Auto Archive settings crash computer

Using Outlook 2003. Attempting AutoArchive "Archive this folder using these
settings: Clean out items older than __ days/months/years. No problem until
I click a selection in the drop down of days/months/years. Then I get a
message that an error has occurred and Outlook needs to close. Happens every
time I try. I ran scanpst repair tool but still not working.

Of inerest, when I click "properties," in the popup screen under the general
tab/Description there are 9 vertical oblong characters (not letters, appear
to be computer generated gibberish) in each file. I don't recall seeing this
in the past, and am thinking there may be a connection.

Thanks,
Lois