Outlook Express message??

[Jo]

My apologies if you see this post more than once, since I'm not quite sure
which group to post it in, so I'll post it in a few that might be relevant.

For the last 3 days or so, I've had a message window appear when I boot up
Windows (XP SP3). It says "Outlook Express. To free up disk space, Outlook
Express can compact messages. This may take up to a few minutes." And then
the OK or Cancel buttons. I have always clicked Cancel.

Here's the weird thing -- I run Office Outlook (2003), NOT Outlook Express!
I've never run Outlook Express -- not on this Windows installation anyway.
Just in case this was an echo from Office Outlook, I compacted all my Outlook
PST files, but I'm still getting the message.

I find this message disturbing because, since I'm not running Express, I
wonder if it might be some kind of malware. But I run an anti-virus and
anti-spyware and firewall and I scan pretty much daily. It hasn't gone away
after scanning.

Has anyone else had this happen before, when you aren't running Outlook
Express? Thanks.

 

[Jerry]

My apologies if you see this post more than once, since I'm not quite sure
which group to post it in, so I'll post it in a few that might be
relevant.

For the last 3 days or so, I've had a message window appear when I boot up
Windows (XP SP3). It says "Outlook Express. To free up disk space, Outlook
Express can compact messages. This may take up to a few minutes." And then
the OK or Cancel buttons. I have always clicked Cancel.

Here's the weird thing -- I run Office Outlook (2003), NOT Outlook
Express!
I've never run Outlook Express -- not on this Windows installation anyway.
Just in case this was an echo from Office Outlook, I compacted all my
Outlook
PST files, but I'm still getting the message.

I find this message disturbing because, since I'm not running Express, I
wonder if it might be some kind of malware. But I run an anti-virus and
anti-spyware and firewall and I scan pretty much daily. It hasn't gone
away
after scanning.

Has anyone else had this happen before, when you aren't running Outlook
Express? Thanks.

Jo, do a google search of "outlook express compact sp3" and you will see
that there are a lot of people experiencing the same problem. In that
search you may find a cure.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[Being handled in OE General newsgroup]

 

[Jo]

Thank you very much to everyone who replied. At about 5:00PM I finally
decided to just uninstall SP3. It was a nightmare, but I did it and I'm no
longer getting the OE message. I was at least an hour on the phone with
Microsoft Tech Support (he was extremely nice and helpful) just getting the
video to behave. Then another 3.5 hours to download and install all the other
updates and security patches to bring SP2 up to date. I *think* it's okay
now. Interestingly, my scanner that I haven't been able to install since
installing SP3 is now working perfectly.

SP3 is a lemon and I'm glad to be rid of it. Good luck to anyone else who
wants to change their mind after installing SP3. A word to the wise - find
out how to do it properly. The tech support guy said *do not* uninstall it
through Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel (which is what I did). Why
MS put it there if it isn't the right way to uninstall it, is anyone's guess.
Thanks again for everyone's help, information and support!

Jo

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

:
: SP3 is a lemon and I'm glad to be rid of it.


For you, perhaps.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[Repost of my reply to your thread in OE General]

You should be aware of a few things, Jo:

1. Come April 2010, you will not receive any more Windows Updates unless SP3
is installed. With SP3 installed, you'll receive updates through 2014.

2. The free installation and compatibility support for WinXP SP3 that you
used will only be available through 09 April 2009.

3. With a little perseverance on your part, we probably could have assisted
you in getting that constant nag to compact OE folders to cease. (Only a
very small minority of WinXP SP3 users are experiencing this issue.)

4. It is perfectly safe for the majority of users to uninstall WinXP SP3 via
Add/Remove Programs. The tech told you not to do it that way, which
suggests that you may have had a "horked" (bad; faulty; incomplete) install
to begin with.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

She probably had the antivirus realtime protection running during the
install.

Tom
: 4. It is perfectly safe for the majority of users to uninstall WinXP SP3
via
: Add/Remove Programs. The tech told you not to do it that way, which
: suggests that you may have had a "horked" (bad; faulty; incomplete)
install
: to begin with.
:
: Best of luck to you.
: --
: ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
: MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
: AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
: DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
:
: Jo wrote:
: > Thank you very much to everyone who replied. At about 5:00PM I finally
: > decided to just uninstall SP3. It was a nightmare, but I did it and I'm
no
: > longer getting the OE message. I was at least an hour on the phone with
: > Microsoft Tech Support (he was extremely nice and helpful) just getting
: > the
: > video to behave. Then another 3.5 hours to download and install all the
: > other updates and security patches to bring SP2 up to date. I *think*
it's
: > okay now. Interestingly, my scanner that I haven't been able to install
: > since installing SP3 is now working perfectly.
: >
: > SP3 is a lemon and I'm glad to be rid of it. Good luck to anyone else
who
: > wants to change their mind after installing SP3. A word to the wise -
find
: > out how to do it properly. The tech support guy said *do not* uninstall
it
: > through Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel (which is what I did).
: > Why
: > MS put it there if it isn't the right way to uninstall it, is anyone's
: > guess. Thanks again for everyone's help, information and support!
: >
: > Jo
: >
: >
: > "Jo" wrote:
: >
: >> My apologies if you see this post more than once, since I'm not quite
: >> sure
: >> which group to post it in, so I'll post it in a few that might be
: >> relevant.
: >>
: >> For the last 3 days or so, I've had a message window appear when I boot
: >> up
: >> Windows (XP SP3). It says "Outlook Express. To free up disk space,
: >> Outlook
: >> Express can compact messages. This may take up to a few minutes." And
: >> then
: >> the OK or Cancel buttons. I have always clicked Cancel.
: >>
: >> Here's the weird thing -- I run Office Outlook (2003), NOT Outlook
: >> Express!
: >> I've never run Outlook Express -- not on this Windows installation
: >> anyway.
: >> Just in case this was an echo from Office Outlook, I compacted all my
: >> Outlook PST files, but I'm still getting the message.
: >>
: >> I find this message disturbing because, since I'm not running Express,
I
: >> wonder if it might be some kind of malware. But I run an anti-virus and
: >> anti-spyware and firewall and I scan pretty much daily. It hasn't gone
: >> away
: >> after scanning.
: >>
: >> Has anyone else had this happen before, when you aren't running Outlook
: >> Express? Thanks.
:

 

[Jo]

She probably had the antivirus realtime protection running during the
install.

No, actually I'm certain I turned that off. I was very aware of the delicate
installation procedure and I remember printing off the instructions to be
sure I wasn't stuck without them in mid-transition. And I remember feeling a
bit anxious to be connected to the Internet while "naked" without virus or
firewall protection.

I don't have any of the software on the red-flag list for problems in the
documentation, but maybe I have one that isn't on the list that was
incompatible. Or maybe my antivirus (Trend) kept something in memory that
interfered with it. *shrug* Don't know.

As I said in my response in the Outlook Express group, I'll probably give it
another try down the road but will try to have a tech person on the other end
of the phone while I do it this time. Then, if something goes weird, I will
be able to fix it without struggling with it for months on end.

Jo

 

[Jo]

For the readers of this thread, see my reply in the Outlook Express group to
PA Bear's much appreciated information:

http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...c3f-951a-4c1c-95bb-cef7d67581b0&lang=en&cr=US

Jo

[Repost of my reply to your thread in OE General]

You should be aware of a few things, Jo:

1. Come April 2010, you will not receive any more Windows Updates unless SP3
is installed. With SP3 installed, you'll receive updates through 2014.

2. The free installation and compatibility support for WinXP SP3 that you
used will only be available through 09 April 2009.

3. With a little perseverance on your part, we probably could have assisted
you in getting that constant nag to compact OE folders to cease. (Only a
very small minority of WinXP SP3 users are experiencing this issue.)

4. It is perfectly safe for the majority of users to uninstall WinXP SP3 via
Add/Remove Programs. The tech told you not to do it that way, which
suggests that you may have had a "horked" (bad; faulty; incomplete) install
to begin with.

Best of luck to you.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Thank you very much to everyone who replied. At about 5:00PM I finally
decided to just uninstall SP3. It was a nightmare, but I did it and I'm no
longer getting the OE message. I was at least an hour on the phone with
Microsoft Tech Support (he was extremely nice and helpful) just getting
the
video to behave. Then another 3.5 hours to download and install all the
other updates and security patches to bring SP2 up to date. I *think* it's
okay now. Interestingly, my scanner that I haven't been able to install
since installing SP3 is now working perfectly.

SP3 is a lemon and I'm glad to be rid of it. Good luck to anyone else who
wants to change their mind after installing SP3. A word to the wise - find
out how to do it properly. The tech support guy said *do not* uninstall it
through Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel (which is what I did).
Why
MS put it there if it isn't the right way to uninstall it, is anyone's
guess. Thanks again for everyone's help, information and support!

Jo

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Jo, if you'd crossposted your first post to both newsgroups, things wouldn't
be so confusing for you or us now.

Multiposting vs Crossposting:
http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

For the readers of this thread, see my reply in the Outlook Express group
to
PA Bear's much appreciated information:

http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...c3f-951a-4c1c-95bb-cef7d67581b0&lang=en&cr=US

Jo

[Repost of my reply to your thread in OE General]

You should be aware of a few things, Jo:

1. Come April 2010, you will not receive any more Windows Updates unless
SP3 is installed. With SP3 installed, you'll receive updates through
2014.

2. The free installation and compatibility support for WinXP SP3 that you
used will only be available through 09 April 2009.

3. With a little perseverance on your part, we probably could have
assisted
you in getting that constant nag to compact OE folders to cease. (Only a
very small minority of WinXP SP3 users are experiencing this issue.)

4. It is perfectly safe for the majority of users to uninstall WinXP SP3
via Add/Remove Programs. The tech told you not to do it that way, which
suggests that you may have had a "horked" (bad; faulty; incomplete)
install
to begin with.

Best of luck to you.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Thank you very much to everyone who replied. At about 5:00PM I finally
decided to just uninstall SP3. It was a nightmare, but I did it and I'm
no
longer getting the OE message. I was at least an hour on the phone with
Microsoft Tech Support (he was extremely nice and helpful) just getting
the
video to behave. Then another 3.5 hours to download and install all the
other updates and security patches to bring SP2 up to date. I *think*
it's
okay now. Interestingly, my scanner that I haven't been able to install
since installing SP3 is now working perfectly.

SP3 is a lemon and I'm glad to be rid of it. Good luck to anyone else
who
wants to change their mind after installing SP3. A word to the wise -
find
out how to do it properly. The tech support guy said *do not* uninstall
it
through Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel (which is what I did).
Why
MS put it there if it isn't the right way to uninstall it, is anyone's
guess. Thanks again for everyone's help, information and support!

Jo


:

My apologies if you see this post more than once, since I'm not quite
sure
which group to post it in, so I'll post it in a few that might be
relevant.

For the last 3 days or so, I've had a message window appear when I boot
up
Windows (XP SP3). It says "Outlook Express. To free up disk space,
Outlook
Express can compact messages. This may take up to a few minutes." And
then
the OK or Cancel buttons. I have always clicked Cancel.

Here's the weird thing -- I run Office Outlook (2003), NOT Outlook
Express!
I've never run Outlook Express -- not on this Windows installation
anyway.
Just in case this was an echo from Office Outlook, I compacted all my
Outlook PST files, but I'm still getting the message.

I find this message disturbing because, since I'm not running Express,
I
wonder if it might be some kind of malware. But I run an anti-virus and
anti-spyware and firewall and I scan pretty much daily. It hasn't gone
away
after scanning.

Has anyone else had this happen before, when you aren't running Outlook
Express? Thanks.

 

[Jo]

How does one do that in MS groups? I couldn't see a way to post
simultaneously in more than one group, or I would have done that. And since I
wasn't sure of what was causing the problem, it made sense to post to more
than one group.

Jo

Jo, if you'd crossposted your first post to both newsgroups, things wouldn't
be so confusing for you or us now.

Multiposting vs Crossposting:
http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

For the readers of this thread, see my reply in the Outlook Express group
to
PA Bear's much appreciated information:

http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...c3f-951a-4c1c-95bb-cef7d67581b0&lang=en&cr=US

Jo

[Repost of my reply to your thread in OE General]

You should be aware of a few things, Jo:

1. Come April 2010, you will not receive any more Windows Updates unless
SP3 is installed. With SP3 installed, you'll receive updates through
2014.

2. The free installation and compatibility support for WinXP SP3 that you
used will only be available through 09 April 2009.

3. With a little perseverance on your part, we probably could have
assisted
you in getting that constant nag to compact OE folders to cease. (Only a
very small minority of WinXP SP3 users are experiencing this issue.)

4. It is perfectly safe for the majority of users to uninstall WinXP SP3
via Add/Remove Programs. The tech told you not to do it that way, which
suggests that you may have had a "horked" (bad; faulty; incomplete)
install
to begin with.

Best of luck to you.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Jo wrote:
Thank you very much to everyone who replied. At about 5:00PM I finally
decided to just uninstall SP3. It was a nightmare, but I did it and I'm
no
longer getting the OE message. I was at least an hour on the phone with
Microsoft Tech Support (he was extremely nice and helpful) just getting
the
video to behave. Then another 3.5 hours to download and install all the
other updates and security patches to bring SP2 up to date. I *think*
it's
okay now. Interestingly, my scanner that I haven't been able to install
since installing SP3 is now working perfectly.

SP3 is a lemon and I'm glad to be rid of it. Good luck to anyone else
who
wants to change their mind after installing SP3. A word to the wise -
find
out how to do it properly. The tech support guy said *do not* uninstall
it
through Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel (which is what I did).
Why
MS put it there if it isn't the right way to uninstall it, is anyone's
guess. Thanks again for everyone's help, information and support!

Jo


:

My apologies if you see this post more than once, since I'm not quite
sure
which group to post it in, so I'll post it in a few that might be
relevant.

For the last 3 days or so, I've had a message window appear when I boot
up
Windows (XP SP3). It says "Outlook Express. To free up disk space,
Outlook
Express can compact messages. This may take up to a few minutes." And
then
the OK or Cancel buttons. I have always clicked Cancel.

Here's the weird thing -- I run Office Outlook (2003), NOT Outlook
Express!
I've never run Outlook Express -- not on this Windows installation
anyway.
Just in case this was an echo from Office Outlook, I compacted all my
Outlook PST files, but I'm still getting the message.

I find this message disturbing because, since I'm not running Express,
I
wonder if it might be some kind of malware. But I run an anti-virus and
anti-spyware and firewall and I scan pretty much daily. It hasn't gone
away
after scanning.

Has anyone else had this happen before, when you aren't running Outlook
Express? Thanks.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

When you open a Reply via the web-interface, click on the "More options"
("Other options"?) link at bottom right.

If you accessed these newsgroups in your default newsreader (e.g., Outlook
Express), it's simply intuitive and much easier.

Setting up Outlook Express to access Microsoft newsgroups
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
--
~PA Bear

How does one do that in MS groups? I couldn't see a way to post
simultaneously in more than one group, or I would have done that. And
since
I wasn't sure of what was causing the problem, it made sense to post to
more
than one group.

Jo, if you'd crossposted your first post to both newsgroups, things
wouldn't be so confusing for you or us now.

Multiposting vs Crossposting:
http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

For the readers of this thread, see my reply in the Outlook Express
group
to
PA Bear's much appreciated information:

http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...c3f-951a-4c1c-95bb-cef7d67581b0&lang=en&cr=US

Jo


:

[Repost of my reply to your thread in OE General]

You should be aware of a few things, Jo:

1. Come April 2010, you will not receive any more Windows Updates
unless
SP3 is installed. With SP3 installed, you'll receive updates through
2014.

2. The free installation and compatibility support for WinXP SP3 that
you
used will only be available through 09 April 2009.

3. With a little perseverance on your part, we probably could have
assisted
you in getting that constant nag to compact OE folders to cease. (Only
a
very small minority of WinXP SP3 users are experiencing this issue.)

4. It is perfectly safe for the majority of users to uninstall WinXP
SP3
via Add/Remove Programs. The tech told you not to do it that way,
which
suggests that you may have had a "horked" (bad; faulty; incomplete)
install
to begin with.

Best of luck to you.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Jo wrote:
Thank you very much to everyone who replied. At about 5:00PM I finally
decided to just uninstall SP3. It was a nightmare, but I did it and
I'm
no
longer getting the OE message. I was at least an hour on the phone
with
Microsoft Tech Support (he was extremely nice and helpful) just
getting
the
video to behave. Then another 3.5 hours to download and install all
the
other updates and security patches to bring SP2 up to date. I *think*
it's
okay now. Interestingly, my scanner that I haven't been able to
install
since installing SP3 is now working perfectly.

SP3 is a lemon and I'm glad to be rid of it. Good luck to anyone else
who
wants to change their mind after installing SP3. A word to the wise -
find
out how to do it properly. The tech support guy said *do not*
uninstall
it
through Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel (which is what I
did).
Why
MS put it there if it isn't the right way to uninstall it, is anyone's
guess. Thanks again for everyone's help, information and support!

Jo


:

My apologies if you see this post more than once, since I'm not quite
sure
which group to post it in, so I'll post it in a few that might be
relevant.

For the last 3 days or so, I've had a message window appear when I
boot
up
Windows (XP SP3). It says "Outlook Express. To free up disk space,
Outlook
Express can compact messages. This may take up to a few minutes." And
then
the OK or Cancel buttons. I have always clicked Cancel.

Here's the weird thing -- I run Office Outlook (2003), NOT Outlook
Express!
I've never run Outlook Express -- not on this Windows installation
anyway.
Just in case this was an echo from Office Outlook, I compacted all my
Outlook PST files, but I'm still getting the message.

I find this message disturbing because, since I'm not running
Express,
I
wonder if it might be some kind of malware. But I run an anti-virus
and
anti-spyware and firewall and I scan pretty much daily. It hasn't
gone
away
after scanning.

Has anyone else had this happen before, when you aren't running
Outlook
Express? Thanks.

 

[Jo]

By the way, PA Bear, I mentioned your information about deadlines to the MS
tech support person who helped me last night (and whom I'm still in email
contact with). He said he has not heard anything about any deadlines
whatsoever. He even double-checked it with his supervisor.

Can you point me to where you heard about this? I could relay it back to him
and he could check it out.

Thanks.

Jo

[Repost of my reply to your thread in OE General]

You should be aware of a few things, Jo:

1. Come April 2010, you will not receive any more Windows Updates unless SP3
is installed. With SP3 installed, you'll receive updates through 2014.

2. The free installation and compatibility support for WinXP SP3 that you
used will only be available through 09 April 2009.

3. With a little perseverance on your part, we probably could have assisted
you in getting that constant nag to compact OE folders to cease. (Only a
very small minority of WinXP SP3 users are experiencing this issue.)

4. It is perfectly safe for the majority of users to uninstall WinXP SP3 via
Add/Remove Programs. The tech told you not to do it that way, which
suggests that you may have had a "horked" (bad; faulty; incomplete) install
to begin with.

Best of luck to you.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Thank you very much to everyone who replied. At about 5:00PM I finally
decided to just uninstall SP3. It was a nightmare, but I did it and I'm no
longer getting the OE message. I was at least an hour on the phone with
Microsoft Tech Support (he was extremely nice and helpful) just getting
the
video to behave. Then another 3.5 hours to download and install all the
other updates and security patches to bring SP2 up to date. I *think* it's
okay now. Interestingly, my scanner that I haven't been able to install
since installing SP3 is now working perfectly.

SP3 is a lemon and I'm glad to be rid of it. Good luck to anyone else who
wants to change their mind after installing SP3. A word to the wise - find
out how to do it properly. The tech support guy said *do not* uninstall it
through Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel (which is what I did).
Why
MS put it there if it isn't the right way to uninstall it, is anyone's
guess. Thanks again for everyone's help, information and support!

Jo

 

[Jo]

Thanks for the tip. I'll definitely watch for that next time.

I had to laugh about you suggesting I use Outlook Express, since that's
where this whole thread began. ;-) Thanks but I prefer to just use IE.

Jo

When you open a Reply via the web-interface, click on the "More options"
("Other options"?) link at bottom right.

If you accessed these newsgroups in your default newsreader (e.g., Outlook
Express), it's simply intuitive and much easier.

Setting up Outlook Express to access Microsoft newsgroups
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
--
~PA Bear

How does one do that in MS groups? I couldn't see a way to post
simultaneously in more than one group, or I would have done that. And
since
I wasn't sure of what was causing the problem, it made sense to post to
more
than one group.

Jo, if you'd crossposted your first post to both newsgroups, things
wouldn't be so confusing for you or us now.

Multiposting vs Crossposting:
http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Jo wrote:
For the readers of this thread, see my reply in the Outlook Express
group
to
PA Bear's much appreciated information:

http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...c3f-951a-4c1c-95bb-cef7d67581b0&lang=en&cr=US

Jo


:

[Repost of my reply to your thread in OE General]

You should be aware of a few things, Jo:

1. Come April 2010, you will not receive any more Windows Updates
unless
SP3 is installed. With SP3 installed, you'll receive updates through
2014.

2. The free installation and compatibility support for WinXP SP3 that
you
used will only be available through 09 April 2009.

3. With a little perseverance on your part, we probably could have
assisted
you in getting that constant nag to compact OE folders to cease. (Only
a
very small minority of WinXP SP3 users are experiencing this issue.)

4. It is perfectly safe for the majority of users to uninstall WinXP
SP3
via Add/Remove Programs. The tech told you not to do it that way,
which
suggests that you may have had a "horked" (bad; faulty; incomplete)
install
to begin with.

Best of luck to you.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Jo wrote:
Thank you very much to everyone who replied. At about 5:00PM I finally
decided to just uninstall SP3. It was a nightmare, but I did it and
I'm
no
longer getting the OE message. I was at least an hour on the phone
with
Microsoft Tech Support (he was extremely nice and helpful) just
getting
the
video to behave. Then another 3.5 hours to download and install all
the
other updates and security patches to bring SP2 up to date. I *think*
it's
okay now. Interestingly, my scanner that I haven't been able to
install
since installing SP3 is now working perfectly.

SP3 is a lemon and I'm glad to be rid of it. Good luck to anyone else
who
wants to change their mind after installing SP3. A word to the wise -
find
out how to do it properly. The tech support guy said *do not*
uninstall
it
through Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel (which is what I
did).
Why
MS put it there if it isn't the right way to uninstall it, is anyone's
guess. Thanks again for everyone's help, information and support!

Jo


:

My apologies if you see this post more than once, since I'm not quite
sure
which group to post it in, so I'll post it in a few that might be
relevant.

For the last 3 days or so, I've had a message window appear when I
boot
up
Windows (XP SP3). It says "Outlook Express. To free up disk space,
Outlook
Express can compact messages. This may take up to a few minutes." And
then
the OK or Cancel buttons. I have always clicked Cancel.

Here's the weird thing -- I run Office Outlook (2003), NOT Outlook
Express!
I've never run Outlook Express -- not on this Windows installation
anyway.
Just in case this was an echo from Office Outlook, I compacted all my
Outlook PST files, but I'm still getting the message.

I find this message disturbing because, since I'm not running
Express,
I
wonder if it might be some kind of malware. But I run an anti-virus
and
anti-spyware and firewall and I scan pretty much daily. It hasn't
gone
away
after scanning.

Has anyone else had this happen before, when you aren't running
Outlook
Express? Thanks.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Why am I not suprised?

IN RE the free support deadline:

<QP>
Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3). This support for SP3 is valid
until April 14, 2009...
</QP>
Source:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

IN RE needing to have SP3 installed by 2010 in order to receive further
Windows Updates through 2014: This is connotated in Windows Life Cycle &
Service Pack Support policies, all of which is it the tech's (and your)
fingertips at the MS website.

PS: The tech's being paid to assist you; we're not.
--
~PA Bear

By the way, PA Bear, I mentioned your information about deadlines to the
MS
tech support person who helped me last night (and whom I'm still in email
contact with). He said he has not heard anything about any deadlines
whatsoever. He even double-checked it with his supervisor.

Can you point me to where you heard about this? I could relay it back to
him
and he could check it out.

[Repost of my reply to your thread in OE General]

You should be aware of a few things, Jo:

1. Come April 2010, you will not receive any more Windows Updates unless
SP3 is installed. With SP3 installed, you'll receive updates through
2014.

2. The free installation and compatibility support for WinXP SP3 that you
used will only be available through 09 April 2009.

3. With a little perseverance on your part, we probably could have
assisted
you in getting that constant nag to compact OE folders to cease. (Only a
very small minority of WinXP SP3 users are experiencing this issue.)

4. It is perfectly safe for the majority of users to uninstall WinXP SP3
via Add/Remove Programs. The tech told you not to do it that way, which
suggests that you may have had a "horked" (bad; faulty; incomplete)
install
to begin with.

Best of luck to you.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Thank you very much to everyone who replied. At about 5:00PM I finally
decided to just uninstall SP3. It was a nightmare, but I did it and I'm
no
longer getting the OE message. I was at least an hour on the phone with
Microsoft Tech Support (he was extremely nice and helpful) just getting
the
video to behave. Then another 3.5 hours to download and install all the
other updates and security patches to bring SP2 up to date. I *think*
it's
okay now. Interestingly, my scanner that I haven't been able to install
since installing SP3 is now working perfectly.

SP3 is a lemon and I'm glad to be rid of it. Good luck to anyone else
who
wants to change their mind after installing SP3. A word to the wise -
find
out how to do it properly. The tech support guy said *do not* uninstall
it
through Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel (which is what I did).
Why
MS put it there if it isn't the right way to uninstall it, is anyone's
guess. Thanks again for everyone's help, information and support!

Jo


:

My apologies if you see this post more than once, since I'm not quite
sure
which group to post it in, so I'll post it in a few that might be
relevant.

For the last 3 days or so, I've had a message window appear when I boot
up
Windows (XP SP3). It says "Outlook Express. To free up disk space,
Outlook
Express can compact messages. This may take up to a few minutes." And
then
the OK or Cancel buttons. I have always clicked Cancel.

Here's the weird thing -- I run Office Outlook (2003), NOT Outlook
Express!
I've never run Outlook Express -- not on this Windows installation
anyway.
Just in case this was an echo from Office Outlook, I compacted all my
Outlook PST files, but I'm still getting the message.

I find this message disturbing because, since I'm not running Express,
I
wonder if it might be some kind of malware. But I run an anti-virus and
anti-spyware and firewall and I scan pretty much daily. It hasn't gone
away
after scanning.

Has anyone else had this happen before, when you aren't running Outlook
Express? Thanks.

 

[Jo]

Thanks for the URL. I have forwarded it to the tech.

Jo

Why am I not suprised?

IN RE the free support deadline:

<QP>
Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3). This support for SP3 is valid
until April 14, 2009...
</QP>
Source:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

IN RE needing to have SP3 installed by 2010 in order to receive further
Windows Updates through 2014: This is connotated in Windows Life Cycle &
Service Pack Support policies, all of which is it the tech's (and your)
fingertips at the MS website.

PS: The tech's being paid to assist you; we're not.
--
~PA Bear

By the way, PA Bear, I mentioned your information about deadlines to the
MS
tech support person who helped me last night (and whom I'm still in email
contact with). He said he has not heard anything about any deadlines
whatsoever. He even double-checked it with his supervisor.

Can you point me to where you heard about this? I could relay it back to
him
and he could check it out.

[Repost of my reply to your thread in OE General]

You should be aware of a few things, Jo:

1. Come April 2010, you will not receive any more Windows Updates unless
SP3 is installed. With SP3 installed, you'll receive updates through
2014.

2. The free installation and compatibility support for WinXP SP3 that you
used will only be available through 09 April 2009.

3. With a little perseverance on your part, we probably could have
assisted
you in getting that constant nag to compact OE folders to cease. (Only a
very small minority of WinXP SP3 users are experiencing this issue.)

4. It is perfectly safe for the majority of users to uninstall WinXP SP3
via Add/Remove Programs. The tech told you not to do it that way, which
suggests that you may have had a "horked" (bad; faulty; incomplete)
install
to begin with.

Best of luck to you.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Jo wrote:
Thank you very much to everyone who replied. At about 5:00PM I finally
decided to just uninstall SP3. It was a nightmare, but I did it and I'm
no
longer getting the OE message. I was at least an hour on the phone with
Microsoft Tech Support (he was extremely nice and helpful) just getting
the
video to behave. Then another 3.5 hours to download and install all the
other updates and security patches to bring SP2 up to date. I *think*
it's
okay now. Interestingly, my scanner that I haven't been able to install
since installing SP3 is now working perfectly.

SP3 is a lemon and I'm glad to be rid of it. Good luck to anyone else
who
wants to change their mind after installing SP3. A word to the wise -
find
out how to do it properly. The tech support guy said *do not* uninstall
it
through Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel (which is what I did).
Why
MS put it there if it isn't the right way to uninstall it, is anyone's
guess. Thanks again for everyone's help, information and support!

Jo


:

My apologies if you see this post more than once, since I'm not quite
sure
which group to post it in, so I'll post it in a few that might be
relevant.

For the last 3 days or so, I've had a message window appear when I boot
up
Windows (XP SP3). It says "Outlook Express. To free up disk space,
Outlook
Express can compact messages. This may take up to a few minutes." And
then
the OK or Cancel buttons. I have always clicked Cancel.

Here's the weird thing -- I run Office Outlook (2003), NOT Outlook
Express!
I've never run Outlook Express -- not on this Windows installation
anyway.
Just in case this was an echo from Office Outlook, I compacted all my
Outlook PST files, but I'm still getting the message.

I find this message disturbing because, since I'm not running Express,
I
wonder if it might be some kind of malware. But I run an anti-virus and
anti-spyware and firewall and I scan pretty much daily. It hasn't gone
away
after scanning.

Has anyone else had this happen before, when you aren't running Outlook
Express? Thanks.