PST file size on disk 10x the size of the data in folders

[MobileTechie]

Anyone seen this before?

I've a client who's had some Outlook problems in the past. The noticed their PST was pretty large so deleted a ton of emails. Now when you look at the Outlook folder properties and add up the data it's c. 1.8GB yet when you look at the PST file on the disk it's c. 10 times that size. Compacting the PST makes not difference and doesn't take nearly long enough. They've already run PST FIX.

What would account this for this?

 

[Lone99star]

Sounds like you may be looking at the wrong pst, search for all pst's (*.pst).

 

[Knightsman]

Instead of deleting, you can create archives. Dont want customer blaming you for a very important email. Even when they say its ok.

 

[MobileTechie]

It's the same PST and the client did the deletions before my job started.

Anyone actually have any idea of what might be going on, given the facts as stated?

 

[Knightsman]

It's the same PST and the client did the deletions before my job started.

Anyone actually have any idea of what might be going on, given the facts as stated?

If your absolutely sure its the same file, I have sometimes seen it take a while for a pst to show the actual size after deleting stuff, so maybe that is it.

 

[MobileTechie]

If your absolutely sure its the same file, I have sometimes seen it take a while for a pst to show the actual size after deleting stuff, so maybe that is it.

I got to the the file by using the Data Files dialogue in Mail Setup. That takes you directly to the folder containing the files used by the profile in question. There is only one profile and only two PST files: Outlook.pst and Archive.pst. So yes I'm sure. The emails were deleted last week so I'm pretty sure the size change would have showed up by now.

 

[Lone99star]

It's the same PST and the client did the deletions before my job started.

Anyone actually have any idea of what might be going on, given the facts as stated?

You are compacting a .pst file and it docent change the size of the file?
Either the compacting process is not working or you are looking at two different .pst files.
You stated that they have had problems in the past, was the pst backed up or was a new pst created? Is there a file on the local drive and a file on the server/nas?

If you are so sure you are looking at the right file why not import it and see what you have.

For a person asking for help you sure seem to have a shi*/* attitude.

 

[4ycr]

If you export it, is the file size any smaller?

 

[wimwauters]

If you export it, is the file size any smaller?

Another method is more 'manual': to create a new PST and move emails from the corrupt PST to the new PST.

Also check the 'root folder' of the bloated PST, I have many endusers who throw email at the PST toplevel, expecting email to magically fall into the right subfolder

Do check fragmentation first before you create another PST monster

 

[14049752]

Just checking, but when he deleted the e-mail, did he also delete it from "Deleted Items"?

 

[MobileTechie]

Another method is more 'manual': to create a new PST and move emails from the corrupt PST to the new PST.

Also check the 'root folder' of the bloated PST, I have many endusers who throw email at the PST toplevel, expecting email to magically fall into the right subfolder

Do check fragmentation first before you create another PST monster

Yes exporting and/or folder moving to a new PST sounds like a good idea. I can only assume the PST file is damaged in some way and hasn't changed in response to the deleted data and compacting isn't working. So moving the actual data to a new PST might be the ticket.