syregnask Posted November 25, 2008 Report Share Posted November 25, 2008 Lately, each time I start up my computer I get a message that Outlook Express can free up disk space if allowed to compress folders - the odd thing about being that I'm not using Outlook.How do I make this message stop re-appearing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted November 26, 2008 Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 Welcome to the Windows Forum.Can you give us the exact message you are getting? Also you mention Outlook and Outlook Express - two completely different programs; which one is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dencandy Posted November 26, 2008 Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 You could try launching Office Outlook & Outlook Express to see if their is anything there. Does someone else use your computer, or (remote possibility) has it been hacked by a botnet? As PW suggests they are 2 separate programs. Office Outlook is part of the Office suite and Outlook Express comes bundled with most versions of Windows.OE can be stopped from launching by going to Add/Remove Programs> Add/Remove Windows Components & uncheck it. I used to have similar problems with Windows Messenger & Windows Messenger Services until I stopped them from being launched. You can re-install it later if you decide you want to use it. I think the Office version can be similarly dissabled from Office.Also in Internet Explorer open Tools> Internet Options> Programs to check what your default e-mail/newsgroup services are. It might be being launched from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syregnask Posted November 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 Thanks for trying to help despite my lacking information.Here's an update...The program in question is Outlook Express.The exact message reads:"To free up disk space, Outlook Express can compact messages. This may take up to a few minutes."(Giving me then the choice of "OK" or "CANCEL")I'm the only person using this computer.Hacked by botnet? well, how would I know?I tried to remove Outlook Express from the Add/Remove Windows Components menu as suggested by Dencandy, but the message still appears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syregnask Posted November 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 Also in Internet Explorer open Tools> Internet Options> Programs to check what your default e-mail/newsgroup services are. It might be being launched from there.it's not set as my default e-mail - but it is set as newsgroup default, but how do I remove it? IE doesn't give me any other options? (PS: I don't normally use IE, only for pages where Firefox has problems). Also, I'm using newsgroups... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted November 26, 2008 Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 Have you tried to click OK one time, then see if the message reappears?Since you are not using OE, it could be that Disk Cleanup is running at startup, and suggesting that action.You can check your startup programs by using Startup Inspector. (Disk Cleanup is cleanmgr.exe) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted November 26, 2008 Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 I have always used Outlook Express, and from time to time I also see this message, even on my brand new computer. I just click 'YES', and the whole process takes only a few seconds. :D More info here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dencandy Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 it's not set as my default e-mail - but it is set as newsgroup default, but how do I remove it? IE doesn't give me any other options? (PS: I don't normally use IE, only for pages where Firefox has problems). Also, I'm using newsgroups...Ah, that probably explains it as OE and the IE Newsgroup service share some processes, so the service is just offering to compact your newsgroup files to save some disk space.If there's only OE listed in the newsgroup drop-down menu that'll be because you don't have any other newsgroup services installed. I don't use the service myself but I'm sure there are other newsgroup providers you could install on your system (MSN, Yahoo?) then they'd be offered as alternatives. Maybe others could advise you about what alternatives are available. On the other hand if you're happy with the service you have, why change it...?As for a botnet, do you see any long periods of internet activity in the System Tray (lower right) when you are not communicating over the internet & that can't be explained by automatic updates? If not, then don't worry about it. If you do see such activity, scan with your anti-virus and anti-malware programs. To double check you could run an on-line scan with ESET/NOD32 (http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syregnask Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 it's not set as my default e-mail - but it is set as newsgroup default, but how do I remove it? IE doesn't give me any other options? (PS: I don't normally use IE, only for pages where Firefox has problems). Also, I'm using newsgroups...Unfortunately there is a NOT missing from the highlighted red statement. My bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syregnask Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Pat Willener & andsome - yes, I assume (hope) the messgae would go away if I were to click OK, but the reason I asked here was to find a solution that didn't involve clicking OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syregnask Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 As for a botnet, do you see any long periods of internet activity in the System Tray (lower right) when you are not communicating over the internet & that can't be explained by automatic updates? If not, then don't worry about it. If you do see such activity, scan with your anti-virus and anti-malware programs. To double check you could run an on-line scan with ESET/NOD32 (http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/).OK, no signs of botnet observed. Although I should add, I'm communicating over the internet 97% of the time I use this computer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Did you check your startup programs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dencandy Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 it's not set as my default e-mail - but it is set as newsgroup default, but how do I remove it? IE doesn't give me any other options? (PS: I don't normally use IE, only for pages where Firefox has problems). Also, I'm using newsgroups...Unfortunately there is a NOT missing from the highlighted red statement. My bad.In that case I think it must be coming from Windows itself & it's just kicking in, well, out of politeness. But I agree it's odd. I use Outlook Express constantly and the message hardly ever comes up. If you press OK what happens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.