| Allowing Outlook offline folders, OST files, to grow | | | | more slowly than it usually would. This is going to |
| to very large sizes not only affects the | | | | cause you more frustration and even affect your |
| performance of Outlook but also creates a real | | | | work. A better alternative would be to understand |
| danger that the file may become corrupted. This | | | | how to control the size of the OST files, what |
| can make them inaccessible and cause you to | | | | are the manageable limits and how best to |
| lose your data. Understanding the way large | | | | recover OST data if the OST files do become |
| Outlook mailboxes behave will help us deal with | | | | corrupted. |
| them better. | | | | Most new versions of Outlook perform well even |
| There is no doubt that one of the most | | | | when the OST files reach fairly large sizes such |
| attractive features of Outlook is its ability to allow | | | | as 5 GB since computers come with fairly |
| users to work in the Cached Exchange mode. | | | | sophisticated hardware nowadays. Once the files |
| Cached Exchange Mode is a feature that | | | | reach 5 GB and continue to grow, you might start |
| determines how the data from the mailbox | | | | to notice performance problems with Outlook. If |
| stored on the Exchange server is collected. By | | | | you do not take any action at this stage and |
| working in the Cached Exchange mode, you can | | | | allow the mailboxes to grow up to 25 GB or so, |
| continue to work with the mail delivered to your | | | | Outlook performance takes a sharp dip and you |
| Microsoft Exchange account even if you are not | | | | may find that it occasionally stalls while working. |
| connected to the server. Outlook simply | | | | When OST files become this big, it is very difficult |
| downloads the data into offline folder files, | | | | to predict how Outlook is going to behave and |
| commonly referred to as OST files, on your local | | | | there is a real fear that the OST file may |
| computer and then regularly synchronizes this | | | | become damaged, causing you to lose a lot of |
| data with that in the Exchange mailbox. However, | | | | vital data. While you could use special recovery |
| you have to keep an eye on the size of the OST | | | | tools such as Advanced Exchange Recovery from |
| files at all times. If you allow these offline folder | | | | DataNumen to repair the OST files and recover |
| files to grow endlessly, then at some point, their | | | | OST data, it is advisable that you take all steps |
| size may cause damage to these files and you | | | | necessary to keep the size of the OST files |
| may have to use recovery tools to recover OST | | | | under control. |
| data. | | | | Some of the measures that you could take are |
| Many users do not like the idea of storing any | | | | as follows: |
| Outlook data locally, preferring to constantly | | | | - Delete all unwanted messages and archive older |
| connect to the server whenever they need to | | | | messages |
| work on their mails. They therefore disable the | | | | - Use send/receive groups feature to manually |
| Cached Exchange mode and prefer to work | | | | synchronize the mailbox on the Exchange server |
| online. However, by forcing Outlook to | | | | - Carry out the Compact process so that |
| communicate with the Microsoft Exchange server, | | | | unwanted mails are gotten rid of and better use |
| every time you wish to send, receive or work on | | | | is made of the free space. |
| your mails in any way, you are causing it to run | | | | |