Corrupt Contacts folder

[Jim Ihrke]

Has anyone run across an issue when clicking on the
contacts folder in outlook that it immediately creates an
error message and restarts. I believe that the folder
must be corrupt, but because it is a "special" folder I
cannot delete it and recreate it. If it is a corrupt
contact, I cant get in the folder to delete it. How can
I delete the contacts folder or is there a better
solution. I am using Exchange 2000 on Win 2000 Server
and Outlook XP as the client. Any help would be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks in Advance
Jim

 

[Ryan M. Keith [MSFT]]

Hello Jim,

Since you are using an Exchange server, I am assuming that your mail is
stored on the server, and not downloaded to a local PST file. If this is
the case, does this problem occur if you access your mailbox through another
PC? Does the problem also show up if you access your mailbox through OWA
(if available)?

If you are using an OST file, please synchronize your file, and then
remove/recreate the file. Use the following KB for additional
information....

259077 XCLN: Information About .ost File Synchronization Sizes
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=259077
296080 OL2002: Remote Mail, Offline Folders, and Working Offline
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=296080
286038 OL2002: What Are Offline Folders and How Do You Use Them
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=286038

--
Thank you for choosing Microsoft,

Ryan


This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
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[Jim Ihrke]

Ryan,

You are correct my mail is stored on the server. The
problem does occur when trying it on different PC's, but
does work ok when connecting through OWA.

Thanks Jim

 

[Ryan M. Keith [MSFT]]

Jim,

If the contacts folder is visible through OWA, then it "could" be a bad
contact.

1. Try and export your contacts folder to a PST file. Can you open the
folder from the PST? If so, contact your Exchange Admin, and have them
delete your contacts folder either using MDBVU or Exchange Client. Then,
start outlook with the /resetfolders switch. (Start -> Run -> "outlook
/resetfolders" -> OK) Reinport your contacts from the PST made above

2. If the exported PST is still not able to be accessed by Outlook, try
removing your contacts one-by-one through OWA. There are no utilities for
scanning the folder to see which contact might be damaged. This is
obviously a "needle in a haystack" method but it is the only way.

3. Have your Exchange Admin restore your mailbox from a previous backup and
attempt to recover the folder from there.


--
Thank you for choosing Microsoft,

Ryan


This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
OR if you wish to include a script sample in your post please add "Use of
included script samples are subject to the terms specified at
http://www.microsoft.com/info/cpyright.htm"

 

[Jim Ihrke]

Ryan,

I'm also the exchange admin, unfortunately I am not
familiar with the MDBVU program to delete the contacts
folder... could you give me some advice with that
program. I did find mdbvu32 and executed it, when I ran
it i accepted the default value at the top (which
is "NULL") and clicked OK. I then created the proper
profile for the mailbox in question once in there I felt
a little lost.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Jim

 

[Jim Ihrke]

Ryan,

forget my last post... I took the easy way out and used
an exchange client and deleted the folder using that.
Everything worked out just as you said it would, thanks
alot for your help

Jim