Outlook not closing PST files correctly

I have a problem with Outlook where it is not closing it's data files (PST) correctly.

Nearly every time Outlook is started after the machine was shutdown it will complain that it's files were not closed properly and does a check of the files. Problem is that the file is over 900MB and it does take a while to check. I have ran ScanPST (Inbox repair tool) over the PST files a few times and it has not fixed this problem. I have also reinstalled Office on the machine.

I am running out of ideas here, has anyone encountered a problem like this before?

Did anything unusual happen between when it worked and when it quit?

There is an upper limit on pst size, but I think it's about 2gb. I create additional pst's and split up my stuff to keep pst's around 100mb or less, Outlook seems to be much happier and quicker with smaller pst's.

I have never seen your problem before, sorry.

I agree with Doug, we have a lot of users here who use PST files like you wouldn't beleive (Those are the ones who can be bothered to actually use them).
We do seem to se lots of problems with large PST files. The solution is to keep them a reasonable size (I believe there is a finite size for them anyway).
Although this offers you no solution for you predicament, it could answer why this is happening.

I built a server at work specifically for PST files it's at 120 GB and I work at a small company.

Honestly I tell my users to keep it under 500 MB.....

PST files become corrupt all to often.

You should create 2 more pst files right away and move the data from your old pst into the new ones. (Splitting the load)

Sounds like your file is eventually going to become unreadable....

So get it out of the old and store it in a fresh file......


Not sure what version of outlook your running but older versions are not self compacting.....

Meaning if you have have a 20 mb pst and delete 10 mb it's still 20 mb (Run the compact feature)


"Mozilla Firefox - Best Browser Ever - Download it here"

I have two questions. Firstly, has the issue been resolved?

Secondly, does the machine with the problem sync
Outlook items to a Palm device using the Palm Hotsync?

I have one user at work who has this issue and he is the
only one that uses a Palm. We have moved all his mail to
a new PST, reinstalled Office and even given him a brand new laptop
as well and the problem still occurs almost every time the machine
is rebooted.

I dont know for sure if it is the issue
but I am trying to narrow down the causes.

Cheers
Wildman

I have recently (12/04) begun having this problem also. A solution would surely be appreciated!

Also just started to have the same problem - just after upgrading to Outlook 2003 from 2000. No problems before. That said, the 500mb limit might very well apply, since a 670mb pst consistently has issues. I'll give the chop-it-up approach a try...

I am having this problem as well. My pst file is generally less than 200MB, and I compact it about once a month. I am also having a problem with "outlook vba plugin" getting disabled at startup. This happens about half of the time that Outlook is restarted. It has been going on since I upgraded to Outlook 2003.

Google desktop search crawls around the pst file while outlook tries to close it. Killing google off seems to help.

how on earth did this get dragged up to the first page ?? !

Curious isn't it? My only guess is that an admin edited one of the posts or something.