Outlook 2003 Question Part Two

[joshharrington]

Not sure if you guys can help me out, but just had a question regarding Outlook 2003 and attachments. If I attach a file to a message in Outlook, and then go to delete the folder that the file was in (the attachment), I am not able to delete/move the folder until I restart Outlook. This is even after I send the e-mail, so I know the file is not in use by Outlook. Any suggestions?

 

[RebateMonger]

I just tried this with Outlook 2003. I created a Test Folder and put a Test File in it. Then I created a new email, attached the Test File, and sent the email. Then I deleted the Test Folder. No problem.

I even tried saving the new email as a Draft (and not sending it). There was still no problem with deleting the Test Folder.

Sooo....Outlook definitely isn't behaving as expected for you.

 

[stash]

Does this still happen after a reboot?

 

[joshharrington]

Yes...even after reboot of the PC, but not after restarting Outlook. After restarting Outlook you're able to move the folder, but not until after.

 

[joshharrington]

Found out that it only happens with certain builds of computers here. Not sure what type of setting this would be, but I'm going to rebuild some machine and hope that it takes the problem away.

 

[joshharrington]

Seems that the files in the folder move, but the folder itself like copies in both locations. Not sure why it doesn't just disappear...

 

[joshharrington]

Ok, just rebuilt the machine, total new version of XP...installed Office 2003 and that was it. Tried the process again; opened a new message, added the attachment off the network, and sent the email. Tried to move the folder that the attachment was originally in and it wouldn't let me until I restarted Outlook. Could there be a network issue?

 

[RebateMonger]

Hmmm....
I didn't realize you were doing this over a network.

I just tried the same thing over a network:
1) Created a test folder on a Windows Server
2) Added a file into the test folder
3) Created an Outlook email, attached the file, and sent the file to myself.
4) Tried to delete the test FOLDER:
Error Deleting File or Folder
Cannot remove folder "Test Folder": It is being used by another person or program
Close any programs that might be using the file and try again.

Oddly enough, the FILE did delete. But the FOLDER won't delete.

I also tried sending the email to an OUTSIDE mail server. When I did that, I WAS able to delete the test folder.

MORE weirdness:
I created another test folder with files inside. Sent one of the files to myself using Outlook. BEFORE I received the email, I was able to delete the entire test folder.
BUT, when I tried to send another test email, as I was browsing the Server to attach the test file, I got the message:
The folder "\\server\Download\Test Folder" isn't accessible. This folder may be located in an unavailable location, protected with a password, or the filename contains a / or \.

I couldn't navigate to the "\\server\Download" folder until I closed Outlook and restarted Outlook.

Conclusion: You are seeing "Normal" Outlook behavior across the network.

It appears to be a problem with deleting (or moving) a FOLDER across the network, rather than a problem with deleting a FILE. And I think it's only a problem if you send the email internally. If you send the email to an outside mailserver, everything behaves normally.

 

[joshharrington]

Yes that is the exact issue I'm having...how can this be resolved? Is it something on the Exchange server itself, or is it on the file server we're using.

 

[RebateMonger]

n.m.

 

[joshharrington]

?

 

[joshharrington]

ttt

 

[joshharrington]

ttt

 

[joshharrington]

up

 

[stash]

Based on the lack of replies, it seems that nobody knows the answer to your question. I would suggest giving Microsoft support a call.

 

[rasczak]

nvm, i'm a dork.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: joshharrington
Yes that is the exact issue I'm having...how can this be resolved? Is it something on the Exchange server itself, or is it on the file server we're using.

If you try the same thing with Outlook Web Access, you can probably determine if it's an Outlook issue or an Exchange issue. If OWA does the same thing, it might be Exchange. If OWA doesn't do it, then it's likely an Outlook "problem". Actually, I'm pretty convinced it's an issue with Outlook.

Either way, I have no idea why it does this.

 

[joshharrington]

Alright, Microsoft will be getting a call. Thanks guys.

 

[rasczak]

sounds like a permissions issue after all. do you actually have ownership of that folder? you are the one that created the folder on the server from your workstation? or actually created the folder while logged on to the server?