/cleanprofile Details Request

[Cleffer]

I require more details regarding the /cleanprofile switch in Outlook 2007 (XP)

The only description I can find states "Removes invalid profile keys and
re-creates default registry keys where applicable."

What does it indicate as an invalid profile key?
Is there is source that details which registry files it checks and changes?

I'm assuming the results of this key are permanent. Is this the case?

I could run regmon, but figured there should be a source with details
somewhere. Would hate to miss something.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

The mail profile contains various cross references. When these somehow get
corrupted, your mail profile will fail to function and Outlook might not
load. What the switch does is looking at the current account configuration
and recreate the depending keys in necessary/possible.

Also, some keys are no longer needed after an upgrade/downgrade of Outlook
and these will be removed as well.

In some cases this could lead to a total loss of the mail profile and then
have to be recreated after all. Basically it is a last resort fix attempt,
if this switch wasn't there, you'd have to recreate the mail profile anyway.

 

[Cleffer]

The mail profile contains various cross references. When these somehow get
corrupted, your mail profile will fail to function and Outlook might not
load. What the switch does is looking at the current account configuration
and recreate the depending keys in necessary/possible.

Is there an article available detailing the account configuration changes?
Do you know if any of the changes would be made in areas where GPOs or
policies are typically enforced?

In some cases this could lead to a total loss of the mail profile and then
have to be recreated after all. Basically it is a last resort fix attempt,
if this switch wasn't there, you'd have to recreate the mail profile anyway.

Does this solely involve the ost? I'm assuming pst files and customer
profiles stored off site (not cached) and loaded locally would remain safe
from corruption and would be easily replaced in most circumstances.


(Thank you Brian for the additional information as well.)

Thank you for your time. I greatly appreciate it.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

1) I don't think this is documented as such. It's a matter of trial and
error if you want to find out the inner workings of the profile key in the
registry and read and combine the partial information that is available on
support.microsoft.com, Technet and the ORK.
These areas are not touched by GPO as they are all about making your mail
profile work. I don't think you want a GPO that corrupts your mail profile
;-)

2) It has nothing to do with data corruption but with settings corruption.
Losing a mail profile will not lose data.

 

[Cleffer]

I appreciate the information.

Due to my user environment, I required confirmation that the switch didn't
touch anything outside of the profile area and would not affect other
settings.

Thank you for your time. I greatly appreciate it.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

You're welcome!

I appreciate the information.

Due to my user environment, I required confirmation that the switch didn't
touch anything outside of the profile area and would not affect other
settings.

Thank you for your time. I greatly appreciate it.