How to organize files in Outlook 2010

I have been using Outlook for years. My PC recently crashed and installed everything again.

At this stage, Outlook is a mess. It is unorganized, must have numerous duplicates, etc

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/avz10/2011-12-17135316.jpg

Is there a free or other program that I can use to get more order??

Thanks

 

There isn't any software that is capable of cleaning up that unholy mess, you are going to have to do it yourself. It isn't malware that has created it, it is simply poor data file management in the past.

You need to use File > Data File Management to do so, and start by removing all data files other than your main one, which is possibly the 4GB one simply called Outlook, or possibly avz10@mweb.co.za. You should be able to recognise which is your current data file from its content, and be sure to set that as Default. Make sure you only have that one data file showing and don't worry about having removed other data files as they can be added back at any time. I suggest you start by deleting from that file all messages which are no longer required, and then use Data File Management again to load the next file of the same name but marked (2) and without unloading the first. You will now be able to clean up the second file in the same way, and if there are messages there that you want to keep then you can drag and drop them to the first file where they will automatically be merged with the existing content. When finished unload the (2) file.

Keep doing that through (3), (4) etc and you should eventually end up with a single data file containing all your messages, though because the file sizes are so large this is all going to take a great deal of your time. It may also be necessary to keep the main data file below 4GB, though I'm not certain about that.

If this all sounds impractical then I can only suggest you familiarise yourself with the data file management process and clean those files up in your own good time, remembering always to keep the focus on the primary default data file to avoid creating further confusion.

Incidentally you can delete all those 256KB files at the bottom as they don't contain any of your personal stuff.

I suspect the main reason your files are in such a mess is that Outlook has been reinstalled several times, and with each install you have created a new data file or files.

Good luck rolleyes