Outlook 2003, Vista, and Windows Mobile Device Center = High CPU usage

[Don Gollahon]

I wrote about the Outlook 2003 CPU usage problem a while back and so
far have not found a solution. But I think I have narrowed down the
problem.

I removed my PST file and created a new one. I downloaded all of my
email and then imported my contacts and tasks from the old PST.
Outlook runs fine now on Vista.

I then removed my sync settings for my cell phone and set that all up
fresh again. After I got it all resynced Outlook is now back to
constantly using 40%+ of CPU. It also will not shut down without
killing it. And I am not syncing any more. My phone is not connected
to the laptop. Yet Outlook uses the cpu.

So it must me the new Windows Mobile Device Center that is not
releasing Outlook. I do have Vista SP1 installed, too.

Any ideas how to fix this?

Does Outlook 2007 have this problem?

 

[Don Gollahon]

I wrote about the Outlook 2003 CPU usage problem a while back and so
far have not found a solution. But I think I have narrowed down the
problem.

I removed my PST file and created a new one. I downloaded all of my
email and then imported my contacts and tasks from the old PST.
Outlook runs fine now on Vista.

I then removed my sync settings for my cell phone and set that all up
fresh again. After I got it all resynced Outlook is now back to
constantly using 40%+ of CPU. It also will not shut down without
killing it. And I am not syncing any more. My phone is not connected
to the laptop. Yet Outlook uses the cpu.

So it must me the new Windows Mobile Device Center that is not
releasing Outlook. I do have Vista SP1 installed, too.

Any ideas how to fix this?

Does Outlook 2007 have this problem?

I answered my own question: Installed Office 2007 Small Business
Trial. Outlook still uses 40+% of the CPU constantly.

 

[Don Gollahon]

I answered my own question: Installed Office 2007 Small Business
Trial. Outlook still uses 40+% of the CPU constantly.

I've tried everything I can find in this NG on this problem to no
avail. Looks like Outlook just will not work on Vista Home Premium
properly no matter what I do.

 

[Diane Poremsky {MVP}]

It works fine on that OS for most people. It may be the MDC or something
else causing problems.

 

[Don Gollahon]

It works fine on that OS for most people. It may be the MDC or
something else causing problems.

Is it possible to install MS ActiveSync in Vista, which worked with
Outlook on XP, when Windows MDC is on the machine?

 

[Diane Poremsky {MVP}]

No. AS doesn't work in Vista. I really think the problem goes deeper than
just MDC. Do you have any Outlook addins installed? Did you try a new
outlook profile?

 

[Don Gollahon]

No. AS doesn't work in Vista. I really think the problem goes deeper
than just MDC. Do you have any Outlook addins installed? Did you try
a new outlook profile?

Yep, I've turned off all addins except Norton. And I have tried a new
profile (a couple of times).

 

[Diane Poremsky {MVP}]

Are you scanning email with norton? Only use it for general OS scanning, not
for mail.

 

[Don Gollahon]

Are you scanning email with norton? Only use it for general OS
scanning, not for mail.

I'll turn it off for awhile and see if it helps. But with all the
viruses, etc, going around I won't keep it off forever. I had Norton's
in XP with Outlook 2003 and it all worked fine together.

 

[Diane Poremsky {MVP}]

as long as its on 'autoprotect' you'll be ok. Outlook writes files to the
securetemp folder before opening and autoprotect will catch any viruses at
that time - assuming you have a lapse in judgment and open the attachment
rather than delete the message. The reading pane in outlook 2002/2003/2007
does not support active content, so you'd need to do something more than
read a message in the preview pane to kick start it.

 

[Don Gollahon]

as long as its on 'autoprotect' you'll be ok. Outlook writes files to
the securetemp folder before opening and autoprotect will catch any
viruses at that time - assuming you have a lapse in judgment and open
the attachment rather than delete the message. The reading pane in
outlook 2002/2003/2007 does not support active content, so you'd need
to do something more than read a message in the preview pane to kick
start it.

Ok. All addins are inactive except the one that is labeled
"OutlookAddin". Antispam and Norton email scanning is off. I have
stopped and restarted Outlook. I is still using the CPU at 40+%. I'll
see how it runs tomorrow. If it still is doing this then I will remove
the partnership in MDC and see if that helps. But I really need to
sync. That is the reason I have returned to trying to solve this
Outlook problem after reverting to another PIM app. The other product
runs great but the syncing capablity it has is the pits.

 

[Diane Poremsky {MVP}]

Is that a dell with media direct? if so, disable the outlook addin.
http://www.slipstick.com/problems/recurringmeetings.htm has some info on the
problems. One of the symptoms is high cpu usage.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I'll turn it off for awhile and see if it helps. But with all the
viruses, etc, going around I won't keep it off forever. I had
Norton's in XP with Outlook 2003 and it all worked fine together.

Never trust a Symantec application to integrate properly with Outlook. They
have a very poor track record.

In order to truly disable the mail integration, you must uninstall Norton
AntiVirus and reinstall without the mail scanning feature.

 

[Don Gollahon]

Is that a dell with media direct? if so, disable the outlook addin.
http://www.slipstick.com/problems/recurringmeetings.htm has some info
on the problems. One of the symptoms is high cpu usage.

You are absolutely amazing!! This seems to have worked. CPU usage
decreased immediately! Thank you very much for being patient with me
thru my frustration.

Excellent job!

 

[Don Gollahon]

Never trust a Symantec application to integrate properly with
Outlook. They have a very poor track record.

In order to truly disable the mail integration, you must uninstall
Norton AntiVirus and reinstall without the mail scanning feature.

I have used Norton Internet Security for many years with no problems,
except for NIS 2007. I got a free upgrade to NIS 2008 and it has been
the best version yet. I've also used Outlook for many years. They
have always both worked together for me.

 

[Diane Poremsky {MVP}]

Had I known it was a Dell, we woulda solved it much sooner. I keep
forgetting it causes high CPU usage as the most common complaint is
recurring meetings.

since we know the cause, don't worry about norton's email scanning unless
you have lost mail or other goofy problems specifically with email.