Mail Rules don't Function - Outlook 2007 / Vista 64

[Al]

Hi,

I'm having problems with Mail Rules in Outlook 2007 SP1 and Vista 64.

Basically I've created a rule that identifies a persistent spammer fom their header and instructs Outlook to delete to the message.

However, the rule doesn't run automatically.

I know the rule is working because if I go to the Junk Mail folder (Outlook recognises it as spam without the rule) and then click rules and run the rule manually, it immediately applies the rule and deletes the message.

However, on send / receive it doesn't work and the message just appears in the Junk folder everytime.

I can't see anything wrong in the rule.

Help!

 

[Roady [MVP]]

That is because the rules are fired after the Junk Email filter. Rules
aren't executed against Junk Email as it could lead to returning the message
back to a valid mail folder.

 

[Al]

Ok thanks, but theres no point in having rules if they can't be applied to junk mail.

Only an advanced user is going to set up rules anyway and if the rule moves an item back to the inbox by mistake then so what, its user error and tells you the rule needs amending. No harm done.

Its far less annoying than having loads of junk messages from known junk senders in your junk mail folder day after day and having to go in and manually delete them all on a continuing basis.

 

[Brian Tillman]

Ok thanks, but theres no point in having rules if they can't be
applied to junk mail.

Why do you say that? Using rules to try to eliminate junk mail is nearly
pointless, moreso now than in the past.

Its far less annoying than having loads of junk messages from known
junk senders in your junk mail folder day after day and having to go
in and manually delete them all on a continuing basis.

Clearly from your own description, the Junk E-mail filter is working because
the messages from the persistent spammer DO get filed in Junk E-mail. Why
don't you change your junk e-mail filter settings to delete junk instead of
moving it to Junk E-mail?

If Outlook's built-in Junk E-mail filter is not up to the job (but I find
that it's the rare junk message that gets through), get a third-party
antispam program like http://www.spampal.org/ . Tools like that will
prevent spam that they catch from ever showing up in Outlook. You might
also want to block the persistent spammer at the server instead of within
Outlook. See if your server allows blocking with header information.

 

[Al]

I don't set the Junk folder to automatically delete messages as sometimes it can make mistakes and this would mean genuine messages would be lost.

As for 3rd party filters, I simply can't be bothered when other mail programs allow the rules to work on the Junk folder as standard. incredimail has for some time allowed the creation of rules that not only delete mail from known spam senders but that also automatically bounce an undeliverable message header back to them as well so as to make the email address look invalid. I've found this very successsful in the past and only came back to outlook when it was installed as a part of my Office upgrade. I'm unsure on Mozilla's exact specs in this regard.

Fact remains that Outlook is stifled with a stupid restriction. I'm not going to hunt around for 3rd party programs to put Microsoft's shortcomings right. If Microsoft won't produce programs that do the job properly, then I'll just migrate my email and browser to Mozilla / Incredimail products instead and do the same on all the machines I administer as well.

 

[Brian Tillman]

As for 3rd party filters, I simply can't be bothered when other mail
programs allow the rules to work on the Junk folder as standard.

Back in Outlook 2003 prior to SP1, rules did work first. So many people
complained about their rules moving junk mail to their folders that
Microsoft decided to change the order. You'd likely be upset as well if you
had rules that sorted junk mail into other folders so that the junk mail
engine couldn't see them.

incredimail has for some time allowed the creation of rules that not
only delete mail from known spam senders but that also automatically
bounce an undeliverable message header back to them as well so as to
make the email address look invalid.

Incredimail is crap. A Non-Delivery Report (bounce) can only be generated
by a server. The fake one some mail clients generate are easily viewed as
fake and serve only to confirm that the recipient address is valid.

If you don't like the say Outlook performs, either open a support incident
with Microsoft or use something that does perform the way you want.

 

[ROC]

I am having the same problem along with everyone else. I switched to
Thunderbird and all of the rules I tried to use in Outlook 2007 worked even
with Spamkiller and Junkmail. In part the purpose of rules is to redirect
and delete unwanted mail. I find it absolutely ridiculous that Outlook
cannot make this work. When you have a junkmail program that doesn't work
with your rules program what do you have - nothing. I have seen several MVP
responses on this matter. Their remedies don't work either. I understand
the problem is related to architecture. If there is a resolution to this
problem then we need to have it. I called MS service and was told that
because I bought my Outlook through the University I was not eligible for
service. This was an upfront purchase and no where did it say I was not
eligible for MS support.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I am having the same problem along with everyone else. I switched to
Thunderbird and all of the rules I tried to use in Outlook 2007
worked even with Spamkiller and Junkmail.

So? The behavior of some unrelated program certainly cannot dictate
Outlook's behavior.

In part the purpose of
rules is to redirect and delete unwanted mail.

Only AFTER Outlook's Junk E-mail filter has processed it.

I find it absolutely ridiculous that Outlook cannot make this work. When
you have a
junkmail program that doesn't work with your rules program what do
you have - nothing.

So, use a mail program that behaves as you wish. Prior to Outlook 2003 SP1,
Outlook's rules ran before the Junk E-mail filter. There was such a wave of
compaints (because people's rules were sorting junk e-mail into their
working folders) that Microsoft changed the order. While you and I may wish
they had added the option to allow rules to act first, they didn't.
Microsoft's tendency is to to may noncustomizable changes.

 

[Lynn]

My problem is that when I bought my new Vista computer in January I stopped
being able to use Outlook. The computer came with a version of 07. I
dialogued with Gateway and did several uninstalls and reinstalls, but that
didn't work. Now they say I don't have enough RAM! Odd they would bundle a
program that would need more RAM.

What happens: It loads the mail, but you get about a minute to read and
when you start to type, Outlook stops responding. I tried getting free help
from support but when they check for my version it is not coming up as the
right one. They are getting the one that was packaged with the software,
that one doesn't work either.

Anyone know why Outlook 07 won't work correctly on Vista 64 machines?

Anyone having my particular freezing and shutting down problem?

 

[Brian Tillman]

My problem is that when I bought my new Vista computer in January I
stopped being able to use Outlook. The computer came with a version
of 07. I dialogued with Gateway and did several uninstalls and
reinstalls, but that didn't work. Now they say I don't have enough
RAM! Odd they would bundle a program that would need more RAM.

How much do you have? Vista runs well enough with 1GB. It might even run
with 512MB, but I wouldn't try it.

What happens: It loads the mail, but you get about a minute to read
and when you start to type, Outlook stops responding. I tried
getting free help from support but when they check for my version it
is not coming up as the right one. They are getting the one that was
packaged with the software, that one doesn't work either.

Anyone know why Outlook 07 won't work correctly on Vista 64 machines?

Have you tried a new mail profile?