When you get this message:
“To free up disk space, Outlook Express can compact messages. This may take up to a few minutes.”
On start up or while working in Windows then here is what you can do to resolve it.
Try each solution one by one and if needed apply them all.
Solution 1:
You can always click OK and wait for the whole process to take place(the compression).
Solution 2:
Edit the registry manually to reset the counter manually:
1. Close Outlook Express and all message windows.
2. Click Start, click Run and type without quotes “regedit”.
3. Navigate to this key
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities\{GUID}\Software\Microsoft\Outlo ok Express\5.0
(where GUID is the long number used for your Identity.)
4. In the right-hand pane, double-click “Compact Check Count”, then change the value to 0.
5. Close regedit and restart your computer.
Warning: Incorrectly editing the registry might damage your system and prevent Windows from starting. Before doing it, back up your important data, make a restore point, and make sure you know how to repair a damaged system.
Solution 3:
1. Right-Click “Start” then click on Properties
2. Make sure “Classic Start Menu” is checked and click on “Customize…” next to it.
3. Click “Remove” and click on Outlook Express in the list and then click “Remove” once Outlook Express is highlighted/selected.
4. Hit “OK” 2 times.
5. Go to Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs.
6. Remove Windows Live Search.
Warning: Step 5 and 6 will remove “Windows Live Search” which means that you will not be able to use it. Keep in mind that you can always re-install it.
Solution 4:
1. Go to Control Panel, and then click on “Indexing Options”
2. Click on “Modify”
3. Unckeck “Microsoft Outlook Express”
4. Hit “Ok” and then “Close”