Can't delete messages from Inbox

[Frank Rowe]

OK, I've tried everything mentioned in every article on this subject, and
NOTHING works.
Some of the messages in my inbox will NOT delete, under any circumstances.
I've run Inbox repair (twice!)
I've tried emptying the deleted items folder
I've tried compacting the file
I've tried editing the message before deleting
I've tried shift-Del
I've tried moving the messages to other folders

EVERYTHING results in an error - most say "the messaging interface has
returned an unknown error. If the problem persists, try restarting Outlook

I've restarted Outlook, rebooted any number of times, etc.

This problem seems to exist for all messages dated 23 March 04 or earlier,
and not for any later messages.

What's happening here, and what do I do about it?

 

[Karl Burrows]

Have you tried moving them to another folder and deleting them from there?

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Do not use the Preview Pane. Close and restart Outlook. Try it again.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. Due to
the (insert latest virus name here) virus, all mail sent to my personal
account will be deleted without reading.

After searching google.groups.com and finding no answer, Frank Rowe asked:

| OK, I've tried everything mentioned in every article on this subject,
| and NOTHING works.
| Some of the messages in my inbox will NOT delete, under any
| circumstances. I've run Inbox repair (twice!)
| I've tried emptying the deleted items folder
| I've tried compacting the file
| I've tried editing the message before deleting
| I've tried shift-Del
| I've tried moving the messages to other folders
|
| EVERYTHING results in an error - most say "the messaging interface has
| returned an unknown error. If the problem persists, try restarting
| Outlook
|
| I've restarted Outlook, rebooted any number of times, etc.
|
| This problem seems to exist for all messages dated 23 March 04 or
| earlier, and not for any later messages.
|
| What's happening here, and what do I do about it?

 

[Frank Rowe]

Note below where I say I *can't* move anything. THis will NOT work.

 

[Frank Rowe]

Didn't work.

 

[Karl Burrows]

Have you tried creating a new Outlook mailbox and importing the old pst file
into the new one? Or if the file is corrupt, you can run the Inbox Repair
to see if that fixes whatever is 'hung' in your profile.

 

[SimplyAccess]

Hi

I have similar problems, but I think I have worked out the problem (after many hours of angst and doing everything I could think of) Your .pst files (where emails are kept) are limited to 2 gigabytes, when it is nearing its limit and tries to download an email that is too large (possibly) the error occurs. This is why deleting the 'Recycle bin' sometimes works

The solution is to to create another .pst file and transfer some your files into this and then compact your original file

To do this

Open Outloo

On the menu bar click on 'File' > 'Data File Management

If you highlight your .pst file (probably the only one there) and click on 'Open Folder', it will show the .pst file and how big it is, probably close the the 2 gigabytes. Close the folder, this was for interest only

On the data management window click on Add, then on the first window, just click OK you can change the name of .pst file to something more suitable if you wish. This is not the name that is displayed in Outlook, that comes in the next step. > O

Now give the .pst file a name for display in outlook. > O

When you have done that, close the window and go back to Outlook. Move some of your folders (preferrably some of your larger ones) into the new folder. You can still access them, so this is not much of an issue

Once you have done that, re-open the data management window, make sure the original .pst file is highlighted and click on 'Settings' and then Compact Now. You need to do this step because as you remove files from .pst files they do not get smaller until they are compacted

That should do the trick. It worked for me anyway, so I though I would share it as it seems to be a common problem

Goodluc

Julie Misso
www.simply-access.com