Can not delete emails

[Guest]

I am having a problems with outlook 2000 - SR3 installed

When you try to delete a message from the inbox or any personal folder
Outlook responds with the message:

the messaging system has returned an unknown error. If the problem persists
please restart outlook.

Of course restarting oputlook doesn't resolve the issue (I have yet to see
restarting the program fix anything).

Folders themselves can be deleted with all emails saved therein, just not
messages individually.

What has been tried:
Running the inbox repair tool - responds that there is an error in the PST
file
Creating a backup file and loading that when restarting outlook
Repatching with all SRs and patches issued to date
Running a repair installation

The PST file for this system is not overly large (less than 700 Kb). But it
does seem to have some sort of error in it.

Is there anything to try other than exporting the inbox to a text file,
blowing away the PST file and importing the text file to start over (loses
all attachments)?

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

ScanPST reported an error but did it do anything about it? Have you tried
exporting to another PST file?

 

[Brian Tillman]

I am having a problems with outlook 2000 - SR3 installed

When you try to delete a message from the inbox or any personal folder
Outlook responds with the message:

the messaging system has returned an unknown error. If the problem
persists please restart outlook.

Of course restarting oputlook doesn't resolve the issue (I have yet
to see restarting the program fix anything).

Folders themselves can be deleted with all emails saved therein, just
not messages individually.

What has been tried:
Running the inbox repair tool - responds that there is an error in
the PST file

Did it repair the error?

Creating a backup file and loading that when restarting outlook
Repatching with all SRs and patches issued to date
Running a repair installation

The PST file for this system is not overly large (less than 700 Kb).
But it does seem to have some sort of error in it.

If this were my PST, I'd create a new one (File>New>Personal Folders File),
make it my delivery location (just how is dependent on whether you've
installed OL 2000 in IMO or CW mode. Help>About will tell you which), and
then copy the contents of the old PST to the new one, leaving out, of
course, those items that are giving the probems.

Is there anything to try other than exporting the inbox to a text
file, blowing away the PST file and importing the text file to start
over (loses all attachments)?

Don't export or import. None needed. And you won't lose any attachments,
even if you were to export and import.

 

[Guest]

I have the same problem with Outlook 2000

I have sent emails which have been received four times by each recipient.
They still show in the Outbox and I cannot delete them.

I cannot delete any files from Outlook as you say

Also I tried to edit a contact in Outlook and was unable to save the change

I have tried System Restore which made no difference. I have uninstalled and
reinstalled Outlook, this also made no difference

I can only assume the pst file is damaged or corrupted in some way

My pst file is over 1 gig and contains many attachments, is there a fix for
this problem?

 

[Brian Tillman]

I have sent emails which have been received four times by each
recipient. They still show in the Outbox and I cannot delete them.
http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/messagestuckinoutbox.htm

My pst file is over 1 gig and contains many attachments, is there a
fix for this problem?

Your PST is getting a little large. Have you used SCANPST.EXE on it? If
you can open your PST, create a new one and copy come of the data ion the
old one to the new one. Delete what you can, if you can, from the old one
and compact it.

 

[Guest]

If you've already run a repair on the PST, try the following:

Open the message by double clicking on it. Choose Edit-> Edit message. Type
or remove some characters (you can usually type 3-4 spaces). Save and close
the message.
Try to delete the message again.

 

[Guest]

Nope, it just reported an error while indicating the scan was complete. I
wasn't watching but I suspect the scan aborted about 75% when it encountered
the error (it wasn't running long enough to complete the full scan).

Dale

 

[Guest]

1) The error was not fixed, just reported
2) I can not delete any EMails but I can delete a folder with EMails in it
3) I have already tried making backup files and copying files to/from the
originalk abd backup, the error isomes over with the copy. That's why going
through an export/import is the only real method to eliminate the error but
it loses the attachments.

I've been through this a couple times with this and prior versions of
Outlook (4 compiuters have office versions installed of one vintage or
another).

Dale

 

[Guest]

Interesting idea ... unfortunately no luck.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Guest]

Thank you Brian, the directions on howto-outlook.com worked for deleting the
files in the Outbox

 

[Brian Tillman]

1) The error was not fixed, just reported
2) I can not delete any EMails but I can delete a folder with EMails
in it 3) I have already tried making backup files and copying files
to/from the originalk abd backup, the error isomes over with the
copy. That's why going through an export/import is the only real
method to eliminate the error but it loses the attachments.

Export/import will NOT lose attachments unless there's something wrong with
the original PST. Since it's apparent that there is, why not follow the
advice I already gave you about starting fresh with a brand-new PST. I'd
bet money it will work if you follow my instructions.