Outlook XP Pro - Can not delete nor move files in a specific Folder

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lloyd Lindsay
  • Start date Start date
L

Lloyd Lindsay

Hi:

I have Outlook XP Pro running in a Windows XP Pro computer. My active
programs running at the same time are AVG free (anti-virus), Microsoft
Anti Spyware, and Google Desktop Search.

In the last two days, I have been unable to delete or move my messages
in a specific subdirectory folder that I renamed to "Notdeleting".

When I attempt to delete a message in the directory, I receive the
following warning: "The messaging interface has returned an unknown
error. If the problem persists, restart outlook."

When I attempt to move a message in the directory, I receive the
following warning: "Can't move the items."

While I can move the directory, it will always wind up with the
messages as a subdirectory of my Deleted Items folder. And when I
then try to delete the entire directory, I get the warning: "Unable to
delete this folder."

However, I was able to copy the messages in the "Notdeleting" folder
to another folder by using the Edit Copy to Another Folder command.
And I could move and delete the copies as I would any other regular
message.

Although I ran the Detect and Repair and the Inbox repair tool,
Scanpst.exe, I still can not delete the files in my Notdeleting folder
nor the folder itself.

What's the quickest and best way to fix the problem?
 
Thanks for your response.

Hi Lloyd,
Are you using a PST? What size is it? You may also want to work in Outlook
offline (File > Work Offline) to try to delete, or open Outlook in safe mode
and try to delete then:

http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/commandlineswitches.htm
Click to expand...

None of the above worked, but making regular backups saved the day.
Here is what I did.

1. I renamed my Outlook.pst file to May 3 06.pst

2. I then recovered my Outlook.pst file that I had backed up two days
ago. This version did not contain files that I could not move or
delete.

3. I then opened Outlook, which loaded the previous Outlook.pst file,
and then did a File Open to open the May 03 06pst file.

4. I then moved the new messages in the May 03.pst file to my
recovered Outlook.pst file.

5. Then, while in Outlook, I closed the May 03.pst file (which showed
up as a personal file in Outlook --- not an Outlook Today - personal
file).

6. I exited Outlook, and using Windows Explorer, moved the May
03.pst file to another directory.

7. I opened Outlook and it did not have a problem opening the new
modified Outlook.pst file.

8. I then exited Outlook, and using Windows Explorer, I deleted the
May 03.pst file.

Everything works now as it should.

The size of my Outlook.pst file was 33 MB and the Archive.pst file was
158 MB.

Unfortunately, I wasted time trying to run the Detect and Repair and
the Inbox repair tool, Scanpst.exe, but neither worked.
 
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