XCLN: Exchange Client PST Limitations (159163)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Exchange Client 4.0
  • Microsoft Exchange Client 5.0
  • Microsoft Exchange Windows NT client 4.0
  • Microsoft Exchange Windows NT client 5.0
  • Microsoft Outlook 97 8.0
  • Microsoft Outlook 97 8.01
  • Microsoft Outlook 97 8.02
  • Microsoft Outlook 97 8.03
This article was previously published under Q159163

SYMPTOMS

You may be unable to add any items (posted messages or files) to an existing personal folder (PST file) in the Microsoft Exchange Client. When you attempt to do so, one of the following error messages may be displayed:
An item could not be copied. The action could not be completed.
An item could not be moved. The action could not be completed.
Changes to the item could not be saved. The action could not be completed.
General Microsoft Exchange failure. Make sure Microsoft Exchange is installed correctly then try again.
In Microsoft Outlook 8.0x, you may receive one of the following error messages when you attempt to copy or move an item to a folder in a .PST file that contains more than 16,383 items:
Could not make another copy of the item. The original was either moved or deleted, or access was denied.
The item could not be moved. It was either moved or deleted, or access was denied.

CAUSE

PST files are limited to items of 16,384 in a table. This means PST files can accept 16,384 folders of up to 16,384 items in a folder. The maximum size a PST can be is 2 gigabytes (GB) total file size.

RESOLUTION

To store more information, create additional personal folders (PST files) or delete some information from the existing PST file.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/17/2005
Keywords:KB159163
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