OLEXP: Outlook Express Sends Message Repeatedly (226971)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 for Windows 98 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 for Windows 95 SP 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.0 for Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q226971
For information about the differences between Microsoft Outlook Express and Microsoft Outlook e-mail clients, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

257824 OL2000: Differences Between Outlook and Outlook Express

SYMPTOMS

When you start Outlook Express or try to send or receive messages, a message you sent previously may be sent again, and this message may be sent every time you start Outlook Express in the future. Also, you message may not be moved from the Outbox to the Sent Items folder.

CAUSE

This issue can occur if your computer has a low amount of free disk space. After you send a message, Outlook Express copies the message to the Sent Items folder. If there is not enough free disk space for this copy process to work correctly, Outlook Express leaves the message in the Outbox and it is sent again the next time you send or receive e-mail.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, increase the amount of free disk space available on your computer. To do so, empty the Recycle Bin, and uninstall any unneeded programs. For information about how to remove unneeded programs from your computer, click Start, and then click Help. Type removing programs in the Type the first few letters of the word you're looking for box, click programs from your computer in the Click the index entry you want, and then click display box, and then click Display.

To work around this issue if you know the message has been sent and you do not want to keep a copy of the message in your Sent Items folder, you can delete the message from the Outbox.

The disk space used by Outlook Express can also be reduced by removing message bodies and headers, removing message bodies only, or compacting wasted space. For additional information about reducing the disk space used by Outlook Express, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

166514 How to Delete News Messages and Headers in Outlook Express

STATUS

This problem was corrected in Outlook Express version 4.01 SP2 and 5.0 for the operating systems mentioned at the top of this article.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/8/2003
Keywords:kbprb kbui KB226971
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.