Outlook changing timestamp on all my PST files on close

[FC]

I have Outlook 2003 set up with 7 different profiles using 7 different PST
files. For the first few hours, it was running great, when I would open one
of the profiles Outlook would only update the date/time of that one PST file.
Each account that was opened, it's corresponding PST file timestamp was
updated (as expected) since that should be the ONLY PST file Outlook touches
when it is open in that profile.

This is very important to me as 3 of these PST files need to travel with me
in my laptop and sync with Microsoft briefcase. I can't have the timestamp
change on my home copy while I am on the road with my synced copy.

Well now all of the sudden, when you open Outlook 2003, it adjust the
timestamp on the PST file for the profile you have opened, BUT on closing, it
changes ALL of the PST files to the time that you closed Outlook last. In
essence it is updating all the timestamps on all of the PST files even if
their associated profile wasn't opened.

As you can see, since 3 of these PST files travel with me in my Microsoft
Briefcase, I can't have the timestamp of the file changed at home while I am
using the sync copy on the road. When I get home then the Briefcase thinks
both files have changed and won't sync them.

It appears that somehow Outlook is doing something upon closing that is
touching all of these PST files.

PLEASE HELP! This is a very frustrating problem!

(P.S. I had this problem and have since done a full reinstall of Vista
Ultimate and the problem returned a few hours after getting Outlook
installed. I tested it extensively after installing and all was working
right, a few hours later it began to act up again)

 

[FC]

UPDATE: This problem doesn't seem to be limited to Outlook closing. I have
now seen it adjust all the timestamps upon Outlook opening as well. So upon
opening Outlook it adjusts all the PST files timestamps to the opening time,
upon closing it will then update the timestamps again with the closing time.
Even if you only open one profile it is changing ALL of the timestamps!

 

[FC]

Ok, here is another variable, not sure if it has any bearing, but in an
effort to try and give every possible piece of the puzzle I will put it out
there.

I am running RAID 1 on this machine (Mirroring hard drives). My RAID array
just had a problem and is in the process of rebuilding itself. I don't know
if it is a coincidence or not, but Outlook isn't exhibiting that behavior
right now (I'm sure it will be back soon).

I don't know if this issue has anything to do with RAID 1 or not, but wanted
to bring that up as well... This is a pretty perplexing problem but I think a
person who is very sharp with Outlook and Windows should be able to figure it
out!

Please help!

 

[FC]

*** BUMP ***

Anyone have any input???

Need help PLEASE!

 

[Brian Tillman]

Anyone have any input???

Tell me again why you care? If Outlook is changing the file system time
stamp of a PST, then it must be that Outlook is referencing that PST. It
would be appropriate for the time stamp to change. Why does that concern
you?

 

[FC]

I gave VERY detailed information in my 3 posts regarding this issue. I
explained the reason in my first post:

"This is very important to me as 3 of these PST files need to travel with me
in my laptop and sync with Microsoft briefcase. I can't have the timestamp
change on my home copy while I am on the road with my synced copy.

Well now all of the sudden, when you open Outlook 2003, it adjust the
timestamp on the PST file for the profile you have opened, BUT on closing, it
changes ALL of the PST files to the time that you closed Outlook last. In
essence it is updating all the timestamps on all of the PST files even if
their associated profile wasn't opened.

As you can see, since 3 of these PST files travel with me in my Microsoft
Briefcase, I can't have the timestamp of the file changed at home while I am
using the sync copy on the road. When I get home then the Briefcase thinks
both files have changed and won't sync them."

This is the ONLY computer this phenomenon occurs on... It is obviously
something with Outlook and RAID, but what???

 

[Brian Tillman]

Well now all of the sudden, when you open Outlook 2003, it adjust the
timestamp on the PST file for the profile you have opened, BUT on
closing, it changes ALL of the PST files to the time that you closed
Outlook last. In essence it is updating all the timestamps on all of
the PST files even if their associated profile wasn't opened.

I highly doubt this. You'll have to convince me first that the files aren't
being referenced by the Outlook profile you're using.

 

[FC]

I access these VERY same PST files on another computer and Outlook ONLY
changes the timestamp on the open profile. So I know it isn't something in
the PST triggering this. All computers are using the same version of Outlook
(2003).

Is there some setting in Outlook that causes it to access all the PST files
at some point regardless of whether the profile was opened or not?

 

[FC]

I figured it out...

Windows Indexing was indexing my email each time Outlook closed!

Problem solved!

 

[Brian Tillman]

I figured it out...

Windows Indexing was indexing my email each time Outlook closed!

Problem solved!

So, not an Outlook problem at all. I'm glad you found the answer.

 

[Erik Kliim-Hansen]

I seem to have a related problem - actually having been troubled by it for
years.
Each quarter, I archive all mail in a separate archive, e.g. 2007_Q4.pst
Opening Outlook, I have my mail available, either on server (new mail), or
in separate archives (.pst files).
However, when I do backup, all the .pst files seem to be touched by Outlook,
even though I never change them - and the backup takes for ever.
Same thing, when I synchronize files between laptop and server.
Is there really no way to tell Outlook not the change the time stamp of an
archive, when you just use it for reading?

 

[Brian Tillman]

Is there really no way to tell Outlook not the change the time stamp
of an archive, when you just use it for reading?

No, because Outlook ALWAYS opens PSTs read/write.