Why is outlook and office so slow???

[chesjak]

Hi

When I upgraded to office 2003 pro from XP pro I noticed that when I start
any of the programmes withing Office. such as Excel and especially Outlook it
takes a long time to load.

For example when I open up Outlook, it takes at least 45seconds after the
outlook screen appears for me to be able to use it. I have to wait for the
"hour glass" to change to the pointer before anything responds.

This was not the case with 2002 XP pro. I have exactly the same security
setup as I always have had, so would asssume it is not that.

Can anyone help please.

Regards

 

[DL]

Presumably you've run MSUpdate and installed any critical Office updates?
Boot your PC into Safe Mode, is it still slow?
If not it would appear a background program is causing the issue (Your
AV/Security program maybe?)

 

[chesjak]

Hi DL

Thanks for your reply. Yes I have run it in "safe mode" and it is still the
same.

As I said earlier, the security setup I have now for 2003 is exactly the
same as before with XP 2002. Does 2003 operate in a different way to 2002XP.
The reason I didn't upgrade to 2007 was because it was reputed to be slow in
operation compared to previous versions.

 

[DL]

I have run 2003 on a winxp PC 2gb ram with no problems & Vista PC also
One of the major causes of Outlook issues is third party addins and
intergrated AV
If you have any third party addins ensure they have been updated from their
supplier.

When you upgraded did you create a new unicode pst or are you still using
the old ansi code pst as your default?

 

[chesjak]

Hi DL

""When you upgraded did you create a new unicode pst or are you still using
the old ansi code pst as your default?""


I am sorry, but in laymans terms, what do you mean?

I do know that when I upgraded, I saved all my file settings before I
deleted 2002 xp and then did a copletely new installation of 2003. I then
re-introduced the saved file with all my settings into 2003.

regards

 

[DL]

Within Outlook, select Personal Folders, rt click> Properties > Advanced
What does it say for Format?

 

[chesjak]

Hi DL

Personnel Folders File (97-2002)

What is that all about then
Regards

 

[DL]

When you upgrade from a pre 2003 version of outlook, even though you may
have uninstalled the earlier version, the new installation 'picks up' your
earlier data file and the outlook profile.
(The earlier data file has a size limitation, the default data file
(unicode) used by OL2003 or later doesnt have the limitation)
I'd suggest, with Outlook closed, you use the Mail Applet in the Control
Panel to create a new Profile - not copy - (make it the default) add a new
data file & add your accounts and test.
Once ok, within outlook, File >Open>Data File and open your old data file
(probably named outlook.pst)
Then in the folders view of outlook, copy mail & Contacts from this file to
the default set of Personal Folders

 

[KPM]

Hi--

I'm having the same problem as CHESJAK, I think, with my recent upgrade to
MS Office 2007. My Personal File Folder is labeled (97-2002)--I was able to
get that far with your kind instructions below. But then I am lost! I've
never created a new file (?) OR messed around with my Outlook .pst file.
Both make me very nervous. Can you expand on the instructions you have
provided, or refer me to a step-by-step MS article?

kpm

 

[DL]

http://www.outlook-tips.net/howto/profile.htm
see if the above helps to create the new profile with new data file
(NB You will need to have your account settings to hand)

Once done & tested,
Then in Outlook, File>Open>Data File.......the next window should open at
the default data file location - select the origonal data file (probably
named outlook.pst, but you can check this from Persoanl Folders properties
in your current installation)

Then in the tree view of outlook (left pane) you will have a second set of
Personal Folders (toward the bottom)
Select a folder, eg Inbox, select all mail and drag it to the Inbox folder
of the Primary Personal Folders Inbox (Top of tree view)
Do this for all your mail folders.