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mail folder is full - but it isn't!

johnwadeovc
Member

If this is the wrong forum for this question, please let me know.

 

I am unable to delete or move mail folders within Outlook. For example, if I want to rename a folder; delete in permanently, or move one folder to be a subfolder to another, I get the error message 'mailbox is full'. It isn't...

 

This is a fairly recent problem. Does anyone have experience of this, or would more information be helpful.

 

Thanks

 

John

5 REPLIES 5

spank
Grand Guru

Hi johnwadeovc,

 

This forum is fine for any email problems.  Sounds like the local PST has become full rather than your hosted mailbox.

 

Are you using your own server?

 

If no then here's some info on PST size limits

 

Outlook 97-2002 Personal Folders File (PST)

  • Used by:
    • Outlook 97, Outlook 98, Outlook 2000, Outlook 2002
    • IMAP and Windows Live Hotmail accounts in Outlook 2003
    • Outlook 2007 if explicitly chosen
  • Size limit:
    • 2 GB
    • Cannot be increased

Outlook 2003-2007 Personal Folders File (PST)

  • Used by:
    • Outlook 2003 (with the exceptions above)
    • Outlook 2007
  • Size limit:
    • Configurable; 20 GB by default
    • For performance and stability reasons, it is not recommended to increase the limit beyond 20 GB.

As your PST file approaches the limit or suggested maximum size (check the size via the Total size given in the Folder Size dialog), you can move old messages to a separate archive PST file — or delete them, of course.

Message Edited by spank on 07-09-2009 01:42 PM

alastair
Grand Guru
in the end the pst may get corrupted and you may well have to either use scanpst.exe to repair it or export the mail, create a new profile and then import the messages again.
=~~= All Glory to the Hypnotoad! =~~=

Jhon_Steve
Member

Hi,

 

I think there's some problem with your PST file. You can use Outlook recovery tools to repair it. Below is a list of them:

 

http://www.datanumen.com/aor/compare.htm

 

Most of them provide a free demo so you can try first.

 

Steve

klauzser
Power User

Try to delete a few mails including the ones in Deleted Files folder. Then try editing folders afterwards and see if it will work.

jasonmaner
Member

There could be three reasons for the condition your Outlook PST file has stuck in

 

  • If your PST file has gone oversized; that is beyond its size limit.
  • Or, the file might have gone corrupted
  • Or, If you have upgraded to a latest Outlook version, you are still using the ANSI format.

Just like the cases mentioned above, the solutions would vary as well.

 

  • Try to clean out the PST file of junk emails, unwanted attachments, clean the Deleted items folder
  • It this doesn't works either, use PST2gb.exe inbuilt tool of outlook to split PST file
  • Or, in case your file is damaged or corrupted, try to built it using Scanpst.exe or a professional PST repair tool.

Reference: http://splitpstfiles.com

                     http://www.msoutlook.info/question/288