Hard Disk activity on Outlook startup when Offline

[Roshan Qureshi]

I manage many systems running Win2K and Outlook 2K. I find that I have an
intermittent issue on all of them: sometimes Outlook will take several
minutes to start up. During this time, Outlook is completely unresponsive,
though everything else works fine. Also, the hard drive light is constantly
lit.

Once the HD stops (the light goes out), Outlook responds normally. I have
not done rigorous testing of this phenomenon, but it seems that this usually
happens the first time Outlook is started in "Work Offline" mode and off the
LAN after having been used in "Connect" mode while on the LAN. Remember,
though, that it doesn't happen every time the Outlook modes/network
connectivity are switched.

What is happening? Is there some way to prevent this?

TIA,
roshan

 

[Rasoul Khoshravan Azar]

Is this problem exists only with Outlook or other Office softwares as well?
Also mention your system and Outlook version.

 

[Roshan Qureshi]

Only Outlook 2000. I suspect that it has something to do with the Work
Offline/OST/Synchronize feature, because I have never seen or heard about it
on my desktop computers which only run Outlook in "Connect" mode.

Does the .OST file maybe go through a periodic automatic compaction? I
don't know. I'd love to hear any suggestions (or at least confirmation that
this is happening to others).

thanks,
roshan