how do i increase mailbox size?

[garyk]

hi,

how can a user with administrator privileges increase the size of a mailbox?

thanks,
gary

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

You should clarify your question because I take this a couple of different
ways. For example, a user with local administrator privileges may not have
sufficient rights to increase the size of a mailbox that is located on an
ISP/Corporate mail server.

If you are asking about file size limitations of a PST file, then it would
be helpful if you posted what version of Microsoft Outlook is being used.

 

[garyk]

Thanks so much for responding.

I'm using Outlook 2003.

I'm the only user/administrator (it's on a personal computer), so I believe
I should be able to access all administrator priveleges.

All of my mailboxes are PST files.

Thanks again,
Gary

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

If you are using the Office Outlook Personal Folders File, then the PST file
size can grow to 20GB on a NTFS formatted partition. This 20GB is a
software limit and can be increased by setting a registry key. It should be
noted that if the PST file is located on a FAT32 partition, then the file
can't grow past 4GB because FAT32 doesn't allow a file size greater that
this.

If you are using the Office 97-2002 Personal Folders File, then the PST file
size can grow to 2GB. This limit is hard coded and can't be changed. (This
file format is the only one compatible with previous versions of Outlook).
There is no method to convert this file type to the one above. You would
have to create the above and import/copy the items from the old PST to the
new one.

To find out which one you are actively using, it is easiest to right click
on "Personal Folders" in the folder tree and select Properties > Advanced
button.

/neo

PS - IMAP accounts use the Office 97/2002 format PST file and can't be
converted to the new PST file format.

 

[garyk]

This is all very helpful. Thanks again.

Two questions:

a) I found that I am using the Office 97 - 2002 Personal Folders File on an
NTFS formatted partition. How do I create Office Outlook Personal Folder
Files without messing everything up?

b) Are you aware of documentation that walks users through the process of
setting a registry key to increase the 20 GB limit?

Thanks,
Gary

 

[Brian Tillman]

a) I found that I am using the Office 97 - 2002 Personal Folders File
on an NTFS formatted partition. How do I create Office Outlook
Personal Folder Files without messing everything up?

File>New>Outlook Data FIle

b) Are you aware of documentation that walks users through the
process of setting a registry key to increase the 20 GB limit?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/832925/en-us

 

[dgalaxy]

I am using XP with Outlook 2003 and I do not find any of those registry
entries. Is there any other way to increase the size?

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Are you using a .pst or .ost file? Where have you looked? Did you read the
article carefully? Did you find the tree where the keys are supposed to
exist?

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.


After furious head scratching, dgalaxy asked:

| I am using XP with Outlook 2003 and I do not find any of those
| registry entries. Is there any other way to increase the size?
|
| "Brian Tillman" wrote:
|
||
||| a) I found that I am using the Office 97 - 2002 Personal Folders
||| File on an NTFS formatted partition. How do I create Office Outlook
||| Personal Folder Files without messing everything up?
||
|| File>New>Outlook Data FIle
||
||| b) Are you aware of documentation that walks users through the
||| process of setting a registry key to increase the 20 GB limit?
||
|| http://support.microsoft.com/kb/832925/en-us
|| --
|| Brian Tillman