Outlook Express hangs on ctrl-shift-a (Mark all messages as read)

I've compacted the news folder but on a regular basis OE hangs after the
above keypress on the current news folder. I can leave it 1/2 hour and
it'll still be there hogging CPU resources and getting nowhere. If I close
down the application, and re-open, the selected messages have been marked as
read and all seems to be well.

It's a new installation of WinXP SP2, with SP3 installed as well.

Any ideas?

Don't use ctrl-shift-a. That marks all messages as read even messages that
were already marked as read.
Ctrl + A, then Ctrl + Q
--
Ron Sommer

"Fredxx" wrote in message
...

I've compacted the news folder but on a regular basis OE hangs after the
above keypress on the current news folder. I can leave it 1/2 hour and
it'll still be there hogging CPU resources and getting nowhere. If I
close down the application, and re-open, the selected messages have been
marked as read and all seems to be well.

It's a new installation of WinXP SP2, with SP3 installed as well.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

I would have hoped that such a standard command wouldn't provoke a hang. It
would be nice to have a single combination of keys rather than 2.



"Ron Sommer" wrote in message
...
Don't use ctrl-shift-a. That marks all messages as read even messages
that were already marked as read.
Ctrl + A, then Ctrl + Q
--
Ron Sommer

"Fredxx" wrote in message
...

I've compacted the news folder but on a regular basis OE hangs after the
above keypress on the current news folder. I can leave it 1/2 hour and
it'll still be there hogging CPU resources and getting nowhere. If I
close down the application, and re-open, the selected messages have been
marked as read and all seems to be well.

It's a new installation of WinXP SP2, with SP3 installed as well.

Any ideas?

You also need to compact the folder after marking all messages read, as that
adds lots of wasted space to the file and slows down the system.

steve

"Fredxx" wrote in message
...
Thanks.

I would have hoped that such a standard command wouldn't provoke a hang.
It would be nice to have a single combination of keys rather than 2.



"Ron Sommer" wrote in message
...
Don't use ctrl-shift-a. That marks all messages as read even messages
that were already marked as read.
Ctrl + A, then Ctrl + Q
--
Ron Sommer

"Fredxx" wrote in message
...

I've compacted the news folder but on a regular basis OE hangs after the
above keypress on the current news folder. I can leave it 1/2 hour and
it'll still be there hogging CPU resources and getting nowhere. If I
close down the application, and re-open, the selected messages have been
marked as read and all seems to be well.

It's a new installation of WinXP SP2, with SP3 installed as well.

Any ideas?

Do you adhere to all of the followin?

General OE Caveats:

- Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
folders created for this purpose.

- Empty Deleted Items folder daily.

- Frequently perform a manual compact of all OE folders while "working
offline". More at http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm

- Do not cancel Automatic Compacting, should it occur, and do not attempt to
close OE via Task Manager or shutdown your machine if Automatic Compacting
is taking place.

- Disable email scanning by your anti-virus application. It can cause
corruption (i.e., loss of messages) and provides no additional protection:

Why you don't need your anti-virus to scan your email
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tuto...ning/index.htm

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002


Fredxx wrote:
I've compacted the news folder but on a regular basis OE hangs after the
above keypress on the current news folder. I can leave it 1/2 hour and
it'll still be there hogging CPU resources and getting nowhere. If I
close
down the application, and re-open, the selected messages have been marked
as
read and all seems to be well.

It's a new installation of WinXP SP2, with SP3 installed as well.

Any ideas?

Many thanks for your reply.


"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote in message
...
Do you adhere to all of the followin?

General OE Caveats:

- Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
folders created for this purpose.

I have a set of rules where most emails to inbox are generally deleted and
empty.

I am more lazy about the sent folder which may have a few 100 emails.

- Empty Deleted Items folder daily.

Every few days?

- Frequently perform a manual compact of all OE folders while "working
offline". More at http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm

Not sure of the distinction - but will look at this.

- Do not cancel Automatic Compacting, should it occur, and do not attempt
to close OE via Task Manager or shutdown your machine if Automatic
Compacting is taking place.

It doesn't happen very often and occasionally I will do it manually.

- Disable email scanning by your anti-virus application. It can cause
corruption (i.e., loss of messages) and provides no additional protection:

Why you don't need your anti-virus to scan your email
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tuto...ning/index.htm


I use AVG with the email part not installed / not enabled. I Also don't see
the need!

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002


Fredxx wrote:
I've compacted the news folder but on a regular basis OE hangs after the
above keypress on the current news folder. I can leave it 1/2 hour and
it'll still be there hogging CPU resources and getting nowhere. If I
close
down the application, and re-open, the selected messages have been marked
as
read and all seems to be well.

It's a new installation of WinXP SP2, with SP3 installed as well.

Any ideas?

If you compact all folder manually on a regular basis, you should never see
Automatic Compacting.

Fredxx wrote:
Many thanks for your reply.


"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote in message
...
Do you adhere to all of the followin?

General OE Caveats:

- Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
folders created for this purpose.

I have a set of rules where most emails to inbox are generally deleted and
empty.

I am more lazy about the sent folder which may have a few 100 emails.

- Empty Deleted Items folder daily.

Every few days?

- Frequently perform a manual compact of all OE folders while "working
offline". More at http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm

Not sure of the distinction - but will look at this.

- Do not cancel Automatic Compacting, should it occur, and do not attempt
to close OE via Task Manager or shutdown your machine if Automatic
Compacting is taking place.

It doesn't happen very often and occasionally I will do it manually.

- Disable email scanning by your anti-virus application. It can cause
corruption (i.e., loss of messages) and provides no additional
protection:

Why you don't need your anti-virus to scan your email
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tuto...ning/index.htm


I use AVG with the email part not installed / not enabled. I Also don't
see
the need!

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002


Fredxx wrote:
I've compacted the news folder but on a regular basis OE hangs after the
above keypress on the current news folder. I can leave it 1/2 hour and
it'll still be there hogging CPU resources and getting nowhere. If I
close
down the application, and re-open, the selected messages have been
marked
as
read and all seems to be well.

It's a new installation of WinXP SP2, with SP3 installed as well.

Any ideas?

"Fredxx" wrote in message
...

I've compacted the news folder but on a regular basis OE hangs after the
above keypress on the current news folder. I can leave it 1/2 hour and
it'll still be there hogging CPU resources and getting nowhere. If I
close down the application, and re-open, the selected messages have been
marked as read and all seems to be well.

It's a new installation of WinXP SP2, with SP3 installed as well.

Any ideas?