How to Clean up Mailbox in Outlook 2007

Usually when we have problems with Outlook running slow it has something to do with the PST file. This can be a corruption however it can also be a size issue. The maximum size for Unicode email PST file is 20GB nevertheless Microsoft has stated that anything over 800MB can be unstable. If you have narrowed the problem down to your PST file, follow these steps:

1. Check the total PST file size by clicking Tools, Mailbox Cleanup. Then click View Mailbox Size. This will show you the size, including any subfolders and without subfolders. Any files deleted will show a size decrease in real time.
2. Then compact the PST file by clicking File, Data File Management. (Make note of where the PST is kept for the second part of this procedure).
3. Double-click the PST file and click Compact Now.

If you are still having an issue with the PST file, run scanpst on the data file.

1. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office 12.
2. At the top of the window, click Tools, Folder Options. Put the check in Show Hidden Files. Click Apply and OK.
3. In the Office 12 folder, double-click scanpst.exe. Click Browse, and then navigate to C:\Document and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook. (Or whatever the location is for the PST file you noted earlier). Highlight the PST file and click Start.
4. Let scanpst run to fix errors. Run it again until all errors are gone.