Outlook Network data file path intermittently becomes invalid.

[Cole]

The hardware setup:
PC1 - Windows 2000 Professional being used as a server
PC2 - Windows XP Pro
PC3 - Windows XP Pro

Outlook.pst data file is kept on the Server

If I use My Network places to go and look at the folder on the server where
it is located, I can see the Outlook.pst data file with no problem at all.


The problem we keep having:

We are working in Outlook just fine then ...
Only on PC2 while in Outlook about every 3 to 10 minutes we seem to get this
error:

'The path specified for the file

\\Fileserver\user_accounts_fred\DATA\Outlook.pst is not valid'

the other error message we occasionally get is:

'Cannot create the e-mail message because a data file
to send and receive messages could not be found. To
add a data file, such as a personal folder file,
double-click the Mail icon in Windows Control Panel.'

Things I have tried so far:

I have had Outlook run its rDetect and Repair utility

I have run Scanpst on the file and it says its okay.

I have run scandisk or an alsternative drive analyzer on the drives
everything is okay.

I have replaced the network card on PC1 we seem to be able to connect just
fine to the internet and every other service.

I have changed the network cable and even changed the connection port.

Problem still exists.

I am assuming this is some sort of corrupted network data file location but
where might the corruption be located.

 

[K. Orland]

Microsoft does not recommend nor support the storage of an Outlook PST file
on a network share for the following reason:

Outlook requires constant read/write access to the PST file. This requires
it to be kept locally on the PC. On a network share if there is any
interruption to the connection to the PST file, you will see the problems
that you are already seeing plus the potential for the PST to corrupt.