Outlook 2003 Archiving Issue

[Doug]

I have a client who is having an issue with the auto archiving feature in
Outlook 2003 that I cannot figure out. While auto archiving is working just
fine, he claims that the archiving feature is removing folders from his
primary mailbox.

For example, he has the following folders in Mailbox - <username>:

Inbox -> SubFolder1 -> SubFolder2

All the email in SubFolder2 should be auto archived due to the age of the
email. The auto archiving process works as advertised, and when it
completes, the user's email from SubFolder2 has been moved to Archive Folders:

Inbox -> SubFolder1 -> SubFolder2

My client's claim is, SubFolder2 is gone from his primary mailbox at this
point. I have spent time on his machine and have confirmed that SubFolder2
is indeed no longer in his primary mailbox. The problem is, I have no idea
how this is happening.

I cannot find anything that would explain why the auto archiving function is
removing folders - and only sporadically. Like I said, auto archiving seems
to be working just fine outside of this isolated incident (39 other users on
the same Exchange server without an issue). I want to chalk it up to user
error, but it's the chairman's laptop and he's being a pest about it.

They are running Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise Edition (SP1) with Outlook
2003 on all the client machines. I have completely updated this user's
machine.

I am at a loss so any feedback or ideas are welcome!

 

[Judy Gleeson MVP - Outlook]

I think you should double check that this isn't the common disappearing
folders trick that 2003 plays - what selection is he in the Navigation Pane?
Are the disappearing folders email or other types of folders? If he is
viewing Mail folders in the Navigation Pane, any subfolders that are for
example Tasks, will not be shown - unless you view the Folder List.

Just check - it's a common user problem with 2003.

Judy Gleeson - MVP Outlook
Acorn Training and Consulting
Canberra, Australia


see what Outlook training can do to improve productivity:
www.acorntraining.com.au/pdfdocs/ProductivITwithOutlook.pps

www.acorntraining.com.au/productivit.htm

 

[Doug]

Judy,

Thank you very much for your post. I did check that, in fact, that was
probably one of the first things I checked. Also, the couple of folders that
have played this disappearing act have been mail folders.

Doug

 

[Judy Gleeson MVP - Outlook]

Hi Doug - I'm still sceptical that his claim is true - does his PA move
stuff for him? Did he ask her to file some old stuff (and she did)?

Make some folder, stuff some old junk in it and run the Archive next time
you're there are see what happens.

He needs to feel confident that it's working and I'm not convinced that it's
not.

Judy Gleeson - MVP Outlook
Acorn Training and Consulting
Canberra, Australia


see what Outlook training can do to improve productivity:
www.acorntraining.com.au/pdfdocs/ProductivITwithOutlook.pps

www.acorntraining.com.au/productivit.htm

 

[Doug]

Judy -

Thanks again for your assistance in this matter. I am happy to say that my
first inclination with this particular client was correct. He accidentally
moved the folder on his own and didn't realize it - I am not sure how you do
that, but that's what happened. Makes me wonder how people function on a day
to day basis.

Again, I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my post.

Doug