Outlook causing computer to use high system resources

[Mike]

Today, for no apparent reason, when Outlook 2000 was opened, the laptop began
running hard (fan coming on and running on high all day, and heavy use of
system resources as shown via the Task Manager - 95 to 100% CPU usage, with
Outlook as the only open program.)

When Outlook is shutdown, the laptop runs normally, and system resources are
normal.

This has repeated itself at least 4 times, and a series of file
compressions, deletions and general clean-ups hasn't changed anything.

Is this a sign of some virus or impending Outlook failure??

 

[Brian Tillman]

Today, for no apparent reason, when Outlook 2000 was opened, the
laptop began running hard (fan coming on and running on high all day,
and heavy use of system resources as shown via the Task Manager - 95
to 100% CPU usage, with Outlook as the only open program.)

When Outlook is shutdown, the laptop runs normally, and system
resources are normal.

Start Outlook with the /safe command line switch and see if the problem goes
away. If so, you have an add-in causing the problem.

 

[Mike]

Can you walk me through that process?

I haven't added any add-ins (that I know of).

 

[Brian Tillman]

Can you walk me through that process?

http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/commandlineswitches.htm

 

[Mike]

Nope. Still pegs the CPU usage at 100%, with Outlook the only thing open.
When that is shut off, CPU drops to 1 to 2 %.

The add-ins were shown as off, when Outlook was started with that switch.
When a few other add-ins were still shown as on, I turned them off also, but
there was no effect on the CPU usage.

Is there another direction to take??

 

[Mike]

I also started Outlook using the noextensions switch, but the same result
ensued. 100% CPU usage.

 

[Mike]

Problem resolved itself as follows:

1) Restarted Outlook a number of times using various options that were found
on the command switches link, including safe, safe:3 and noextensions. None
of those had an apparent effect, as Outlook continued to consume all system
resources.

2) Ran McAfee VirusScan overnight. No viruses found.

3) Shut down wireless modem while running virus scan.

4) In the AM, rebooted system, reconnected modem, started Outlook, and all
is normal again. Did not use a command switch to start Outlook, and all the
add-ins are as they were when this high system use was occurring.

I hope this provides some hints as to what fixed this problem, because there
sure isn't any that are apparent to me!

But thanks for pointing me in a direction that somehow led to resolution.