Outlook tries to download mail that's not on server

I have a client that uses Outlook 2000. They had not check for new messages for the last two weeks and when they checked today Outlook tried to download 4,006 messages and hung up. I canceled the download, setup the mail account on a different comp & retrieved the messages. The messages will get exported to the other computer.

The problem is this. Every time Outlook checks for new messages it "sees 4,006 messages on the server ". But there are no messages there. The other comp is set to NOT leave messages on server.

It seems that Outlook "remembers" the canceled download and tries to complete the task, even after closing the program & rebooting. Where is the "task history" saved?

 

Been very long since I last used Outlook 2000, but see if there's an option Process all marked headers under Tools > Send and Receive.

If that doesn't help I'd try running the Inbox Repair Tool (Scanpst.exe). Last resort is creating a new .PST file.

 

I think you'll have to bite the bullet and let it go through the motion of trying to download the mail..

Also check the size of the pst file located->
C:\Documents and Settings\USER NAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

If it's getting close to two gigs - it time to archive or zap some mail.

 

Thanks.
I figured I'll try the repair and process headers method first.
The pst is quite large and I figured I'd have to do maintenence on it; purge the unwanted messages, backup the accounts, messages and contacts, then create a new pst.

 

Unfortunately, there's no Web access for this email account. It's a corporation mail server in Calif. & we are in DC. I wish it had Web access, it would make my job easier. That way I could delete the malformed messages that cause havoc to Outlook. No telnet access either.

The way Outlook is setup is such: ALL mail to the DC office gets downloaded via Outlook and manually distributed via removable media to other computers who then compose in OE and manually give back to the Outlook comp. For security reasons, there's no networking allowed. Thus, rebuilding a PST is a lot of work, the subfolders will be organized by the organisation depts. Once done, it will be more efficient than the existing one, but it's still work that *could* have been unnecessary had Outlook been managed and maintained properly. Looks like I'll also be authoring some company policies for Outlook maintenence.