Outlook 2007 Checks Mail Every 60 Seconds

[jekeesl]

I started a thread on this topic a couple of weeks ago, and thought I would
summarize in a new thread since the problem persists.

I use Outlook 2007 with Outlook Connector for my primary POP3 and Hotmail
accounts on Windows 7. All works well, except that Outlook checks for mail
about once per minute. I do not have Fax Transport activated for my mail
profile. Several people posted possible fixes as follows:

* Rebooted and started Outlook. Reset Outlook's Auto-send period to every
30 minutes.
* Opened Outlook using safe switch via Start, Run, "outlook.exe /safe".
* Shut down Outlook, located the srs-files for my mail profile and renamed
them to .old.
* Created a new Outlook mail profile and set up the POP3 and Hotmail
accounts for that profile.

None of the actions listed above affected the current problem. Outlook
continues to poll for new mail every 60 seconds or so. I was told that if
this behavior continues, it could corrupt my PST. Do you have any ideas on
the cause of this problem and a possible solution?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Aeroloose]

I started a thread on this topic a couple of weeks ago, and thought I
would summarize in a new thread since the problem persists.

I use Outlook 2007 with Outlook Connector for my primary POP3 and
Hotmail accounts on Windows 7. All works well, except that Outlook
checks for mail about once per minute. I do not have Fax Transport
activated for my mail profile. Several people posted possible fixes as
follows:

* Rebooted and started Outlook. Reset Outlook's Auto-send period to
every 30 minutes.
* Opened Outlook using safe switch via Start, Run, "outlook.exe /safe".
* Shut down Outlook, located the srs-files for my mail profile and
renamed them to .old.
* Created a new Outlook mail profile and set up the POP3 and Hotmail
accounts for that profile.

None of the actions listed above affected the current problem. Outlook
continues to poll for new mail every 60 seconds or so. I was told that
if this behavior continues, it could corrupt my PST. Do you have any
ideas on the cause of this problem and a possible solution?

Thanks,
Jim

A quick DAGS shows a recurring theme with Hotmail and
Outlook Connector issues regarding polling times. Here's a
few things to try / check to see if the problem can be
characterized:
- temporarily disable Outlook Connector and see if the
frequency improves;
- temporarily remove the Hotmail account to see if the
frequency improves;
- try both combined.

If any of these are successful, then the subsequent
troubleshooting can be more focused.

If these make no difference, do you have other add-ins
running? BCM (business contact manager) has been mentioned
as a potential culprit.

 

[jekeesl]

Aeroloose, I removed my Hotmail account and uninstalled Outlook Connector
(version 12). After I rebooted and restarted Outlook, the checking mail
notification at the bottom of the screen stopped showing on short intervals.
I downloaded the version 14, 32-bit Outlook Connector and installed it.
After I set up my Hotmail account and restarted, polling times got worse
than in the original situation. The notification now pops up every 35
seconds or so. I do not have any other add-ins like BCM running.

I then sent a test note to myself to confirm that Hotmail was set up
properly. Although that send/receive notification continued to pop up every
35 seconds, the mail did not come through. After about 2 minutes, I clicked
to manually send/receive, and it came through fine. Since I have a 3G
wireless account, test messages from my POP3 account to Hotmail usually show
up 5-10 seconds after they're sent, when I manually check for mail. That
suggests the send/receive notification I'm seeing every 35 seconds does not
mean that my mail is actually being checked. Any ideas?

 

[Aeroloose]

Aeroloose, I removed my Hotmail account and uninstalled Outlook
Connector (version 12). After I rebooted and restarted Outlook, the
checking mail notification at the bottom of the screen stopped showing
on short intervals. I downloaded the version 14, 32-bit Outlook
Connector and installed it. After I set up my Hotmail account and
restarted, polling times got worse than in the original situation. The
notification now pops up every 35 seconds or so. I do not have any other
add-ins like BCM running.

I then sent a test note to myself to confirm that Hotmail was set up
properly. Although that send/receive notification continued to pop up
every 35 seconds, the mail did not come through. After about 2 minutes,
I clicked to manually send/receive, and it came through fine. Since I
have a 3G wireless account, test messages from my POP3 account to
Hotmail usually show up 5-10 seconds after they're sent, when I manually
check for mail. That suggests the send/receive notification I'm seeing
every 35 seconds does not mean that my mail is actually being checked.
Any ideas?

Interesting. Now it sounds like your polling time may be
OK, but the notification is whacked. Try turning OFF the
pop-up, then exit Outlook, then reboot. Go back into
Outlook (don't enable the pop-up yet), try a couple test
emails, and measure the send/receive interval. Also check
your original send/receive timer setting - what is it now?
Did it match the new interval?

Then restore the pop-up and see what you get.


<snip for top-post readability>

 

[jekeesl]

Aeroloose, I went to advanced settings and turned off all four
notifications. After a shutdown and restart, Outlook checked for mail. It
rechecked about 35 seconds later, and still showed the notification on the
bottom, right-hand corner of the screen. My timer was set at 30 minutes.

I reset the timer to 3 minutes, restarted Outlook, and then sent a test mail
to myself. Outlook checked for mail 30-35 seconds later, and nothing
happened. It checked again in roughly 30 seconds, and my test message came
through. That suggests the polling time is messed up, along with the
notifications. Other ideas? I guess I'll restore the popup for now.

 

[Aeroloose]

Aeroloose, I went to advanced settings and turned off all four
notifications. After a shutdown and restart, Outlook checked for mail.
It rechecked about 35 seconds later, and still showed the notification
on the bottom, right-hand corner of the screen. My timer was set at 30
minutes.

I reset the timer to 3 minutes, restarted Outlook, and then sent a test
mail to myself. Outlook checked for mail 30-35 seconds later, and
nothing happened. It checked again in roughly 30 seconds, and my test
message came through. That suggests the polling time is messed up, along
with the notifications. Other ideas? I guess I'll restore the popup for
now.

That's odd; it provided a notification even after you turned
it off? Perhaps an Outlook "repair" might help (admittedly
a shotgun approach). Otherwise, I'm running out of
troubleshooting ideas. Since it's related to Hotmail and
Outlook Connector, can you check your Hotmail account
preferences and see if there's anything related to polling
time? Other options are deeper research into OC settings (I
couldn't find much) or a separate trial with a new Hotmail
account to see if it's account-specific.

Best of luck ...

 

[jekeesl]

I did an Outlook repair a while back for another issue, and it is relatively
easy. However, I don't know why that would change anything, since this is
not likely an Outlook issue. And, to my knowledge, there are no Hotmail or
Connector settings that changes the timing or available types for
notifications. I guess I'll try contacting Hotmail support, and see if they
have suggestions.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Aeroloose]

I did an Outlook repair a while back for another issue, and it is
relatively easy. However, I don't know why that would change anything,
since this is not likely an Outlook issue. And, to my knowledge, there
are no Hotmail or Connector settings that changes the timing or
available types for notifications. I guess I'll try contacting Hotmail
support, and see if they have suggestions.

Thanks for your help.

YW. Too bad it wasn't a simple fix. I see another poster
with OC checked his poll rate and got 60 seconds, too; maybe
it's hard-coded into the OC / Hotmail program.

 

[jekeesl]

I can't get decent help from Hotmail, but do have an Office package less
than a year old, so can try e-mail support for Outlook 2007. Thanks for
your persistence.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

I don't think mine is checking every minute as I use two accounts for test
messages and it takes much longer for them to come in. (I have polling set
to 10 min.) I'm not getting popups every minute as the accounts are
remembering my password - however, if there is something goofy with the
server, internet connection, or my password is wrong, I have gotten the
password prompt in the past and its persistent in wanting to connect.



--
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[Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]]

I don't think mine is checking every minute as I use two accounts for test
messages and it takes much longer for them to come in. (I have polling set to
10 min.) I'm not getting popups every minute as the accounts are remembering
my password - however, if there is something goofy with the server, internet
connection, or my password is wrong, I have gotten the password prompt in the
past and its persistent in wanting to connect.

I, too, have a Hotmail account defined and do not notice the 60 second
send/receive interval. I have my send/receive interval set to ten minutes.
I'll pay attention this evening to see if I notice a more frequent poll.

 

[jekeesl]

I got a note back from MS Outlook Support, and they said that it is normal
for send/receive to check on short intervals with the MAPI account. That
happens because the server is updating other Hotmail stuff (like calendar,
etc.), and the server is controlling intervals. I had never noticed,
though, that type of quick interval in previous years, and have been using
Outlook Connector for a long time. I also thought it was interesting that I
had 60 second intervals with Connector version 12, and 35 second intervals
with Connector version 14.

The Support person said the easy "fix" is to set up Hotmail as a POP3
account. I did see online that you can do so; however, that only downloads
Hotmail to Outlook. It does not update any calendars or contacts, and does
not even synchronize read and deleted messages. I'm not interested in that
approach.

My main concern was whether the frequent polling was normal, and whether it
could cause problems. If you believe my Outlook Support contact, the
frequent polling is standard, per server synchronization settings. If that
is true, then I guess I'll leave it along.

Thanks, all, for your help.

 

[Tom Willett]

It appears that you never in the past told us you had an IMAP account. See
what happens when you don't give full information?

Yes, it's normal and won't hurt anything.

:I got a note back from MS Outlook Support, and they said that it is normal
: for send/receive to check on short intervals with the MAPI account. That
: happens because the server is updating other Hotmail stuff (like calendar,
: etc.), and the server is controlling intervals. I had never noticed,
: though, that type of quick interval in previous years, and have been using
: Outlook Connector for a long time. I also thought it was interesting that
I
: had 60 second intervals with Connector version 12, and 35 second intervals
: with Connector version 14.
:
: The Support person said the easy "fix" is to set up Hotmail as a POP3
: account. I did see online that you can do so; however, that only
downloads
: Hotmail to Outlook. It does not update any calendars or contacts, and
does
: not even synchronize read and deleted messages. I'm not interested in
that
: approach.
:
: My main concern was whether the frequent polling was normal, and whether
it
: could cause problems. If you believe my Outlook Support contact, the
: frequent polling is standard, per server synchronization settings. If
that
: is true, then I guess I'll leave it along.
:
: Thanks, all, for your help.
:
: : > : >
: >>I don't think mine is checking every minute as I use two accounts for
test
: >>messages and it takes much longer for them to come in. (I have polling
set
: >>to 10 min.) I'm not getting popups every minute as the accounts are
: >>remembering my password - however, if there is something goofy with the
: >>server, internet connection, or my password is wrong, I have gotten the
: >>password prompt in the past and its persistent in wanting to connect.
: >
: > I, too, have a Hotmail account defined and do not notice the 60 second
: > send/receive interval. I have my send/receive interval set to ten
: > minutes. I'll pay attention this evening to see if I notice a more
: > frequent poll.
: > --
: > Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]
:

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Huh? He said he was using the Connector in the very first post.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]]

It appears that you never in the past told us you had an IMAP account. See
what happens when you don't give full information?

Yes, it's normal and won't hurt anything.

Notice that he said "MAPI", not "IMAP".

 

[Tom Willett]

Whoops.

: :
: > It appears that you never in the past told us you had an IMAP account.
See
: > what happens when you don't give full information?
: >
: > Yes, it's normal and won't hurt anything.
:
: Notice that he said "MAPI", not "IMAP".
: --
: Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]
:

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]]

I, too, have a Hotmail account defined and do not notice the 60 second
send/receive interval. I have my send/receive interval set to ten minutes.
I'll pay attention this evening to see if I notice a more frequent poll.

I checked Outlook 2010 and this 60 second polling didn't happen (for me, any
way). I still have to check Outlook 2007, I just didn't get the opportunity.

 

[Ittlecas]

Its now 2 years later and I was doing a quick search on the internet to find an answer for the same problem. I did a bit of investigating and come up with more information for anybody who may also have this problem.

I didnt find the reason for the constant polling or understand what exactly its doing. But if the hotmail connector is in fact polling the server every 60 seconds, you would expect to see internet traffic every time it does its send and receive. So I tryed to shut anything and everything down that could be using internet with only outlook open to keep internet quiet. Then I opened the status window of my internet connection right next to outlooks send/receive window (with the pin windows button pushed). While there are still occational burbles of traffic on the connection (possibly just IP connection packets?), many times there is nothing sent or received when outlook shows its doing its thing.

I dont know what the hotmail connector is doing but it doesnt seem to actually be connecting to the server....