Outlook on client computer stalls

[Lee]

We are running SBS 2003 and Outlook on the clients.

I haven't noticed an problems and haven't heard any complaints except from
my boss, who says that every so often Outlook will just stall for a minute
or so. After that it is fine and he can work as normal.

He also has the largest mailbox, which I think is the problem.

Could this be that Outlook is comparing it's offline files with his Exchange
mailbox and it's taking a long time do to the size of his mailbox?

Is there anything you would check?

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In

We are running SBS 2003 and Outlook on the clients.

I haven't noticed an problems and haven't heard any complaints except
from my boss, who says that every so often Outlook will just stall
for a minute or so. After that it is fine and he can work as normal.

He also has the largest mailbox, which I think is the problem.

Could this be that Outlook is comparing it's offline files with his
Exchange mailbox and it's taking a long time do to the size of his
mailbox?
Is there anything you would check?

OL2003 SP2 and cached mode?
How big his his mailbox?
More importantly, how many items does he have per folder (e.g., how many
items in his inbox, or whatever he happens to be clicking on at the time)? I
don't mean in subfolders....just how many in each folder directly.

 

[Lee]

OL2003 SP2 and cached mode?

Yes

How big his his mailbox?

Too big: 3 GB I need to work on getting him to reduce this even if it
isn't the cause of the problem, but it will make my argument better if I can
tell him it will solve this problem.

More importantly, how many items does he have per folder (e.g., how many
items in his inbox, or whatever he happens to be clicking on at the time)?
I don't mean in subfolders....just how many in each folder directly.

Good question. I'll ask to see if it's normally when he's working in a
specific folder or not.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In

Too big: 3 GB I need to work on getting him to reduce this even if
it isn't the cause of the problem, but it will make my argument
better if I can tell him it will solve this problem.

Well - it isn't necessarily the cause of the problem, but everyone needs a
quota, if you ask me. Even the dude in the corner office. You can help him
use public folders for archival if he needs to. But explain how this affects
all his employees/users, regardless.

Good question. I'll ask to see if it's normally when he's working in
a specific folder or not.

Unless there are other problems going on (you can check out his sync issues
folder, and event logs), you'll very likely find that he he has thousands of
items in a single folder. The official MS line on this is, don't have more
than 5k. Myself, I think if you have that many unfiled items you just have
no useful organizational scheme and are just being lazy!

The more items per folder, the more indexing the server has to do. And that
slows *everyone* down, not just him. Keep it to a minimum....

I like to advise users (yes, even big boss types) to treat their inbox
folders as they would a paper inbox. As in, it's a "to do" list. I show them
how to use search folders, and "find all associated messages" to make filing
easier. You wouldn't have a single file drawer marked "Files" with all your
files in it, would you? (well, maybe you would, at that).

Oh, and it's also really completely OK to throw out stuff. Like, all the
"Mary is leaving early today!" or "Pizza's here!" or "Kind sir, I write to
you humbly requesting your assistance in retreiving money from my Nigerian
banker" stuff.