Outlook.ost in use

[MarkWinters]

I work in a small office with a Microsoft Exchange server. We have two
machines that both log on using an account with the username "DAC".

When onw user is looged on with this account on one machine, the other
cannot access the outlook.ost file and Outlook closes (there is no "cancel"
option on th error dialogue).

The error message returned is:

"The file \\server\home\dac\outlook.ost is in use and cannot be accessed.
Please close any application that may be using it and try again"

Problem being that this means the other user has to close outlook when we
need both users to be able to access it at the same time.

Help please!!?

Thanks in advance
~Mark

 

[Vince Averello]

I think the problem is that the OST isn't local, it's stored on a network
share. That's not really a good idea as you've seen.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Why do you store the ost-file on a network share in the first place? The
whole purpose is that it is a cache-file stored locally on a client so that
it removes stress from the server and network. Also, connection to ost-files
and pst-files stored on a network share is not supported nor recommended by
Microsoft. Keep the ost-file local and you have no issues.

 

[MarkWinters]

I have gone into Outlook on the "second" achine, and I've gone to
Options > Mail Setup > Email Accounts > Exchange Server Settings (for the
default account) > Advanced > Offline Folder settings

in order to try and change the location fo the offline folder stroage, but I
can't because it is a read only field.

Can you please tell me, how do I move the lcoation so that each machien
stores the ost file locally instead of on the server?

Thanks
~Mark

 

[Vince Averello]

Hmmm, not sure but check with your mail administrator or try turning off
offline access reboot and turn it back on to see if you can redefine the
location.

 

[MarkWinters]

Haha, this is all new to me. I literally only started looking at this this
afternoon - I didn't set up the system I'm afraid.

How do I move the file though? As I described in my previous post that's a
read only field and I'm not sure how to store it locally?

 

[MarkWinters]

Yup, I just worked out I had to disabled the caching on eahc machine and then
I could restart outlook and reset the location to a local store.

Thanks for the help both of you, problem solved now.

Appreciate it.

~Mark

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Haha, good to hear ;-)

I see that you've got it solved with Vince now. I would still check with the
corporate admin to make sure that this isn't their default or that they are
redirecting the Local Settings folder to a server.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I have gone into Outlook on the "second" achine, and I've gone to
Options > Mail Setup > Email Accounts > Exchange Server Settings (for the
default account) > Advanced > Offline Folder settings

in order to try and change the location fo the offline folder stroage, but
I
can't because it is a read only field.

Vince is correct. Only one Outlook at a time can open a data file, either
PST or OST. First you must stop using Cached Exchange mode. Then you'll be
able to modify the OST location.