"Windows Mail can compact the message store"

You're very welcome, Angie. Thanks for your feedback.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)


"Angie" wrote in message
> Finally! A message I can understand! Thanks, Gary! I have just been changing
> the number of shut downs to make it stop asking me for longer of periods of
> time. After this, I let it do it's thing and went back and changed it back to
> 100. Thanks again!
>
> "Gary VanderMolen" wrote:
>
>> By default the compaction process asks to run after you've opened
>> and closed Windows Mail 100 times. That frequency can be adjusted
>> under Tools, Options, Advanced, Maintenance. Once you let it do its
>> thing, it should not bother you again for another 100 runs.
>> What it does, it removes blank spaces that have developed in the
>> database. Every time you delete an email, that slot in the database
>> is made into a blank. Periodic removal of the blanks will make database
>> accesses faster.
>> --
>> Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (WLMail)
>>
>>
>> "MitchOttawa" wrote in message
>>
>> >I have been running Vista for 2 months and the message asking if I wanted to
>> > compact just started appearing. It does so every time I log onto my windows
>> > mail. After reading these threads, I still do not understand what the program
>> > will do if I respond "yes". Someone else asked that question a few threads
>> > ago and did not get an answer as well. What the heck is this?
>> >
>> > Mitch
>> >
>> > "Gary VanderMolen" wrote:
>> >
>> >> What does the windows say?
>> >> You mean the one about compacting the message store? That one
>> >> should not come up every time you read an email.
>> >>
>> >> Gary VanderMolen [MS MVP-WLM]
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "slee" wrote in message
>> >> > How do you stop the window that keeps popping up everytime you read an email?
>> >> > This is very annoying.
>> >>
>>
>>
>>
 >> Stay informed about: ""Windows Mail can compact the message store"" 

My thanks, too Gary. Now I don't have to be annoyed anymore by that pop up
message. Knowledge IS power!

"Gary VanderMolen" wrote:

> By default the compaction process asks to run after you've opened
> and closed Windows Mail 100 times. That frequency can be adjusted
> under Tools, Options, Advanced, Maintenance. Once you let it do its
> thing, it should not bother you again for another 100 runs.
> What it does, it removes blank spaces that have developed in the
> database. Every time you delete an email, that slot in the database
> is made into a blank. Periodic removal of the blanks will make database
> accesses faster.
> --
> Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (WLMail)
>
>
> "MitchOttawa" wrote in message
> >I have been running Vista for 2 months and the message asking if I wanted to
> > compact just started appearing. It does so every time I log onto my windows
> > mail. After reading these threads, I still do not understand what the program
> > will do if I respond "yes". Someone else asked that question a few threads
> > ago and did not get an answer as well. What the heck is this?
> >
> > Mitch
> >
> > "Gary VanderMolen" wrote:
> >
> >> What does the windows say?
> >> You mean the one about compacting the message store? That one
> >> should not come up every time you read an email.
> >>
> >> Gary VanderMolen [MS MVP-WLM]
> >>
> >>
> >> "slee" wrote in message
> >> > How do you stop the window that keeps popping up everytime you read an email?
> >> > This is very annoying.
> >>
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: ""Windows Mail can compact the message store"" 

You're very welcome, Don.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)


"Don_M" wrote in message
> My thanks, too Gary. Now I don't have to be annoyed anymore by that pop up
> message. Knowledge IS power!
>
> "Gary VanderMolen" wrote:
>
>> By default the compaction process asks to run after you've opened
>> and closed Windows Mail 100 times. That frequency can be adjusted
>> under Tools, Options, Advanced, Maintenance. Once you let it do its
>> thing, it should not bother you again for another 100 runs.
>> What it does, it removes blank spaces that have developed in the
>> database. Every time you delete an email, that slot in the database
>> is made into a blank. Periodic removal of the blanks will make database
>> accesses faster.
>> --
>> Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (WLMail)
>>
>>
>> "MitchOttawa" wrote in message
>>
>> >I have been running Vista for 2 months and the message asking if I wanted to
>> > compact just started appearing. It does so every time I log onto my windows
>> > mail. After reading these threads, I still do not understand what the program
>> > will do if I respond "yes". Someone else asked that question a few threads
>> > ago and did not get an answer as well. What the heck is this?
>> >
>> > Mitch
>> >
>> > "Gary VanderMolen" wrote:
>> >
>> >> What does the windows say?
>> >> You mean the one about compacting the message store? That one
>> >> should not come up every time you read an email.
>> >>
>> >> Gary VanderMolen [MS MVP-WLM]
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "slee" wrote in message
>> >> > How do you stop the window that keeps popping up everytime you read an email?
>> >> > This is very annoying.
>> >>
>>
>>
>>
 >> Stay informed about: ""Windows Mail can compact the message store"" 

I get the same message as Carol but when I click on "ok" it says something
about being used in another folder.

Any idea how I can fix this ??

Dave
 >> Stay informed about: ""Windows Mail can compact the message store"" 

Try compacting and repairing the database with my Windows Mail utility:
www.oehelp.com/WMUTil/

steve

"Dave" wrote in message

>
>
> I get the same message as Carol but when I click on "ok" it says something
> about being used in another folder.
>
> Any idea how I can fix this ??
>
> Dave
 >> Stay informed about: ""Windows Mail can compact the message store"" 

Jean in Ohio
"
> I've had Vista installed for about a month now and the last couple of days I keep
> getting a message when I close Windows Mail that says:
>
> "Windows Mail can compact the message store. This can take a few minutes."
> and asks "OK or Cancel"
>
> What is this? How do I disable this?
 >> Stay informed about: ""Windows Mail can compact the message store"" 

I have lost important information. Where does it go? How do I find it once I
compact?
Pama

"Richard Urban" wrote:

> When you delete messages the space isn't necessarily freed up. By compacting
> the store occasionally, every 100 shutdowns by default, it keeps the store
> smaller than it otherwise would be. This is a good thing BTW.
>
> --
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Urban
> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
> (For email, remove the obvious from my address)
>
> Quote from George Ankner:
> If you knew as much as you think you know,
> You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
>
>
>
> "Carol in GA" wrote in message
>
> > I've had Vista installed for almost a month now and this evening I keep
> > getting a message when I close Windows Mail that says:
> >
> > "Windows Mail can compact the message store. This can take a few
> > minutes."
> > and asks "OK or Cancel"
> >
> > What is this?
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: ""Windows Mail can compact the message store"" 

Compaction only removes wasted space in the database. It doesn't erase
messages as it does sometimes in OE.

steve

"Pama Lyons" wrote in message

>I have lost important information. Where does it go? How do I find it once
>I
> compact?
> Pama
>
> "Richard Urban" wrote:
>
>> When you delete messages the space isn't necessarily freed up. By
>> compacting
>> the store occasionally, every 100 shutdowns by default, it keeps the
>> store
>> smaller than it otherwise would be. This is a good thing BTW.
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Richard Urban
>> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
>> (For email, remove the obvious from my address)
>>
>> Quote from George Ankner:
>> If you knew as much as you think you know,
>> You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
>>
>>
>>
>> "Carol in GA" wrote in message
>>
>> > I've had Vista installed for almost a month now and this evening I
>> > keep
>> > getting a message when I close Windows Mail that says:
>> >
>> > "Windows Mail can compact the message store. This can take a few
>> > minutes."
>> > and asks "OK or Cancel"
>> >
>> > What is this?
>>
>>
 >> Stay informed about: ""Windows Mail can compact the message store"" 

Doug, my search 4 the answer is over. COMPACT= yes.

"Thomas in Texas" wrote:

>
>
> "Geri" wrote:
>
> > Hi
> > So in plain english is it a good thing to say yes to compact messages or
> > not? Will I lose my messages if I compact them or is it just compacting old
> > ones. I am not great with computers and I don't like saying yes to things I
> > don't know what they are. So just a simple answer if you please should we do
> > this and will it create problems with my computer if I do? It sounds like
> > other people have had problems after they have done this. Thank you in
> > advance for your help.
> >
> > "Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM" wrote:
> >
> > > "Richard Urban" wrote in message
> > >
> > > > When you delete messages the space isn't necessarily freed up. By
> > > > compacting the store occasionally, every 100 shutdowns by default, it
> > > > keeps the store smaller than it otherwise would be. This is a good thing
> > > > BTW.
> > >
> > >
> > > Actually, WinMail does not keep the message itself in the database. It does
> > > store all sorts of information about the message there, though, and that
> > > space is not recovered until the database is compacted. Steve Cochran has
> > > written a nice little free program dealing with the database, WMUtil:
> > > http://www.oehelp.com/WMUtil/Default.aspx
> > >
> > > --
> > > Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
> > > http://www.fjsmjs.com
> > > Answer in newsgroup. Don't expect an answer to email.
> > >
> > >After compacting, windows puts edb logs on my desktop. Can I delete these or do I need to save them?
 >> Stay informed about: ""Windows Mail can compact the message store"" 

Unfortunately, I had the same problem when letting it compact, and had
important email messages gone as well. Now, Hubby moves all past saved, sent,
etc. emails to a folder in documents to store them prior to letting the
compaction occur. That might be a good idea for folks who need to make sure
that their emails are safe and will not be lost??

I know you and others have said that emails should not go missing, so don't
know why that happened?

Thank you for explaining the process and sharing your time. I know more than
I did before about the process!!


"Gary VanderMolen" wrote:

> That's equivalent to never taking the garbage out. Eventually you run
> out of room in your house because every spot is filled with garbage.
>
> --
> Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)
>
>
> "Susanna" wrote in message
> > The last time I clicked OK to this message, I later found several important
> > emails went missing. I checked in all the folders but couldn't find it. I
> > seek Help to try to locate the emails but to no avail.
> >
> > I will not click OK from now on and will removed this constant message
> > permanently from my screen.
> >
> > "Carol in GA" wrote:
> >
> >> I've had Vista installed for almost a month now and this evening I keep
> >> getting a message when I close Windows Mail that says:
> >>
> >> "Windows Mail can compact the message store. This can take a few minutes."
> >> and asks "OK or Cancel"
> >>
> >> What is this?
>
 >> Stay informed about: ""Windows Mail can compact the message store"" 

Compaction only affects the database which does not hold the messages. Its
more likely that something else is deleting the messages if that is what is
happening. It may be the messages are still there, but WinMail no longer
recognizes them.

You can open the directory of messages with Explorer and add columns such as
Author and Subject to examine what messages are actually in each folder.
The message store location is found via Tools | Options | Advanced |
Maintenance | Store Folder.

steve

"Jan" wrote in message

> Unfortunately, I had the same problem when letting it compact, and had
> important email messages gone as well. Now, Hubby moves all past saved,
> sent,
> etc. emails to a folder in documents to store them prior to letting the
> compaction occur. That might be a good idea for folks who need to make
> sure
> that their emails are safe and will not be lost??
>
> I know you and others have said that emails should not go missing, so
> don't
> know why that happened?
>
> Thank you for explaining the process and sharing your time. I know more
> than
> I did before about the process!!
>
>
> "Gary VanderMolen" wrote:
>
>> That's equivalent to never taking the garbage out. Eventually you run
>> out of room in your house because every spot is filled with garbage.
>>
>> --
>> Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)
>>
>>
>> "Susanna" wrote in message
>>
>> > The last time I clicked OK to this message, I later found several
>> > important
>> > emails went missing. I checked in all the folders but couldn't find
>> > it. I
>> > seek Help to try to locate the emails but to no avail.
>> >
>> > I will not click OK from now on and will removed this constant message
>> > permanently from my screen.
>> >
>> > "Carol in GA" wrote:
>> >
>> >> I've had Vista installed for almost a month now and this evening I
>> >> keep
>> >> getting a message when I close Windows Mail that says:
>> >>
>> >> "Windows Mail can compact the message store. This can take a few
>> >> minutes."
>> >> and asks "OK or Cancel"
>> >>
>> >> What is this?
>>
 >> Stay informed about: ""Windows Mail can compact the message store"" 

I wondered the same thing as I had no idea of what would be done if they
compacted the messages. So reading these, I assume then we should answer
"yes" to this message, am I correct?
cef

"TK" wrote:

>
> So what I get from this is that it is a good thing to compact the message
> store? I have just been saying no, because I wasn't sure what it was.
> Thanks.
> "Steve Cochran" wrote:
>
> > In WinMail, unlike OE, the messages don't get compacted, only the database
> > does. So they won't be affected.
> >
> > See also www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx#wm
> >
> > steve
> >
> > "Ellen" wrote in message
> >
> > > What is the best way to store important e-mail messages before they get
> > > compacted?
> > >
> > > "Justin" wrote:
> > >
> > >> "Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM" wrote in message
> > >>
> > >> > "Justin" wrote in message
> > >> >
> > >> >> What are the advantages of that program?
> > >> >>
> > >> >> You can compact the DB yourself. To repair the DB, seems to me you
> > >> >> are
> > >> >> better off just deleting it and letting it rebuild. Even with 7,000+
> > >> >> emails it didn't take very long.
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > I don't see how to compact the database yourself, and deleting it must
> > >> > be
> > >> > done in both locations and then the rebuilding causes me problems with
> > >> > duplicate messages.
> > >>
> > >> Dups - That's odd. No problems here.
> > >>
> > >> I believe by default WM will compact every 100 runs. Change it to 1 and
> > >> exit. Then put it back.
> > >>
> > >>
> >
 >> Stay informed about: ""Windows Mail can compact the message store"" 

It's a good thing, so answer Yes.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)


"sadiegirl200838" wrote in message
>I wondered the same thing as I had no idea of what would be done if they
> compacted the messages. So reading these, I assume then we should answer
> "yes" to this message, am I correct?
> cef
>
> "TK" wrote:
>
>>
>> So what I get from this is that it is a good thing to compact the message
>> store? I have just been saying no, because I wasn't sure what it was.
>> Thanks.
>> "Steve Cochran" wrote:
>>
>> > In WinMail, unlike OE, the messages don't get compacted, only the database
>> > does. So they won't be affected.
>> >
>> > See also www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx#wm
>> >
>> > steve
>> >
>> > "Ellen" wrote in message
>> >
>> > > What is the best way to store important e-mail messages before they get
>> > > compacted?
>> > >
>> > > "Justin" wrote:
>> > >
>> > >> "Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM" wrote in message
>> > >>
>> > >> > "Justin" wrote in message
>> > >> >
>> > >> >> What are the advantages of that program?
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >> You can compact the DB yourself. To repair the DB, seems to me you
>> > >> >> are
>> > >> >> better off just deleting it and letting it rebuild. Even with 7,000+
>> > >> >> emails it didn't take very long.
>> > >> >
>> > >> >
>> > >> > I don't see how to compact the database yourself, and deleting it must
>> > >> > be
>> > >> > done in both locations and then the rebuilding causes me problems with
>> > >> > duplicate messages.
>> > >>
>> > >> Dups - That's odd. No problems here.
>> > >>
>> > >> I believe by default WM will compact every 100 runs. Change it to 1 and
>> > >> exit. Then put it back.
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> >
 >> Stay informed about: ""Windows Mail can compact the message store""