Why would a message change from "read" back to "unread" in Outlook?

[Alan]

Hello,

My boss has a desktop PC running Outlook XP in online mode and a
portable running Outlook 2007 in cached mode. His mailbox is on an Ex
2003 server. During the day, he only uses the Outlook on the desktop
although he does leave Outlook open on the portable at the same time.

He's noticed that a message which he opened on the desktop PC (and
even printed out) automatically changed back to unread on the desktop
PC, i.e., appears in bold in the message list. The message arrived
today and came from outside the company. I've checked the obvious
things, like it only arrived once, wasn't replaced or processed by an
add-in. He says he didn't set it manually back to unread.

Can anyone suggest why that might happen please? Is it because he has
his mailbox open on two different PCs at the same time?

Thanks,

- Alan.

 

[Nikki Peterson]

Your boss should not run Outlook on the same mailbox on both
machines. By doing this, he is creating "contention" on the mailbox
database. This is what is causing the discrepancy.

Nikki

Hello,

My boss has a desktop PC running Outlook XP in online mode and a
portable running Outlook 2007 in cached mode. His mailbox is on an Ex
2003 server. During the day, he only uses the Outlook on the desktop
although he does leave Outlook open on the portable at the same time.

He's noticed that a message which he opened on the desktop PC (and
even printed out) automatically changed back to unread on the desktop
PC, i.e., appears in bold in the message list. The message arrived
today and came from outside the company. I've checked the obvious
things, like it only arrived once, wasn't replaced or processed by an
add-in. He says he didn't set it manually back to unread.

Can anyone suggest why that might happen please? Is it because he has
his mailbox open on two different PCs at the same time?

Thanks,

- Alan.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Running outlook on two machines will cause some inconsistencies such as
this, but overall, its not a big deal. I do it all the time, sometimes on 3
machines - I've found its better to use OWA on the system that has outlook
2003. The two outlook 2007 systems don't cause problems.

What I would avoid at all costs is using different versions, especially when
they are not consecutive versions. There are too many differences between
2002 and 2007 - unicode messages, unicode rules, different rule conditions
and actions, changes in flags, categories.... all these can cause issues.
The more versions between the two you are using, the more problems you'll
have. Use OWA on one system instead.


--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]





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(e-mail address removed)

You can access this newsgroup by visiting
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[Nikki Peterson]

I have seen this cause many problems. Especially if there are "Roaming"
profiles or 2 OST's or etc. I agree with the fact that, at the very least
both machines should be using the same version.

The synch has to be configured correctly. What this client is describing
is an incorrect use and should be avoided. I would never advise the use
of two profiles on two machines trying to keep one mailbox at the same
time. Just asking for problems.

Nikki

Running outlook on two machines will cause some inconsistencies such as
this, but overall, its not a big deal. I do it all the time, sometimes on 3
machines - I've found its better to use OWA on the system that has outlook
2003. The two outlook 2007 systems don't cause problems.

What I would avoid at all costs is using different versions, especially when
they are not consecutive versions. There are too many differences between
2002 and 2007 - unicode messages, unicode rules, different rule conditions
and actions, changes in flags, categories.... all these can cause issues.
The more versions between the two you are using, the more problems you'll
have. Use OWA on one system instead.


--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]





EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
(e-mail address removed)

You can access this newsgroup by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx or point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Roaming profiles opened on two systems at once are definitely a problem -
with more than outlook. The problems I had with cached mode on both was
generally with junk mail and rules - too much mail went to junk and I had
some items duplicated by rules. Meeting requests may be a problem too - and
you'll have dupes caused by sniffer. Cached and classic worked fine, as long
as both versions of outlook were the same.


--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]





EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
(e-mail address removed)

You can access this newsgroup by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx or point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

I have seen this cause many problems. Especially if there are "Roaming"
profiles or 2 OST's or etc. I agree with the fact that, at the very least
both machines should be using the same version.

The synch has to be configured correctly. What this client is describing
is an incorrect use and should be avoided. I would never advise the use
of two profiles on two machines trying to keep one mailbox at the same
time. Just asking for problems.

Nikki

Running outlook on two machines will cause some inconsistencies such as
this, but overall, its not a big deal. I do it all the time, sometimes on
3
machines - I've found its better to use OWA on the system that has outlook
2003. The two outlook 2007 systems don't cause problems.

What I would avoid at all costs is using different versions, especially
when
they are not consecutive versions. There are too many differences between
2002 and 2007 - unicode messages, unicode rules, different rule conditions
and actions, changes in flags, categories.... all these can cause issues.
The more versions between the two you are using, the more problems you'll
have. Use OWA on one system instead.


--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]





EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
(e-mail address removed)

You can access this newsgroup by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx or point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

Your boss should not run Outlook on the same mailbox on both
machines. By doing this, he is creating "contention" on the mailbox
database. This is what is causing the discrepancy.

Nikki

Hello,

My boss has a desktop PC running Outlook XP in online mode and a
portable running Outlook 2007 in cached mode. His mailbox is on an Ex
2003 server. During the day, he only uses the Outlook on the desktop
although he does leave Outlook open on the portable at the same time.

He's noticed that a message which he opened on the desktop PC (and
even printed out) automatically changed back to unread on the desktop
PC, i.e., appears in bold in the message list. The message arrived
today and came from outside the company. I've checked the obvious
things, like it only arrived once, wasn't replaced or processed by an
add-in. He says he didn't set it manually back to unread.

Can anyone suggest why that might happen please? Is it because he has
his mailbox open on two different PCs at the same time?

Thanks,

- Alan.

 

[Alan]

Great! Thanks to everyone, that's a solid consensus.

Roaming profiles opened on two systems at once are definitely a problem -
with more than outlook. The problems I had with cached mode on both was
generally with junk mail and rules - too much mail went to junk and I had
some items duplicated by rules. Meeting requests may be a problem too - and
you'll have dupes caused by sniffer. Cached and classic worked fine, as long
as both versions of outlook were the same.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Outlook Tips:http://www.outlook-tips.net/
Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center:http://www.slipstick.com

Outlook Tips by email:
(e-mail address removed)

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
(e-mail address removed)

You can access this newsgroup by visitinghttp://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspxor point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

I have seen this cause many problems. Especially if there are "Roaming"
profiles or 2 OST's or etc. I agree with the fact that, at the very least
both machines should be using the same version.

The synch has to be configured correctly. What this client is describing
is an incorrect use and should be avoided. I would never advise the use
of two profiles on two machines trying to keep one mailbox at the same
time. Just asking for problems.

Running outlook on two machines will cause some inconsistencies such as
this, but overall, its not a big deal. I do it all the time, sometimes on
3
machines - I've found its better to use OWA on the system that has outlook
2003. The two outlook 2007 systems don't cause problems.

What I would avoid at all costs is using different versions, especially
when
they are not consecutive versions. There are too many differences between
2002 and 2007 - unicode messages, unicode rules, different rule conditions
and actions, changes in flags, categories.... all these can cause issues.
The more versions between the two you are using, the more problems you'll
have.  Use OWA on one system instead.

Outlook Tips by email:
(e-mail address removed)

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
(e-mail address removed)

You can access this newsgroup by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspxor point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.