PS: Something I forgot to include in my original dissertation on Outlook limitations is that Outlook 2003 has a TWENTY (20) GIGABYTE limit in the size of both the PST and OST files.
While this is NOT hard coded, anything over the 20 GIG file size limit does significantly lower the effectiveness of the overall Outlook 2003 program itself. Bruce Barnes -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Gordon Waters Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 07:42 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Know Outlook Limitations and recovery tools (WAS RE: [IMail Forum] Imail mail box size limit) 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/ 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/
