Outlook 2007 thrashing disc

Greetings,

Thank you for being here all you awesome folks at MG. Saved me many times...and I return.

(Running Win7 x64, Outlook 2007, MSE and a bunch more)

It seems that FAR too often, I hear my hard drive being accessed....to the point I'd call it thrashing. But, it's probably some setting I have set, and some program (Win7? Outlook?) is just doing what I told it to do...regardless, I want it to STOP! (lol?)

I am not having performance issues since my RAM, CPU, Disc and MoBo combo seems to be handling this repetitious task handily. Still, it just seems to be happening too much...like every 10 or 15 minutes for 5 minutes of munch munch munch munch...(I have not timed it - just guessing)

I opened up the Resource Monitor and see that the Disc area reports that under the Image column, either "System" OR "OUTLOOK.EXE" are the most active. There it goes again - screen shot attached.

(I am unfamiliar with the meaning or significance of the "PID"s)

I have run chkdsk /f on both of my data drives ("D" and "R"), and have run Outlook's Inbox Repair Tool.

I have right-clicked every folder in Outlook and disabled archiving everywhere I could find.....and several of my archive folders STILL seemed to be busy per the Resource Monitor information.

This is driving me crazy - like the death by 1000 cuts, or the water drop torture. It almost seems almost like a Windows backup thing? I'm afraid I am losing my mind and plead for a methodical, step-by-step plan to discover what's happening, and, of course, the solution.

Please see the attached images. I hope they can provide substantial clues.


TIA

drcarl

 

Greetings, drcarl - welcome back.

First and foremost: boot your machine into Safe Mode and check for the 'thrashing'. If everything's kosher there, then boot into Safe Mode w/Networking and re-verify.

Be advised: while in Safe Mode your antivirus software might be disabled, so you might consider physically disconnecting from the internet while testing.

Please let us know the results of those tests.

 

Will do; back soon.

 

I'm back. Booted into Safe Mode while physically disconnected from the router. Waited a bit. Started Outlook (OL)...watched files become active within Resource Monitor. Wondered why the archive folders that I created some time ago (ex: Archive 003, 004, 005, etc) were displayed at all. Made adjustments to Resource Monitor so I could see stuff (with Safe Mode Giant fount). Then it started...munch munch munch munch munch.

Wondered what the long file ending with \msvcr80.dll is.
Also wondered about C:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\usrclass.dat. and
C:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\usrclass.dat.Log1

Noted PID 1724 in case that's of any use.

Noticed at first about 8 "OUTLOOK" files running, then 4, then 10 or 15?

One of the most active was D:\program Files\Outlook\Active Outlook Folders\Outlook.pst

Skipped the Safe Mode with Networking (hope that's OK)

Started normally. All is calm. Started OL and several files appeared....4, then 8 (I think). Again I wonder why the "Archive 00X" folders I've made are active.

I believe there is a relationship between all the thrashing/extra activity and send/receive mail (<--set for every 10 minutes; executes when OL is started, too)

Attached screenshot of 20+ items active after hitting send/receive.

Next?

 

PS - Turned off Outlook's send/receive and all was quiet for a LONG time...maybe 15 minutes? Then, like the zombies...it came back: munch munch munch munch munch munch.

Closed OL for some peace.

(Also, pagefile is turned off on all drives)

 

Indexing is turned off (no boxes checked) in Outlooks Search Options. I was hoping I could turn it off...but it's already off..........munch munch munch munch munch munch munch munch

 

Have you checked to see if Outlook's AutoArchive function is enabled? If so, try toggling that off and see if your symptoms change.

Tools > Options > Other > AutoArchive

 

Another shot: is it possible that something in your .pst file is attempting to 'phone home'?

 

Yep - checked for autoarchive before the first post (thanks for the suggestion); if (on my first going there today) it wasn't already, it has been unchecked for a long time now. I also went to each archivable folder, right-clicked, and killed any kind of archiving possibility.

As for phoning home - I suppose ANYthing is possible. I wish "home" would just answer and get it over with! (just kidding)

Am running Malwarebytes AntiMalware now (<--came up clean)....and still hoping for a fix.

 

I'm running on empty here - it's been years since I've used Outlook in any form. I'm not going to bore you with Google results, either - I'm sure you've done your own searching...

Be patient - other MGs will jump onboard.

 

Thanks Caliban

 

Still munching - (attached) lookie all these OUTLOOK files running. I had just pressed F9 to send and receive mail. Is this normal?

 

Thank you for your thoughts plodr

Except for MSE, all the scanning I do is from stand-alone scanners.

I did install MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials). Is that considered "integrated"? Sorry to be thick, but can you elaborate on what "integrated" means?

Should I tell MSE to exclude certain files/folders? If so, I wonder which ones, and shouldn't I want mail is somehow scanned on its way into my machine?

Best,

drcarl

 

Closed Outlook, turned off Indexing, then turned it on again so that the CPU and Disc can have something constructive to do.

Sure wish I understood what's happening.

I have another pair of files that seem to be too active now:

D:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\MSS.log
D:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\MSStmp.log

see attached

 

Here’s my update

I have run (and have logs where appropriate) the following
SuperAntiSpyware (SAS)
Rogue Killer
Malwarebytes Anti Malware
TDSSKiller
MGTools (including hijackthis)

SAS removed about 75 cookies. The software reports these as a potential, moderate threat. 5 of these had red icons that resemble a bio-hazard symbol. Things (the disc) seemed quieter after these were removed.

I am confident now that this thrashing only happens when Outlook is up an running. The munch and crunch sound start after perhaps 5 or 10 minutes of inactivity.

Resource Monitor reports (see attached) a couple of files as active. They are
System - D:\Program Files\Outlook\Active Outlook Folders\Outlook.pst
OUTLOOK.EXE - D:\Program Files\Outlook\Active Outlook Folders\Outlook.pst

I would like to know what is making Outlook work the four files highlighted in the attached screen grab so much....and how to stop it.

Even though this is probably some basic aspect of Outlook that I just don’t understand, I guess I’ll run Spybot – SearchAndDestroy. It found “Win32.downloader.bltu” in the root and removed it.

I hope someone can educate/guide me....


http://drcarl.smugmug.com/photos/i-T5vFPhT/0/X3/i-T5vFPhT-X3.jpg

 

UPDATE - Outlook 2007 thrashing disc

Since some time has passed and I have been following leads and making changes, I present for your expert review the following summary and pray for your help.

TIA

~drcarl

Symptom: Crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch...starts ~only~ when Outlook 2007 is opened, and after about 5 and a half minutes of inactivity.

Something isn't right so while I search for a solution, I close Outlook so that I might have some peace and as I hope for an answer.

Here is a list of my system, current settings, procedures and other perhaps relevant information.

SYSTEM
Win 7 x64 Home Premium
Intel i7 920 Quad core
6 GB RAM
80 GB SSD (C
1 TB HD (D where most programs and data lives
1 TB HD (R where Windows and my manual backups live
No drives are partitioned. All are individual physical drives.

SOFTWARE
MSE & Windows Firewall are the only real-time AV/A-Malware running in real time
Occasional scans with Malwarebytes AntiMalware and SuperAntiSpyware
Occasionally use SpybotSearch & Destroy
Office 2007 (Some older archives recently consolidated were VERY old, ’98?)
Photoshop
Lots more

SETTINGS
AutoArchive: on. Default settings save to my file Consolidated Archives
Outlook automatic “send/receive” mail disabled
Outlook.pst and archives excluded from MSE real-time scans
Windows Search: disabled
Windows Indexing: off
Outlook 2007 Search Email Indexer: disabled
I had PageFile disabled; re-enabled C: 500MB, R: System Managed (about 6GB)

PERSISTENT FILES
When the thrashing starts, these are the persistent files seen in Resource Monitor:
(1) OUTLOOK.EXE - D:\Program Files\Outlook\Active Outlook Folders\Outlook.pst
(2) OUTLOOK.EXE - D:\$LogFile (NTFS Volume Log)
(3) System - D:\Program Files\Outlook\Active Outlook Folders\Outlook.pst

PROCEDURES
Outlook: Created UNICODE data file named Consolidated Archives and moved all old archives into it. Currently about 9 GB in size.
Outlook.pst (including Consolidated Archives) currently 13.6 GB
Ran chkdsk /f on D: and R:
Ran Outlook Repair Tool (SCANPST.EXW)
Disabled all Outlook Archiving. Restarted. Thrashing continued. Re-enabled AutoArchiving.
Running Outlook in Safe Mode: thrashing continues
Frequently run CCleaner which I just reinstalled ~without~ the perhaps too robust “CCleaner Enhancer”
Ran MWBAnti-Malware in safe mode and the display went black; had to do hard restart!?!
Ran MWBAnti-Malware after normal startup: nothing detected
SuperAntiSpyware removed 75 cookies, 5 of which had RED icons resembling biohazard icon
SpyBot Search&Destroy removed: Win32.downloader.bltu
In Safe Mode, checked processes and registry for traces – none found
Ran RogueKiller: clean
Ran TDSS Killer: clean
MGTools (including hijackthis) –no repairs made
I believe I remember seeing user/js in the C: root – removed by me or one of my scans
Ran Partition Wizzard's surface test: no errors.
Toggled System Restore for D: drive with no effect

UPDATES
Just updated to current (although I usually wait a week or more following Woody L’s advice)

OTHER
I read online: That Windows 7 has many “developer” logs that can be turned off. Four are listed as essential and should NOT be turned off. Although I turned nothing off (Maybe CCleaner Enhanced did) I do not see the four essential entries. at: start/admin tools>performance monitor>expand data collector sets>Startup Event Trace Sessions. These four referenced as necessary are Application, Security, System, Security Essentials. Are they hidden? Missing?

DURATION/ACTIVITIES BACK THEN
I really am unsure. It’s been a week and a half or two? (I am “time-challenged”). I had installed CCleaner’s Enhancer at some point and checked some things that I’m not sure about; silly me. I disabled the Page File and have since put it back. Otherwise, I don’t recall though I may have done SOMEthing. In fact, I do ultimately suspect ME. I have not tried restoring to an earlier point, nor have I imported any old registries which CCleaner routinely makes.

Help?

TIA

~drcarl


Logs attached

Here are some screen grabs that may be helpful

http://drcarl.smugmug.com/photos/i-RF6nDxf/0/X3/i-RF6nDxf-X3.jpg

http://drcarl.smugmug.com/photos/i-MwFcnG7/0/X3/i-MwFcnG7-X3.jpg

http://drcarl.smugmug.com/photos/i-78HG3ps/0/X3/i-78HG3ps-X3.jpg

.

 

Can you post a screenshot of your running processes? From the taskmanager, try to grab a screenshot when its not happening and when it is. You can click the CPU tab to order them by process that is using the most CPU cycles.

Sometimes it is a conflict with another app, this might help to narrow it down or eliminate that as a cause...

 

Yes. Here are shots from both Task Manager and Resource Monitor...Thrashing and not thrashing - all with Outlook opened.

Since my last post I have disabled Windows Indexing. All Outlook add-ins are also unchecked/disabled.

Thrashing continues for for a while after a while of inactivity. When Outlook is closed, there is no thrashing.

Thank you for looking into this.

~drcarl

PS - I see that because of my compression settings, I have severely blurred these shots. If you want sharper ones, just say the word...I'll post these links "as is" - sorry.

Not Thrashing Resource Monitor

Not Thrashing Resource Task Mgr

Thrashing Resource Monitor

Thrashing Task Manager


.

 

have a read here:
https://office.microsoft.com/en-us/...tlook-data-files-pst-and-ost-HA010075831.aspx

Also a new profile may do it if that fails:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/829918

 

Thanks cipher. I tried the SCANPST routine at the very beginning of this. no errors were reported. I looked over the info on the link you shared. although I recognize the fonts and page layout, it MAY be more complete than what I followed. I will do it again.

As to making a new profile. that helped me some time ago with the nagging "enter network password" issue that sometimes plagues people was plaguing me. since my email insurance consists of leaving a copy of email on the server (yahoo, gmail), the "new" profile awards me with duplicates of every mail. this is what led me to the very cool duplicate file finder that remedies the duplicates issue within OL. Wait. Previously, I only made a new email account and see now that a new profile is a horse of a different color. Will follow-up. Thanks.

I will try these routines since you suggested them. Actually, according to memory (and searches of *.ost), and since my mailbox is not on a server running Exchange (as far as I know), I'll probably skip the ".ost" routine unless you nudge me otherwise.

My current workaround so that I can revisit "my life" is to close OL after checking for mail. What a bother....argh.

thank you,

~drcarl

 

Try uninstalling the Cyberlink Outlook Addin if you have it. I've seen reports that this stopped the constant HD writes...

I've heard that uninstalling Outlook addins is not terribly easy, but did find this how to:
http://email.about.com/od/outlooktips/qt/uninstall_addin.htm

 

SCANPST found errors, fixed them, created a .bak file and a log, yet did not create a "Recovered Personal Folders" or a "Lost and Found."

I do not have the Cyberlink add-in. Here's what I have, all unchecked/disabled (and the munch munch munch of the drive continues):


Inactive:
Adobe Contribute
Calendar Gadget for Wondows SideShow
COM addin for Microsoft Outlook Hotmail Connector
GoToMeeting Outlook
Microsoft Access Outlook Add-in for Data Collection and Publishing
Microsoft Exchange Unified Messaging
Microsoft Office SharePoint Server Colleague Add-in
Microsoft Outlook Mobile Service
Microsoft VBA for Outlook Add-in
Outlook Duplicate Items Remover (<--great one)
Windows Search Email Indexer

Disabled:
PDFMOutlook

So, I'm still stuck with turning off outlook after checking mail, etc.

I guess making a new profile will be next. I had a couple, but not on this machine.

Thanks for your thoughts

 

Hi...

Just had a crazy thought: if cipher's profile creation suggestion doesn't pan out and if you've got your Office 2007 disk handy, why not uninstall/reinstall Outlook? Of course you'll have to backup your contacts, .pst, etc., but it seems like a program reload might be a next logical troubleshooting step.

According to eHow the procedure appears to be fairly painless:

@cipher: thanks for jumping on board.

 

Created new Profile (Control Panel - Mail 32)
New Profile essentially empty, no thrashing
Added “Consolidated Archives” data file (something like 9 GB), no thrashing
Added Original “Personal Folder” data file – thrashing begins again

Does this mean that I have to use a new Profile? This solution would include an export of all old Contacts as a CSV Windows file, and importing them back into the new Profile? Can I do the same thing with the Calendar? How about with the “Personal Folder” that holds my current Mail (Inbox, Deleted Items, Sent, etc.)?

I suspect that simply adding the old Outlook.pst file might bring with it the thrashing and that, perhaps, exporting - then importing these files as CSV Windows files might be an answer? Just brainstorming here...one wrong move and Outlook can cause days of headaches.


Also, I “Closed” the 9 GB Consolidated Archives I made as well as a tiny (and extra) Contacts data file so that they do not show in the Folders Column, but the Outlook.pst stays the same giant 13.5+ GB. I expected it to be smaller!?! How do I reduce its size? Need I move the Consolidated Archive to a different drive or rename it or something? Besides the overall size being a potential thrashing issue, I’d want learn how to pare down the folder size regardless...

What to do now? ( know, close OL because it’s thrashing again )

I suppose uninstall and reinstall Outlook completely?...hoping the thrashing will die, and the old Outlook.pst data file (or individual CSV Windows files) will come back to life with all my contacts and mail and stuff?

TIA - for helping me through this minefield.

~drcarl

 

A lot of what I read points to the .pst file as being possibly corrupt and the cause of this, I'm sure you've seen this as well in your searches. Outlook 2007 caused many folks to revert to Outlook 2003 and Microsoft was less than wonderful about addressing the issue.

I would export my contacts, and archive old mail to disk, do a fresh install of Outlook. This will give you a new profile and start you of clean...

 

Re: Outlook 2007 thrashing disc - SOLVED (I think)

First, unrelated, I forget where I saw it here, but it was a genuinely funny ~privacy~ joke: "When cryptology is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl" - LOL! Goes along with the "there are only 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand base 2, er, binary and those who don't. OK, here's the cut-and-paste update:

I think it’s SOLVED - maybe OL was shrinking (compacting) the database’s “white space” because I deleted extremely bloated folders and/or contents such as “Deleted” --and a bunch more duplicates? Maybe the thrashing is a normal function of database size management!!! Test and see...

Somewhere on this site http://www.msoutlook.info/ I read that the database for OL does not immediately change size when files are deleted, or added. There’s something like 20%? of elbow room, or white space for increased OL performance. When the size of (number of) files are drastically reduced (or increased) the “compacting” which can be performed manually (as I did) happens automatically.

I strongly suspect that’s the culprit and now have to run tests by adding, one at a time, the OL add-ins, and Windows Indexing (which I turned off). [Updated update: I added ODIR dupe finder and email search indexer – all is well - no thrashing]

Essentially, I cleaned and compacted both files. Tested. No unusual disk work. Done. Solved. I think.

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts.

I hope I don’t see you soon! lol

(You know I’ll be back if it starts again)

Best,

~drcarl

------------------Recent Notes, for completeness----------------------

November 13th UPDATE: I thought I had it licked...Problem remains. Thrashing. I have one main question: Why oh why is it thrashing? (Or, how can I make it stop?)

Here’s what I’ve done.

I “changed” the Office installation to not have Outlook. Closed everything . I removed duplicates and made copies of my main and archives folders as .pst files. “Outlook 5.pst” as and the archive I created called “Collected Archives 050”. I placed these on my D: drive where I want them, reinstalled Outlook, and did the routine to add these two data files (from D with the main one set as “default”. After a restart, I deleted the association to the previously default files on C:

Everything looked great and ran fast.

Main files went to 557,521 KB after compacting from 7,634,499 KB (after deleting duplicates and trash).

The archive went to 5,672,273 from 13,523,209 KB after the same steps.

Ran Malwarebytes AntiMalware and SuperAnti-Spyware. They found some threatening cookies and removed them.

Windows Indexing (in Windows) is off again (disabled the service) as is the Windows Search Email Indexer (in Outlook). In fact all Outlook add-ins are disabled.

 

Thanks for the update(s), drcarl - looks as if you're on the right track...

 

I let Windows rebuild the Index. All is good and quiet on the Western Front! lol

Thanks for all of the brainpower and input