Outlook 2007 is slow compared to Outlook 2003 - Any tips?

Hi,

I use an exchange account for my email (greatest invention ever!), it helps keep everything in sync. I am a member of the MS Action pack so I have a copy of both Office 2003 & Office 2007.

The office application I use the most is MS Outlook 2003. When I have tried Outlook 2007, I have noticed a huge lag in "rendering" emails. My Exchange files are all saved locally, so this isnt a bandwidth issue.

My exchange file is 700mb so while it is large, its not gigantic compared with a 2gb file.

When switching folders, viewing emails, opening emails etc, Outlook 2003 is very fast where Outlook 2007 is pretty slow in comparison.

I was curious if there was a way to speed up outlook 2007, or if based on it being a new program, it just runs a bit slower.

I have had similar results on XP Pro & Vista Business OS's. Outlook 2003 is always faster.

Thanks,
Rich

 

It's a new version of stupidly popular software, by a big company. The bloat/ slowness is to be expected.

 

Maybe you can try Open Office. It's free and does the same thing that Office 2007 can do.

 

I believe he was asking for help with a problem, not for anyone's opinion on what is crap or what something else can do....

did you import the previous personal store file (pst) from 2003, upgrade or did you start from scratch?

You mention the file is 700mb--it may not be 2gb, but it is still big.

Try these things--in order

CLOSE OUTLOOK
Run the pst repair tool, located in
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 2003\Office12
it is called
SCANPST.exe

Locate your pst file in something like
C:\Documents and Settings\{profile name}\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Let it run and see if it finds any errors.

Next, OPEN OUTLOOK

in outlook,
FILE > DATA FILE MANAGEMENT > select your PERSONAL FOLDER, click the SETTINGS button, and then press compact

Better?

If not, click FILE > ARCHIVE and choose to Archive ALL FOLDERS

This will create a new pst file viewable before you current folder structure called ARCHIVE

You will be able to access your old email there. Your newer, smaller pst should work more quickly...

 

I did a fresh install of Vista Business, then installed Office 2007. Since I am using an exchange server, i just added the server info & it created a new OST file through Outlook 2007. I didnt touch anything else within outlook 2007.

I am starting to think that for the time being, I should stick with Outlook 2003 (and all of office 2003) instead of Outlook 2007 (office 2007).

 

I'm not very familiar with the workings of exchange (though I should), but you say you have a local store on your machine. Have you compacted it? Right click on Personal Folders in the nav pane and click Properties for Personal Folders. Click Advanced in the properties box and then Advanced, then Compact Now.

There are several issues with OL2007 and MS release a hotfix that attempted to correct several, but I can't remember the KB number off the top of my head.

The other issues are the RSS capability and some plugin issues.

Tools>Trust Center>Add-ins and disable add-ins you don't need. Obviously in your case stay away from the exchange entries.

Tools>Trust Center>Automatic download and uncheck RSS. If you right click the RSS folder in the nav pane you may get some properties which will allow you to disable the RSS checks and/or the folder (I deleted mine). It constantly polls MS for MS RSS feeds.

There is something else, but it escapes me at the moment. Anyway give those a try.

 

So in the end, can Outlook 2007 be as speedy as its 2003 counterpart, or does that come back to a new program being designed for new machines that run it at meh speeds vs an old program that any new PC can run fast as hell?