Launching & shutting down Outlook

[Guest]

I have a robust machine with plent of RAM, and launching and shutting down
Outlook seems to take WAAAY more time than it should. I don't think I have
an excessive amount of data in it and I don't even use it for email (I use
Eudora). All my other apps open briskly, but Outlook seems almost like its
hanging. (In fact it does periodically.) It has gotten so bad that I have
to remember to shut it down separately about 5 minutes before actually
logging off or I find myself sitting here and waiting for it when I want to
shut down and leave. Any ideas on what can be the trouble and how to fix it?

 

[Pat Willener]

I observe similar behavior when Outlook is connected to a remote
Exchange Server. But it may be caused by other things - numerous add-ons
for example.

Please supply more info: Outlook version? Add-ons? Account type(s)?

 

[Guest]

Ah, yes, more information. Office 2003. Windows XP Professional, SP2. User
account, Administrator. Add-ons? None of significance (that I know of).
All updates are in place. Hardware? Pentium 4, 3.40 GHz. One gig of RAM.
Generally speaking, there are 2 or 3 apps running at shutdown, including
Eudora and Word. Sometimes Acrobat, too. Therre is NO remote exchange
server in play.

 

[Pat Willener]

I assume that you are using one or more PST files; could it be that they
are very large, and/or severely fragmented? While Outlook is not
running, try to defragment the PST locations, and also the location
where Outlook is installed.

Also, does the same thing happen if you start Outlook in safe mode
(Start -> Run, type
outlook /SAFE
)?

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the ideas. Given what I know about my use, it's hard to imagine
that the PST file is too big, however. (Any idea what the "typical" PST file
size would be?) That said, I do defrag fairly regularly, and I also allow
auto-archiving, but I'll try the targeted defrag that you suggest. I'll also
do the Safe Mode test (although that opens another can of troubleshooting
worms if it works, doesn't it). I will report back.