OS = Windows XP Home SP2

Recently Outlook express started displaying a splash screen asking me if I
wanted to compact messages to save disk space, in error I checked the
'don't ask me this again' and now wish I hadn't!

The problem I have is that when closing the laptop down, the auto
compact process begins (becuase Outlook Express was running), and the
shutdown command causes the compactation to crash, risking the email
files.

Question:

How can I re-instate the laptop to ask me if I want compact or not,
when outlook is opened or closed every 100 times or so (I'm aware of
the solution to keep resetting the counter back). Is there a registry
entry that can be reset ("don't ask registry somewhere?!?). I'm also
aware that background compacting has been removed as an option from
SP2.

Many thanks

Jamie

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Clarification of Question by jamwales-ga on 10 Mar 2005 22:42 PST

I have also shutdown outlook express, and amended the registry key as
instructed (to 200 decimal), which was set to 3. I then loaded OE, and
closed it back down - it started to compact without asking, so the
problem does
not seem to be resolved. Once compacting, I re-checked the registry
key value, and it had been reset to 1. I set it back to 200, and the
same thing happened, that is, I was not asked if I wanted the compact to
take place or not.


I have also seen, Download OETool and use Button 14:
Button 14:  Compact All Folders -- This will compact all folders and
reset the "Compact Check Count" to zero for WinXP SP2 users.
http://www.oehelp.com/OETool/Default.aspx - but I do not want install any software.

I'm really looking to reverse the "don't ask again" checkbox I ticked
by mistake, as there must be a way, and it is this that is driving me
to distraction!

Hello jamwales,

I hope following URL will solve your problem. 

http://www.alegsa.com.ar/Visitas/i51/How%20to%20disable%20automatic%20compacting%20when%20closing%20outlook%20express%20express.php

Regards,

Fahad

well, sorry to submit the same solution again. But all the current
solutions suggests that this is the only way.

Thanks

Hi Fahad,

Thanks for the link, and yes I'm beginning to think this is the only
answer. I did think that either a registry key had been amended, or
indeed deleted, but know I'm not sure.

jamwales,

I had the same problem for days. This is how I fixed it:

Close Outlook Express. Click Start. Click Run. Type regedit. Click OK.

Navigate to the following registry key -

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities\{XXXXXXXX_XXXX_XXXX_XXXX_XXXXXXXXXXXX}\Software\Microsoft\Outlook
Express\5.0

Look for a folder beneath this one called Dont Show Dialogs.

Right Click on the folder and choose delete. Close the registry
edititor and test. Hope this helps.

Mindbank

Hi Mindbank,

Thank you for your comment, it looks like what I was looking for...
but unfortunately cannot try it, as the laptop in question has
somehow, totally messed up it's security settings, to such an extent I
cannot access any menus, or run any programs from the start menu etc -
very strange, all menu options from windows have disappeared and left
us with a useless laptop. Fortunately, I'd backed up the data, so was
able to restore the important stuff to the new laptop we had to buy.

thanks

Jamie