Outlook 2000 PST file has exceeded 2GB, how to fix?

Question

I have a friend with a PST file that has exceeded 2GB. This has caused Outlook to slow to a crawl and it is unable to download emails.

I have made a copy of the PST file and transferred it to my computer and opened it in Outlook 2000. If I wait a few minutes I find that I can delete things from it or export them, even though this does nothing to the size of the file. Attempts to compact it do not work.

I have created a new PST file and I am exporting from the old file into the new file. I will then need Outlook on the original computer to recognize the new PST file as it's default.

Any suggestions or is there another way I should be doing this?

Answer 1

There is option of archive.. (which allow to split .pst files in smaller size and still allow you to keep all data)
see below link for more info:-
http://email.about.com/od/outlooktips/qt/et_archive_mail.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/books/troubleshooting/solutions/292.mspx

Answer 2

The 2GB size is limit within the Outlook 2000 program itself. Nothing you can do to increase that limit.

What you have to do is create a new personal folder within Outlook, and drag.drop half the stuff out of the old one and into the new one. (Yes, it will take a couple hours - but such is life).

Once you have moved about half the stuff, you then have to right click on the old personal folder within Outlook and go into the Properties. Click on the Advanced button. You will see a button to "Compact" the PST folder. Click that and let it run. (No, it does not give you any kind of a progress indicator, or tell you how long it takes, but plan for hours.) That is the only way to reduce the size of the file. When you remove something from a PST, it does not give you back the freed up space until you compact it.

From experience, it is often faster to move the second half of the stuff into another new PST file then to compact the original.

Recommend to your friend that they create several personal folders, and move stuff so that each folder is under 700 mb in size. The Outlook will run MUCH faster if the PST files are kept under 700 mb in size. It can almost double the speed of the program.

The other alternative is to update to Outlook 2003, which as a 4 gb limit instead of 2.

Answer 3

Maximum Pst File Size

Answer 4

Pst Size Limit

Answer 5

I would advise you to try Split pst tool to effectively split the large-sized PST file into small parts on the basis of Date, Sender's Email, Size, etc. The software allows its user splitting all folders and items of PST file like Contacts, Calendar, (Inbox, Outbox, Sent Items, etc.) This tool is well supported by all versions of MS Outlook and all windows OS. Get info, visit here:- http://www.recoverfilesdata.com/split-pst-file-tool.html

Answer 6

Fix Outlook PST 2 GB problem by using a advance PST recovery software like Stellar Phoenix Outlook PST repair software. Demo version of this software is available at free of cost at following location: http://www.scanpst.net/

Answer 7

I would like to suggest you to use RecoveryFix for Outlook recovery software which recovers emails from broken PST and the PST corrupted due to size limitation error.

Answer 8

Work with Multiple PST files.
Make the old one the Archive.
Delete large attachement emails (sort by size, take off the attachnments if you want them, look for emormous)
Delete deleted email.
Check Sent mail for large files you fwd.

Answer 9

Its a 7 years old post, but i would like to update it with a solution relevant for today's scenarios. You may follow the link on Microsoft, referring to a reliable solution.
http://curah.microsoft.com/87911/how-can-i-split-my-large-pst-into-multiple-pst-files