Microsoft Outlook Help? - Computer Technical Help

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Microsoft Outlook Help?

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04-23-2014 , 03:45 PM

Kevin J

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Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 2,012

I have Microsoft Outlook-Office 2007 and had to set up an IMAP email account. My problem is, I can't seem to delete emails (only in the IMAP account)...

When I try to delete, the message shows a strike though. When I try to purge, it still won't delete. I've read just about every article there is on Google and thought I fixed the problem, because yesterday they were deleting after I checked the purge box in settings. But today, it's back to showing a strike though and they won't delete from their current folder.

If anyone is familiar with Outlook, I'd really appreciate any help with this. Thanks.

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04-23-2014 , 04:47 PM

Gabethebabe

Malware Jedi

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 27,387

Maybe you have a corrupt outlook data file (.PST/.OST)? Try and create a new one, import the existing outlook data file and see what happens.

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04-23-2014 , 05:45 PM

Kevin J

veteran

Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 2,012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabethebabe

Maybe you have a corrupt outlook data file (.PST/.OST)? Try and create a new one, import the existing outlook data file and see what happens.

Thanks. But this set up as IMAP, so aren't the emails stored on a server? I really don't know a ton about this and can't risk losing any emails I need.

Can I just drag my important emails to another folder (to save them) and try setting up the account again? I think you're right and something is corrupted, because I'm doing everything my searches have suggested and nothing works. Thanks for you help!

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04-24-2014 , 04:30 AM

mahnahmahnah

adept

Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 805

The emails are stored on the server, but Outlook creates a local cache in either .pst or .ost. PST and OST files are really susceptible to corruption, so could well be the cause of your problem.

We use IMAP and see this type of thing all the time... Safest thing to do is close outlook and then rename the pst / ost file to something else - then when you open outlook it should recreate the missing ost / pst and download all emails from your server. That way, if there are any problems you still have the original pst / ost and can reattach to Outlook.

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04-24-2014 , 09:37 AM

Kevin J

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Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 2,012

Quote:

Originally Posted by mahnahmahnah

Safest thing to do is close outlook and then rename the pst / ost file to something else - then when you open outlook it should recreate the missing ost / pst and download all emails from your server. That way, if there are any problems you still have the original pst / ost and can reattach to Outlook.

Thanks for the help, but that didn't work. I'm pretty sure it's not a corrupted .pst file, since I deleted and created the account again only to have the same problem.

I should mention I have managed to delete some of them. Not sure why those were able to delete while others will not. Also, there is an email that is not even on the server that won't delete from Outlook. This is a corporate gmail account if that matters.

This is really baffling and frustrating. These emails just won't delete and purge. They just live on like creatures from the Twighlight zone. I think I've tried everything.

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04-24-2014 , 01:47 PM

Ricks

old hand

Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,730

You can hide them.

https://superuser.com/questions/5627...-imap-messages

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04-24-2014 , 02:35 PM

Gabethebabe

Malware Jedi

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 27,387

Switch to Thunderbird

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04-25-2014 , 05:08 AM

mahnahmahnah

adept

Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 805

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin J

Thanks for the help, but that didn't work. I'm pretty sure it's not a corrupted .pst file, since I deleted and created the account again only to have the same problem.

I should mention I have managed to delete some of them. Not sure why those were able to delete while others will not. Also, there is an email that is not even on the server that won't delete from Outlook. This is a corporate gmail account if that matters.

This is really baffling and frustrating. These emails just won't delete and purge. They just live on like creatures from the Twighlight zone. I think I've tried everything.

Just to clarify, you weren't supposed to delete the account - only the PST file. If you delete the account and recreate with exactly the same details, it can reattach the old PST file instead of creating a new one.

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04-25-2014 , 12:35 PM

Kevin J

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Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 2,012

Quote:

Originally Posted by mahnahmahnah

I deleted and recreated the account before I knew about the PST file. After you told me about this, I renamed it. It's weird... After I log onto the Gmail website/server and delete messages there, some of them will then also delete from Outlook. Some will not. I don't know a lot about it, so I'll just have to keep playing around with it. Thanks.

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04-27-2014 , 01:07 PM

#10

thunderbolts

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3,596

Incidentally, Outlook 2010 and earlier don't play particularly nicely with IMAP (ridiculous though that is). I hear 2013 is better, but I still use 2010.

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