Office SP2 Breaks Outlook Instant Search

[Aakash Shah]

I recently installed Office 2007 SP2 on my work computer and I am finding
that search queries within Outlook 2007 are much slower than before. It is
almost as slow as if indexing was not enabled. I am using Outlook 2007 in
cached exchange mode with an Exchange 2003 server on Windows Server 2003. I
am using version 4 of WDS.

Here is what I have tried:
1. I recreated the OST file and then rebuilt my index. But, this did not
help.
2. I have verified that Outlook shows under the Indexing Options and that my
mailbox is selected.
3. The Indexing Options interface indicates that my indexing is complete, so
the computer is still not indexing.

I am also experiencing the same problems on my home computer in Outlook 2007
after installing SP2. My home computer does not use an Exchange connection,
but instead uses PST files for my POP accounts.

My OST file with my Exchange connection is 2.03GB and my home's PST file is
1.62GB. So, while they are large files, they are not enormous.

I only notice this slow searching problem when using the "Try searching
again in All Mail Items" option - searches within the current folder are
relatively quick. Also, I do not experience this problem inside the Windows
Explorer search feature where emails searches remain quick.

If I do the same search through the Vista Search window, the searches are
once again instant. So, the problem appears to be specific to Outlook 2007.

I uninstalled SP2 and the problem went away. So, the problem is definitely
caused by Office 2007 SP2.

Has anyone found a workaround for this problem?

Thanks.

 

[Ben M. Schorr - MVP (OneNote)]

I haven't seen the same problem, actually. After updating the schema of
the information store and reindexing the file my search is as fast or
faster than before.

I'm not quite sure what else to suggest for you - but I'll give it some
thought. 2GB is a fairly substantial information store but if you say
it was searching faster before...

--
-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, MVP
Roland Schorr & Tower
http://www.rolandschorr.com
http://www.officeforlawyers.com
Author - The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Outlook 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/5m3f5q

 

[Aakash Shah]

Thanks for responding Ben! Just to verify, when you tested searching in
Outlook after installing SP2, searching was still very fast even if you use
the "Search All Items" option correct? Also, can you tell us what your
environment looks like (Exchange server version, WDS version, OS)? I'm
trying to find a pattern to this problem.

There are others that have also experienced this slow searching problem.
Here are some people:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com.../thread/a01ca01e-e451-4ef7-9195-9c71b5401c4b/

http://www.itwriting.com/blog/1305-...ix-at-last.html/comment-page-1#comment-129836

http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-13399-0.html?forumID=102&threadID=308324&messageID=3073559

Thanks.

 

[conrad]

hi, i heard of this problem from much people. most of them have this
problem by searching ALL mails.
is it the same on your computer?

i think this is caused by SP2 and i also hope this problem will be
fixed fast!
i was very nerved and looked for alternative search tools and found
this one:

http://www.lookeen.com

maybe this will help you,

greets conrad

 

[Aakash Shah]

My problem is the same! The searching problem presents itself when I choose
the "searching all mails" option.

I am certain it is SP2, because as soon as I uninstalled SP2, the problem
went away.

I'd prefer to stick with Windows Desktop Search 4 since it is integrated
into the system, and also because it has been working very well for me until
SP2. So, I've uninstalled SP2 in the meantime until MS fixes this bug.