"Windows Mail can compact the message store"

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If you want to turn it off, go to:

Tools>Options>Advanced>Maintenace

and uncheck the box which says "Compact the database on shutdown every..."

However, its a good idea to do it, it doesn't delete any messages, but can
spped up WM.
 
Richard Urban said:
When you delete messages the space isn't necessarily freed up. By compacting
the store occasionally, every 100 shutdowns by default, it keeps the store
smaller than it otherwise would be. This is a good thing BTW.

-- So, does this mean to click "OK"


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
Click to expand...
 
Yeah I have been wondering that exact same thing. I had emails and then they
were gone, and I can't find them!!
 
Click on OK, and Windows Mail will remove the deleted messages, and reclaim
the space they took up.
 
Dave said:
Click on OK, and Windows Mail will remove the deleted messages, and
reclaim the space they took up.
Click to expand...

Unlike Outlook Express, WinMail does not store messages in a DBX file.
Instead, each message is an individual EML file. What gets compacted is the
database that WinMail uses to keep track of all the messages. Like any
database, "deleting" a message just marks the record to be deleted. Then
the message is actually deleted, but the database still has the record until
it is compacted. This means the database keeps getting bigger (and slower)
until it is compacted.
 
Hi
So in plain english is it a good thing to say yes to compact messages or
not? Will I lose my messages if I compact them or is it just compacting old
ones. I am not great with computers and I don't like saying yes to things I
don't know what they are. So just a simple answer if you please should we do
this and will it create problems with my computer if I do? It sounds like
other people have had problems after they have done this. Thank you in
advance for your help.
 
How do you stop the window that keeps popping up everytime you read an email?
This is very annoying.
 
What does the windows say?
You mean the one about compacting the message store? That one
should not come up every time you read an email.

Gary VanderMolen [MS MVP-WLM]
 
Carol in GA said:
I've had Vista installed for almost a month now and this evening I keep
getting a message when I close Windows Mail that says:

"Windows Mail can compact the message store. This can take a few minutes."
and asks "OK or Cancel"

What is this?
Click to expand...


I also just started to get this prompt.thak god i havet used it yet
util i could fid more out about it!i persoalized my laptop so wast expectig
to have this kid of waste of space after deletig a e-mail so i would
appreciate a full laymens terms explaination about the whole matter ad if its
best to just ot bother with it or if is eventually going to cause any kind
of problem!thaks for any help on this whole matter in advance! thanks
pkfav/dean
 
The Vista Mail compression just compacts the messages to be next to each
other. Like, drop a handful of silly putty into a plastic sandwich bag.
Now, burp that bag. If you don't know what burp means, simply squeeze the
bag around the silly putty to bleed out all the air, and then close the bag
when all the air is out of the bag. That's all it does, in laymen's terms.
:) Will not erase, delete, or change any messages in any way you will see
through Windows Mail. It only makes your computer and hard drive more
efficient/faster.
 
It does not compact the message store -- it compacts the message database. A
very good idea to help prevent corruption. I have mine set to compact the
database on every Windows Mail shutdown, and after nine months of use, I have
had no problems with Windows Mail.


I Bleed Blue and Gold
GO BEARS!
 
Carol in GA said:
I've had Vista installed for almost a month now and this evening I keep
getting a message when I close Windows Mail that says:

"Windows Mail can compact the message store. This can take a few minutes."
and asks "OK or Cancel"

What is this?
Click to expand...
 
I read all the answers to this question and I still don't understand... do I
click yes or cancel... and why?
 
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