Author Topic: Outlook XP Help (Read 669 times)

WarChild · « **on:** December 30, 2002, 11:19:21 AM »

My system locked for a moment and I wasn't patient enough to wait for it to sort itself out. I power it off while my outlook was open. On my next attempt to open outlook I found my PST file to be locked or still in use by another program.

The PST file is located on a network resource and neither that PC or any other can copy or move the file to another location. I'm sure when I powered off like that the file was not freed up by the app.

How do I unlock this file? I normally keep backup of my PST file but i was moving everything to one location for a data dump.

Sigh

Thanks in advance.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2002, 12:01:55 PM »

Uh Warchild,..is this what you were calling about?

I have no idea as I would never install Outlook on a computer.

WarChild · « **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2002, 12:31:25 PM »

SIGH... yeah thats what I was calling for.. thought if anyone knew it'd be you. Must be a Eudora man.

Ok look at it this way. All sorts of apps lock files, excel.. word... databases...

What happens when a file still thinks its in use by another program? How do you clear it?

Skuzzy · « **Reply #3 on:** December 30, 2002, 12:38:58 PM »

Depends on the lock mechanism.

If it is locked using a file, then the file must be removed before the app knows it is free to use. Thie is a file, that may be hidden, located in the filesystem.
Typically, these are stored in the users Documents and Folders directory.

If the lock is obtained via an OS type lock, the rebooting usually clears it up.

Outlook is one of those dreadful apps I woul never load on the hard drive. It has way to many ways to pork a computer system.

WarChild · « **Reply #4 on:** December 30, 2002, 02:42:44 PM »

Skuzzy · « **Reply #5 on:** December 30, 2002, 02:55:52 PM »

I wish I could help you more WarChild, but I have inteionally avoided anything to do with Outlook.

Maybe someone else can help. Any chance you could pose this to Microsoft?

Nwbie · « **Reply #6 on:** December 30, 2002, 03:37:30 PM »

If you are running Windows XP you have a restore to previous settings option, have you tried this yet?

Don't know if it will work but may be worth a try

NwBie

WarChild · « **Reply #7 on:** December 30, 2002, 03:59:52 PM »

the file is on a network resource and other pc's and the host see the file as locked. so its not to do with my local OS> the lock is at the file level.

Outlook locks teh file while in use.. since it didnt shut down proper it didnt unlock the file....

WarChild · « **Reply #8 on:** December 30, 2002, 04:03:07 PM »

its 100$ for email tech support to MS

289$ for telephone support.

at least the page i found said so @ MS

Furious · « **Reply #9 on:** December 30, 2002, 05:11:38 PM »

Try these.

http://search.support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?Catalog=LCID%3D1033%26CDID%3DEN-US-KB%26PRODLISTSRC%3DON&withinResults=&QuerySource=gsfxAdvancedSearch_Query&Product=msall&Queryc=pst&Query=pst&KeywordType=ALL&maxResults=50&Titles=false&numDays=

WarChild · « **Reply #10 on:** December 30, 2002, 08:01:46 PM »

very helpfull thank you but not right.

There was one article at the bottom.

OL2000: Error Message: PST Is in Use by Another Application
When you start Outlook, or try to access your personal folders file (.pst) stored on a network drive, you may receive the following error message: File \xxxx.pst is in use by another application. Close Microsoft Exchange and all other...

But I think I need to focus in on file level application locks. Problems not the program at this point its that the file still think its locked. I need to manually unlock it somehow.

Thanks for help everyone.. keep the ideas coming.

Moloch · « **Reply #11 on:** December 31, 2002, 02:51:44 AM »

manually kill your file lock from the server

janneh · « **Reply #12 on:** December 31, 2002, 07:48:57 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Outlook is one of those dreadful apps I woul never load on the hard drive. It has way to many ways to pork a computer system.

Really? I've always used Outlook (not express) simply because I yet haven't seen so user friendly and multifunctional email software and never had any kind of problems with it. Besides the basic calendar & reminders are just plain excellent. No need to crawl hundreds of pages freaking manuals. Like almost every other Microsoft software, first you think how this software should work in your opinion and then start to use it, they usually works just like your thought they should . Many bad things in Microsoft, sure, but the fact is that they make one heck of the softwares like Powerpoint (I make all my documents with PowerPoint XP, text documents too, it's superb), Publisher, Outlook, Excel.. you name it.

I just received very bad news at work; I have to start use Lotus Notes, because our client uses it. Jeez, have you guys ever tried to use that piece of crap email software? OMG! Talking about learning curve

WarChild · « **Reply #13 on:** December 31, 2002, 09:14:54 AM »

Moloch....
Can you desribe exactly how to terminate a lock? Any pc including the one it resides on gets "cannot access file, in use by another application..."

This goes for deleteing the file, copying, moving...

How do I unlock the file?

Thanks

Moloch · « **Reply #14 on:** December 31, 2002, 09:43:56 AM »

What operating system is share running on?

for XP you could go to Administrative Tools, Computer Management and kill open sessions and open files.

It's probably in similiar place in Windows 2K and I completely forgot how to get there in Windows 9x., but I know it's there.

attached is a screenie for XP and probably 2K.

EDIT: When i get to work i'll post Win2K if it is different.'
EDIT#2: Never casually use this option. Depending on the state of the file at the moment of truth, you could have some corruption within the file and/or loss of data. With that disclaimer aside, i've never had a problem doing it

All kidding aside, best of luck!