Outlook 2007 takes a VERY long time to open a small PST file.

[Frankie]

I am trying to open an old outlook PST file and seem to be having a problem.

I'm opening it by going to file -> open -> outlook data file, and pointing
it to the data file I want to open. I've named the file outlook_old.pst and
this is the one I'm trying to open.

What happens is, the system slows down, I can hear my hard drive grind and
grind and after about 3-4 mins I give up and shut down. What's going on with
this? The Outlook file I'm opening isn't large and definately not corrupt.

I have a fresh install of Outlook 2007, my default outlook.pst file is only
about 10meg and the one I'm trying to open is around 20 meg.

The Outlook file I'm trying to open, was once the default file in some other
outlook install on this computer. This wouldn't matter would it? My current
outlook isn't somehow trying to make this file I'm opening the default file
would it?


-Frankie

 

[Vince Averello]

Just to be sure, have you run ScanPST.EXE on this PST file to ensure that
it's not corrupt? Also, have you run a ChkDsk on the drive containing the
file?

 

[Frankie]

Yp, I've done both a few times actually.

Just to be sure, have you run ScanPST.EXE on this PST file to ensure that
it's not corrupt? Also, have you run a ChkDsk on the drive containing the
file?

 

[Vince Averello]

Hmmm, does ScanPST show any issue at all?

 

[Frankie]

No issues no - Says 'no errors where found in this file'.

Just to clarify my original question though - I already have my default
outlook.pst and archive.pst open. I'm now trying to open an old outlook file
so I can check some old calendar entries.

I moved the old outlook file to the default outlook filder while renaming it
'outlook_old.pst'

Then I went to file -> open -> outlook data file, and that's where it just
sits there grinding away and thinking and my tasks and notes on the right of
the screen are cleared away and re drawing real slow. In fact most of the
screen goes blank and tries to re draw.

It's as if Outlook is somehow trying to do something to this new outlook
file and re configuring itself in some way - That's what it 'feels' like it's
doing if you know what I mean. The slow screen redraws make me think it's
doing some sort of re configure.

Just guessing.


pst files should just open with no worries, right?


-Frankie

 

[Vince Averello]

Yes, they should open with no issues. Hmmm, what sort of virus scanner do
you have on your machine?

While the machine is grinding away trying to open the PST, what process is
using the most percentage of CPU time? Check in the Task Manager. I'm just
wondering what might be actually doing something.