Why does it do that?

"All the e-mail messages that you receive go through an e-mail server for your e-mail account. Depending on the type of e-mail account that you use, your e-mail messages are processed in one or more of the following ways.

1. Messages remain on the server. Outlook connects to the server, and you can read or delete your messages.
   
2. Messages are downloaded to a local data file called a Personal Folders file (.pst). Outlook connects to the local .pst file so that you can read and delete your messages.
   
3. Copies of messages are downloaded and synchronized with messages on the e-mail server. Microsoft Exchange Server accounts provide this functionality by creating a local Offline Folder file (.ost). This file is used for working offline when you can't connect or don't want to connect to the e-mail server. This file is also used by the Cached Exchange Mode feature in Outlook 2003.

E-mail account types differ in how e-mail messages are saved and synchronized with the e-mail server. For example, by default POP3 e-mail accounts delete e-mail messages from the e-mail server when downloaded into Outlook. However, you can customize how e-mail messages are retrieved and saved."

POP3 e-mail accounts

When you retrieve e-mail messages from a POP3 ( Post Office Protocol. A common protocol that is used to retrieve e-mail messages from an Internet e-mail server.) e-mail account, the messages are deleted from the e-mail server by default after they are downloaded to your computer. For many people, this works great.

However, if you want to check your e-mail from multiple computers, you must configure Outlook to not delete the messages on your e-mail server. This scenario is most common for people who want to check their home Internet service provider (ISP) e-mail account from work and download the messages for permanent storage on their home computer.

When you leave messages on your e-mail server, you can choose from several options to delete your messages. To make your choice, you need to consider several factors about your e-mail usage, such as how long you want the messages to be accessible from multiple computers and the storage limits imposed by your e-mail server administrator. If you exceed your storage limit, you might be unable to receive new messages or might be charged additional fees. Typically, it is best to have one computer set to the default setting that doesn't leave e-mail messages on the e-mail server. When you use the computer to retrieve your e-mail messages, they are downloaded and deleted from the e-mail server. If you choose not to do this, Outlook allows you to select a time duration for leaving e-mail messages on the server.

Also:
Wikipedia.com:
POP3

IMAP e-mail accounts

When you access an IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) e-mail account, your messages are copied locally. However, the messages also remain on the e-mail server until you mark them for deletion and use the Purge Deleted Items command.

Also:

HTTP e-mail accounts

When you access an HTTP e-mail account, such as MSN Hotmail, your messages are saved on the e-mail server until you delete them.

Also:
Free email providers

Exchange Server e-mail accounts

When you access an Exchange Server e-mail account, your messages are saved on the e-mail server until you delete them.

Also:
Slipstick.com:
Exchange Server
MS Exchange.org

Labels: General, Tips, Troubleshoot

Don't Alt-Tab

Slipstick.com:

"Get in the habit of minimizing Outlook 2003 rather than just using Alt-Tab or a Windows task bar button to switch to another program. If you leave the full Outlook 2003 window active, it may use so much memory that it stops responding"

"While Outlook 2003 is running, it periodically pages memory in and out of the process address space. When the memory that is free is large, Outlook 2003 is permitted to have more pages in memory. This increases the memory that is being used by Outlook 2003. If another application requires memory, Outlook will release memory.

When you minimize the Outlook 2003 program window, the pages are switched so that the pages that are not required for user interaction are switched out of memory. When you maximize the Outlook 2003 program window again, the pages that are used for user interaction are switched in to memory, and the memory usage begins to increase again.

This could happen when working with a large .pst or .ost file as well as other actions within Outlook."

Labels: Troubleshoot

When all else fails

• Confirm that your e-mail server settings are correct
  
• Examine the configuration of your firewall software
  
• Check your antivirus vendor's Web site for additional suggestions
  
• Determine whether your modem is functioning correctly
  
• Verify the Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) size that is set on your router
  
• Remove and then reinstall Outlook Express
  
• Create a new e-mail profile
  
• Delete suspicious messages from your mailbox

G4TV.com:
Troubleshoot Microsoft Outlook Problems
written by Chris Pirillo

Microsoft TechNet:
Troubleshooting Outlook Web Access

Microsoft Office Online:
Microsoft Office Outlook 2007

Slipstick.com:
Mail Issues with Microsoft Outlook



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outlook

Labels: Troubleshoot

Words from the wise

The suggestions come from Slipstick.com, so you know they're good.

The publication is available both as an e-mail newsletter and with RSS distribution.




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outlook

Labels: General, Tips, Troubleshoot, Tutorials

Investigative techniques

"The High Technology Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA) is designed to encourage, promote, aid and effect the voluntary interchange of data, information, experience, ideas and knowledge about methods, processes, and techniques relating to investigations and security in advanced technologies among its membership."

Labels: General, Tips, Troubleshoot, Tutorials

Error warning

Here are other ways to do it:

In the following selections, you should know that The URL:Mailto Protocol is located at the top of the list proceeded by (None), not at the bottom with the other U's.

Microsoft KB;
The Locate Link Browser dialog box
appears when you open a Web link in an e-mail message in Outlook 2003

To resolve this problem, follow these steps to clear the Use DDE check box:

1. Double-click My Computer.
   
2. On the View menu, click Folder Options (or Tools>Folder Options).
   
3. On the File Types tab, click URL:MailTo Protocol in the Registered File Types list, and then click Edit.
   
4. In the Actions box, click Open, and then click Edit.
   
5. Click to remove the Use DDE check box, and then click OK.
   
6. Click Close two times.

1. OpenExplorer
   
2. Select Tools and then Folder Options
   
3. Select the File Types tab
   
4. Select Extension: (NONE), File Type: URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol
   
5. Click Advanced toward the bottom of the window
   
6. In the Edit File Type window, select open and click Edit
   
7. Clear the check for DDE above the DDE message box (which should contain "%1" or similar)
   
8. Click OK, Click OK

Labels: Troubleshoot

Troubleshoot

Inside Outlook Express
Help, tips and technical information for Microsoft Outlook Express

Outlook Express
E-mail and Newsgroup Reader

Learn how to use Outlook Express to stay in touch with friends and family, and share information in newsgroups with other users like you.

Latest News

Knowledge base articles
Collected by
Jim Pickering MS-MVP

Repair Outlook Express

Outlook Mail Recovery

Mail-Repair.com



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outlook

Labels: General, Tips, Troubleshoot

Possible Vista trouble

Sometimes when Vista is installed over XP and Office 2003, there is a problem setting Outlook as the email system.

Vista wants to use Microsoft Mail.

One solution is to reinstall Office 2003, but first try this:

1. Make sure that Outlook is not running.
   
   
2. Click Start, type %programfiles%\Microsoft Office\Office11 in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
   
   
3. Locate and then right-click Outlook.exe, and then click Run as Administrator.
   
   
4. Click Yes to set Outlook as the default e-mail client.
   
   
5. Exit Outlook.

Labels: Troubleshoot

Call me Ishmael

Microsoft Outlook maintains a nickname list that is used by both the automatic name checking and the automatic completion features. The nickname list is automatically generated as you use Outlook.
If the nickname cache is corrupted, Outlook may not be able to identify recipients, may offer incorrect recipients when automatically completing the e-mail address, or may send the message to the wrong person. You may also, just want to reset the whole list.

1. Quit Outlook.
   
2. Start Windows Explorer.
   
3. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options, and then click the View tab.
   
4. Under Advanced Settings, click to select the Show hidden files and folders check box.
   
5. Click OK.
   
6. Click Start, point to Search, and then click For Files or Folders.
   
7. In the Search for Files or Folders box, type *.NK2 in the File Name box.
   
8. In the Look In box, click to select your local hard disk.
   
9. Click Search Now.
   
10. Right-click the .NK2 file with the name of the profile that you want to reset, and then click Rename.
    
11. Rename the file to yourname.bak, and then press ENTER.
    
12. Quit Windows Explorer.
    
13. Restart Outlook.
    

Outlook will generate a new nickname cache.

Knowlegebase Article 287623

Slipstick.com:
Name Resolution

Microsoft KB:
How to remove corrupted names in nickname list in Outlook.
Microsoft Outlook 2000, 98, 97



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outlook

Labels: Tips, Troubleshoot

Sent mail vanishes

Labels: Troubleshoot

A Solution

Some are having problems with using Outlook 2003 to access Hotmail accounts using the HTTP protocol.

It keeps asking for your password.

If you have recently upgraded to Internet Explorer version 7, here is an article that should help. Scroll to the bottom to find the Windows XP download.

Authentication fails when you use Outlook to log on to a HTTP-based mail server if you use Internet Explorer version 7.0



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outlook

Labels: Troubleshoot