ Valentine said:
Then you had nothing more to compact.
Remember the reported size in Outlook won't change. The file size change
will be noticed in Windows Explorer.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Yes. It runs for about two seconds and the file is no smaller afterwards.

Any other ideas?

Thanks
Have you compacted it?
Look in the properties of your PST file > Advanced > Compact Now
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I archived a lot of data and my .PST file has not shrunken at all.
Why
not?
Is there something else that I need to do? I assume that there is a lot
of
wasted space in it now.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Outlook version?
Unless it's Outlook 2003, you waited too long. You've already exceeded the
size limit. No way you'll be able to rescue that file unless you use
Microsoft's truncation tool:
http://www.slipstick.com/problems/repair2gbpst.htm
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
Thanks. It is 2GB. Is that large?

- Andrew

Russ Valentine said:
It really depends on how much you archived. Don't forget that Outlook
compresses in the background when you have periods of inactivity, so
there
may not have been much more to compress.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
I was using Wondows Explorer as the basis for comparison. I am surprised
that, having archived everything prior to Jan. 1st 2004 I did not see a
larger reduction in file size. I know that I have not archived this
file
before. But this may be around the tiume that I switched from Outlook
Express.

Thanks anyway.

- Andrew
Then you had nothing more to compact.
Remember the reported size in Outlook won't change. The file size change
will be noticed in Windows Explorer.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Yes. It runs for about two seconds and the file is no smaller
afterwards.

Any other ideas?

Thanks
Have you compacted it?
Look in the properties of your PST file > Advanced > Compact Now
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I archived a lot of data and my .PST file has not shrunken at all.
Why
not?
Is there something else that I need to do? I assume that there is
a
lot
of
wasted space in it now.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
It is OE2003. That's large?

Russ Valentine said:
Outlook version?
Unless it's Outlook 2003, you waited too long. You've already exceeded the
size limit. No way you'll be able to rescue that file unless you use
Microsoft's truncation tool:
http://www.slipstick.com/problems/repair2gbpst.htm
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
Thanks. It is 2GB. Is that large?

- Andrew

Russ Valentine said:
It really depends on how much you archived. Don't forget that Outlook
compresses in the background when you have periods of inactivity, so
there
may not have been much more to compress.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I was using Wondows Explorer as the basis for comparison. I am surprised
that, having archived everything prior to Jan. 1st 2004 I did not see a
larger reduction in file size. I know that I have not archived this
file
before. But this may be around the tiume that I switched from Outlook
Express.

Thanks anyway.

- Andrew
Then you had nothing more to compact.
Remember the reported size in Outlook won't change. The file size change
will be noticed in Windows Explorer.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Yes. It runs for about two seconds and the file is no smaller
afterwards.

Any other ideas?

Thanks
Have you compacted it?
Look in the properties of your PST file > Advanced > Compact Now
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I archived a lot of data and my .PST file has not shrunken at all.
Why
not?
Is there something else that I need to do? I assume that there is
a
lot
of
wasted space in it now.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Yes, it's large.
Did you originally create this file in Outlook 2003 in the new format?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
It is OE2003. That's large?

Russ Valentine said:
Outlook version?
Unless it's Outlook 2003, you waited too long. You've already exceeded
the
size limit. No way you'll be able to rescue that file unless you use
Microsoft's truncation tool:
http://www.slipstick.com/problems/repair2gbpst.htm
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
Thanks. It is 2GB. Is that large?

- Andrew

It really depends on how much you archived. Don't forget that Outlook
compresses in the background when you have periods of inactivity, so
there
may not have been much more to compress.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I was using Wondows Explorer as the basis for comparison. I am surprised
that, having archived everything prior to Jan. 1st 2004 I did not
see a
larger reduction in file size. I know that I have not archived this
file
before. But this may be around the tiume that I switched from
Outlook
Express.

Thanks anyway.

- Andrew
Then you had nothing more to compact.
Remember the reported size in Outlook won't change. The file size
change
will be noticed in Windows Explorer.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Yes. It runs for about two seconds and the file is no smaller
afterwards.

Any other ideas?

Thanks
message
Have you compacted it?
Look in the properties of your PST file > Advanced > Compact Now
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I archived a lot of data and my .PST file has not shrunken at all.
Why
not?
Is there something else that I need to do? I assume that there is
a
lot
of
wasted space in it now.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
No. I imported it from OE6.

- Andrew
Russ Valentine said:
Yes, it's large.
Did you originally create this file in Outlook 2003 in the new format?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
It is OE2003. That's large?

Russ Valentine said:
Outlook version?
Unless it's Outlook 2003, you waited too long. You've already exceeded
the
size limit. No way you'll be able to rescue that file unless you use
Microsoft's truncation tool:
http://www.slipstick.com/problems/repair2gbpst.htm
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Thanks. It is 2GB. Is that large?

- Andrew

It really depends on how much you archived. Don't forget that Outlook
compresses in the background when you have periods of inactivity, so
there
may not have been much more to compress.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I was using Wondows Explorer as the basis for comparison. I am surprised
that, having archived everything prior to Jan. 1st 2004 I did not
see a
larger reduction in file size. I know that I have not archived this
file
before. But this may be around the tiume that I switched from
Outlook
Express.

Thanks anyway.

- Andrew
Then you had nothing more to compact.
Remember the reported size in Outlook won't change. The file size
change
will be noticed in Windows Explorer.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Yes. It runs for about two seconds and the file is no smaller
afterwards.

Any other ideas?

Thanks
message
Have you compacted it?
Look in the properties of your PST file > Advanced > Compact Now
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I archived a lot of data and my .PST file has not shrunken at all.
Why
not?
Is there something else that I need to do? I assume that
Click to expand...
there
is
a
lot
of
wasted space in it now.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Back to earth please.
OE doesn't use PST files.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
No. I imported it from OE6.

- Andrew
Russ Valentine said:
Yes, it's large.
Did you originally create this file in Outlook 2003 in the new format?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
It is OE2003. That's large?

Outlook version?
Unless it's Outlook 2003, you waited too long. You've already exceeded
the
size limit. No way you'll be able to rescue that file unless you use
Microsoft's truncation tool:
http://www.slipstick.com/problems/repair2gbpst.htm
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Thanks. It is 2GB. Is that large?

- Andrew

It really depends on how much you archived. Don't forget that Outlook
compresses in the background when you have periods of inactivity,
so
there
may not have been much more to compress.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I was using Wondows Explorer as the basis for comparison. I am
surprised
that, having archived everything prior to Jan. 1st 2004 I did not
see
a
larger reduction in file size. I know that I have not archived this
file
before. But this may be around the tiume that I switched from
Outlook
Express.

Thanks anyway.

- Andrew
message
Then you had nothing more to compact.
Remember the reported size in Outlook won't change. The file
size
change
will be noticed in Windows Explorer.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Yes. It runs for about two seconds and the file is no smaller
afterwards.

Any other ideas?

Thanks
message
Have you compacted it?
Look in the properties of your PST file > Advanced > Compact Now
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
I archived a lot of data and my .PST file has not shrunken
at
all.
Why
not?
Is there something else that I need to do? I assume that there
is
a
lot
of
wasted space in it now.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I imported the data from OE6.
Russ Valentine said:
Back to earth please.
OE doesn't use PST files.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
No. I imported it from OE6.

- Andrew
Russ Valentine said:
Yes, it's large.
Did you originally create this file in Outlook 2003 in the new format?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
It is OE2003. That's large?

Outlook version?
Unless it's Outlook 2003, you waited too long. You've already exceeded
the
size limit. No way you'll be able to rescue that file unless you use
Microsoft's truncation tool:
http://www.slipstick.com/problems/repair2gbpst.htm
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Thanks. It is 2GB. Is that large?

- Andrew

It really depends on how much you archived. Don't forget that Outlook
compresses in the background when you have periods of inactivity,
so
there
may not have been much more to compress.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I was using Wondows Explorer as the basis for comparison. I am
surprised
that, having archived everything prior to Jan. 1st 2004 I did not
see
a
larger reduction in file size. I know that I have not archived this
file
before. But this may be around the tiume that I switched from
Outlook
Express.

Thanks anyway.

- Andrew
message
Then you had nothing more to compact.
Remember the reported size in Outlook won't change. The file
size
change
will be noticed in Windows Explorer.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Yes. It runs for about two seconds and the file is no smaller
afterwards.

Any other ideas?

Thanks
message
Have you compacted it?
Look in the properties of your PST file > Advanced >
Click to expand...
Compact
Now
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
I archived a lot of data and my .PST file has not shrunken
at
all.
Why
not?
Is there something else that I need to do? I assume that there
is
a
lot
of
wasted space in it now.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Did you really import 2GB worth of data?
Is this PST file in Outlook 2003 format?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
I imported the data from OE6.
Russ Valentine said:
Back to earth please.
OE doesn't use PST files.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
No. I imported it from OE6.

- Andrew
Yes, it's large.
Did you originally create this file in Outlook 2003 in the new format?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
It is OE2003. That's large?

Outlook version?
Unless it's Outlook 2003, you waited too long. You've already exceeded
the
size limit. No way you'll be able to rescue that file unless you
use
Microsoft's truncation tool:
http://www.slipstick.com/problems/repair2gbpst.htm
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Thanks. It is 2GB. Is that large?

- Andrew

message
It really depends on how much you archived. Don't forget that
Outlook
compresses in the background when you have periods of
inactivity,
so
there
may not have been much more to compress.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I was using Wondows Explorer as the basis for comparison. I am
surprised
that, having archived everything prior to Jan. 1st 2004 I did not
see
a
larger reduction in file size. I know that I have not archived
this
file
before. But this may be around the tiume that I switched from
Outlook
Express.

Thanks anyway.

- Andrew
message
Then you had nothing more to compact.
Remember the reported size in Outlook won't change. The file
size
change
will be noticed in Windows Explorer.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
Yes. It runs for about two seconds and the file is no smaller
afterwards.

Any other ideas?

Thanks
message
Have you compacted it?
Look in the properties of your PST file > Advanced > Compact
Now
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
I archived a lot of data and my .PST file has not
shrunken
at
all.
Why
not?
Is there something else that I need to do? I assume that
there
is
a
lot
of
wasted space in it now.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I have added about a year's data since I imported the original data from
OE6. This is Outlook 2003.

- Andrew
Russ Valentine said:
Did you really import 2GB worth of data?
Is this PST file in Outlook 2003 format?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
I imported the data from OE6.
Russ Valentine said:
Back to earth please.
OE doesn't use PST files.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
No. I imported it from OE6.

- Andrew
Yes, it's large.
Did you originally create this file in Outlook 2003 in the new format?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
It is OE2003. That's large?

Outlook version?
Unless it's Outlook 2003, you waited too long. You've already exceeded
the
size limit. No way you'll be able to rescue that file unless you
use
Microsoft's truncation tool:
http://www.slipstick.com/problems/repair2gbpst.htm
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Thanks. It is 2GB. Is that large?

- Andrew

message
It really depends on how much you archived. Don't forget that
Outlook
compresses in the background when you have periods of
inactivity,
so
there
may not have been much more to compress.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I was using Wondows Explorer as the basis for comparison. I am
surprised
that, having archived everything prior to Jan. 1st 2004 I
Click to expand...
did
not
see
a
larger reduction in file size. I know that I have not archived
this
file
before. But this may be around the tiume that I switched from
Outlook
Express.

Thanks anyway.

- Andrew
message
Then you had nothing more to compact.
Remember the reported size in Outlook won't change. The file
size
change
will be noticed in Windows Explorer.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
Yes. It runs for about two seconds and the file is no smaller
afterwards.

Any other ideas?

Thanks
message
Have you compacted it?
Look in the properties of your PST file > Advanced > Compact
Now
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
I archived a lot of data and my .PST file has not
shrunken
at
all.
Why
not?
Is there something else that I need to do? I assume that
there
is
a
lot
of
wasted space in it now.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Well as long as this PST file was created new in Outlook 2003 (and not
during an upgrade installation), you should be fine.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
I have added about a year's data since I imported the original data from
OE6. This is Outlook 2003.

- Andrew
Russ Valentine said:
Did you really import 2GB worth of data?
Is this PST file in Outlook 2003 format?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Andrew Chalk said:
I imported the data from OE6.
Back to earth please.
OE doesn't use PST files.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
No. I imported it from OE6.

- Andrew
Yes, it's large.
Did you originally create this file in Outlook 2003 in the new format?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
It is OE2003. That's large?

message
Outlook version?
Unless it's Outlook 2003, you waited too long. You've already
exceeded
the
size limit. No way you'll be able to rescue that file unless you
use
Microsoft's truncation tool:
http://www.slipstick.com/problems/repair2gbpst.htm
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Thanks. It is 2GB. Is that large?

- Andrew

message
It really depends on how much you archived. Don't forget that
Outlook
compresses in the background when you have periods of
inactivity,
so
there
may not have been much more to compress.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
I was using Wondows Explorer as the basis for comparison. I am
surprised
that, having archived everything prior to Jan. 1st 2004 I did
not
see
a
larger reduction in file size. I know that I have not archived
this
file
before. But this may be around the tiume that I switched from
Outlook
Express.

Thanks anyway.

- Andrew
message
Then you had nothing more to compact.
Remember the reported size in Outlook won't change. The file
size
change
will be noticed in Windows Explorer.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
Yes. It runs for about two seconds and the file is no
smaller
afterwards.

Any other ideas?

Thanks
message
Have you compacted it?
Look in the properties of your PST file > Advanced >
Compact
Now
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
I archived a lot of data and my .PST file has not
shrunken
at
all.
Why
not?
Is there something else that I need to do? I assume that
there
is
a
lot
of
wasted space in it now.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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