Bruce, Thanks for this, it certianly has answered my original question. Outlook has a 2Gb single .DBX file limit due to the ANSI based file format it uses. What had me perplexed was that I knew I can have > 2Gb single files on my server, so I assumed I could have a > 2Gb single Imap mailbox,but this is not the case.
I might just ask this to the list, and I know that you offered an alternative to Outlook / Outlook Express, (I myself use Thuderbird when Im not using Imail Webmail) What other email client are people using with Imail. ? Thanks Gordon Waters ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Bruce Barnes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [email protected] Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2006 06:22:28 -0600 > >While this message is slightly off topic for this list, I think it might >contain important information for many of the lesser experienced users on >this list. Please forgive me if you already have knowledge of the >information contained herein. > >The bad news is that all versions of OUTLOOK EXPRESS; and MICROSOFT OUTLOOK >1997, 2000 and 2002 all have MAXIMUM SIZE LIMIT of TWO 2 GIGABYTES for the >SUM TOTAL ALL OF THE MESSAGES in the local e-mail client. > >Microsoft Outlook Express stores the data in something called a DBX file. > >Microsoft OUTLOOK stores the data in something called a PST file. > >Both of these file formats are ANSI based, and begin to experience problems >when they approach 1.87 GIG in size. If the DBX or PST file is larger than >2 GIG, and the user improperly shuts down their desktop, it's "all over" in >MOST cases, and you will need to use a tool to recover the messages. > >E-mail recovery may become impossible if the user does not immediately stop >using their machine after they corrupt a DBX or PST files as they may >overwrite portions of the corrupted DBX or PST files in the normal process >of creating and storing new files or attempting to recover their e-mail >themselves. > >Outlook Express also has known a SIGNATURE FILE limit of 256K. For more >information on the Outlook Express size limit, see: >http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;903095&spid=2578&sid=265. > >Other problems exist with Outlook Express in earlier versions and anyone who >continues to use Outlook Express should absolutely make certain they have >downloaded the NON CRITICAL updates by running a CUSTOM UPDATE from the >Microsoft UPDATE website. This will download several patches that will help >Outlook Express that are not automatically updated. See: >http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us for >more information. If this link does not work, then open INTERNET EXPLORER >and click on TOOLS, UPDATE. NOTE: You MUST use INTERNET EXPLORER VERSION 6 >and above for the Microsoft updates website to work properly. > >Additional information on KNOWN PROBLEMS with Outlook Express can bee seen >at: http://support.microsoft.com/ph/2578?sid=265 > >The good news is that there is am effective tool, available on the internet, >that will recover the individual messages for OUTLOOK EXPRESS when that >desktop e-mail database goes over the TWO (2) GIG LIMIT and crashes. > >The tool was created by a programmer who lives in Europe, I think the former >Soviet Union, and there are 4 different license versions available - ranging >in price from $27.00 for a "personal" single use license to a $59.00 >"Business License CD", which can be used to correct repeated problems with >multiple users who use Outlook Express. I have purchased the $59.00 >business license CD, received it by international mail a few weeks later, >and used it in several situations where users corrupted OE databases. >Needless to say, when they were done paying for my time and recovered from >the near heart attack of looking critical data stored in e-mail messages >within OE, it was a relatively easy way to get them onto a more secure and >stable e-mail client - company wide. > >NOTE: I have no business relationship with this individual, but have found >this particular product to be easy to use and, even though he's in Europe, >he can be trusted with CC numbers and his OE tool does work very well, >albeit it does convert each message into an individual message and then lets >you recover them individually from the local machine. See: >http://www.mail-repair.com/ for more information. > >Additional Outlook Express data recovery tools are available using the >Google Scan: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=repair+outlook+express > >As I stated above, Outlook 1997, 2000 and 2002 completely change the manner >in which data is stored on the local user's machine, storing that data in a >PST file. > >If the user improperly shuts down his or her machine, or the machine >crashes, it corrupts the PST database for OUTLOOK. > >Outlook 2000 also started using an OST file to determine the last >synchronization with the mail server running in "exchange mode". Again, >this file is ANSI based and, as such, has a size limitation of 2 gig, >although for all practical purposes, if an OST file is over 1.87 gig, users >will begin to experience difficulty. > >THERE ARE ALSO SERVERE LIMITATIONS TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS FILE >(FREQUENTLY RESULTING IN DOUBLE MESSAGES) WHEN THE MAIL CHECKING OR >SYNCHRONZIATION IS DONE AT INTERVALS OF LESS THAN EVERY 15 MINUTES. > >If you need to repair a corrupted PST file on versions of Outlook 1997, 2000 >and 2002, you can use a tool made available by every installation of those >programs. See >http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010549311033.aspx for more >information on how to run the Outlook repair tool. > >BE CERTAIN TO MAKE BACKUP COPY OF THE ORIGINAL PST FILE BEFORE running the >Outlook repair tool - this will be an option when you run the tool. > >Remember, too, that when multiple users share a machine with several >different user logins and have e-mail on the machine, there are multiple PST >files on that machine. Remember, too, that Windows NT, Windows 2000 and >Windows XP all store the PST file in a DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, because the >user's home directories are stored in different locations on those machines. > >As the last sentence implies, the TWO GIG PST and OST file size limits are >removed in Outlook 2003. Outlook 2003 also does a better job of >housekeeping and cleans up both the PST and OST files automatically when >messages are deleted. Outlook 2003 also attempts to recover the PST and OST >files from improper workstation shutdowns. > >For more information on the TWO GIG FILE LIMITATION of OE, and OUTLOOK >versions 1997, 2000 and 2002, see the article at: >http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;830336 which will >explain the difference between the ANSI limitations imposed on the PST and >DBX files for versions of OUTLOOK and OE prior to Outlook 2003. This >article also contains important information for anyone who must keep a >shared version of a PST file of an earlier version of Outlook on a network >share to make that ANSI format PST file available to users of earlier >versions of Outlook - NOT RECOMMENDED! > >Outlook 2003 automatically compresses the PST files when the program is >opened, as messages are deleted or moved into different folders for >organizational purposes. This helps to keep the PST database from becoming >corrupted. Outlook 2003 will also run a recovery and compression utility >when the user next opens the Outlook 2003 program if the user's desktop was >improperly shutdown. > >Outlook 2003 contains significant enhancements to pervious versions of >Outlook. Some of those are: POPUP BLOCKERS, the automatic disabling of >active content within messages to prevent threats such as the attempted >takeover of the local machine, and it automatically attempts to segregate >SPAM messages into a JUNK folder, using a definitions set updated by MS each >month. > >Make certain you do a CUSTOM INSTALL if you upgrade machines to OUTLOOK >2003, and KEEP the installation files on the local machine (an installation >option when completing the upgrade or install), so you can do updates to >this product as patches are released by MS in the future as the patches will >NOT install without the original installation files on the local machine to >which the product was installed. (This has been the case since Outlook >2000) > >While I am not normally an MS proponent, Outlook 2003 not only allows a much >larger database of messages, but is much more stable than any previous >version of Outlook. We've upgraded about 5,000 workstations for corporate >customers so far. Even though there are alternatives out there, many people >prefer to stay with Outlook. > >Keep in mind that Outlook Express is a very poor e-mail client for anyone to >currently be using. If they don't want to pop for Outlook, they should use >another one of the free alternatives from the internet. One excellent >alternative to Outlook, and free on the internet, is Mozilla. See: >http://www.mozilla.org/products/mozilla1.x/ for more information. > >Finally, please remember that NO SOFTWARE is going to be perfect at any >point. We should all be making certain we have the latest patches, whether >they are for Imail, Outlook, the Microsoft Operating system, Mozilla or >whatever e-mail client we are using on both our own machines and our >client's machines. Being proactive will save us from major headaches and >our clients from the potential losses and downtime caused by out of date or >unpatched software, a virus infection or an attach on their networks. > >A well patched, up to date desktop and servers, a good firewall and an >up-to-date anti-virus program are the most effective tools we currently have >in keeping our clients protected and our headaches to a minimum. > >Bruce Barnes >ChicagoNetTech > >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Travis Rabe >Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2006 20:14 >To: [email protected] >Subject: RE: [IMail Forum] Imail mail box size limit > >Outlook 2000 and 2002 hit a hard limit at 2.0 GB. Outlook 2003 If you >convert the PST file to the 2003 version can go apparently to 4GB. Outlook >Express (although never tested) hits its hard workable limit at 2GB as well. > >Travis > >To Unsubscribe: http://www.ipswitch.com/support/mailing-lists.html >List Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/imail_forum%40list.ipswitch.com/ >Knowledge Base/FAQ: http://www.ipswitch.com/support/IMail/ > To Unsubscribe: http://www.ipswitch.com/support/mailing-lists.html List Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/imail_forum%40list.ipswitch.com/ Knowledge Base/FAQ: http://www.ipswitch.com/support/IMail/
