OL2000: New Outlook 2000 Feature Removes Deleted Data from .pst and .ost Files (245776)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook 2000
This article was previously published under Q245776
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

A feature has been added to ensure that deleted data is removed from .pst and .ost files. This feature is activated through a registry entry. When it is enabled, deleted data is overwritten when Outlook is shut down. Most data is removed and overwritten during normal operation, but a small percentage can remain if this feature is not activated.

RESOLUTION

A supported feature that modifies the product's default behavior is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to modify the behavior that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that specifically require it. This feature may receive additional testing. Therefore, if the system is not severely affected by the lack of this feature, we recommend that you wait for the next Outlook 2000 Service Update that contains this feature.

To obtain this feature immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

The English version of this feature should have the following file attributes or later:
   Date      Time      Size        File name      Platform
   --------------------------------------------------------
   10/20/99  5:21PM    1,080,320   Oqfe3886.msp   Win32
This feature was first made available in Microsoft Office 2000 SR-1.

MORE INFORMATION

To apply this feature, obtain Microsoft Office 2000 Service Release 1 (SR-1). To obtain SR-1, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

245025 OFF2000: How to Obtain and Install Microsoft Office 2000 Service Release 1 (SR-1)

The Oqfefe3886.msp file is a Microsoft Installer Patch file. To apply the patch, right-click the file, and then click Apply Patch. For an Administrative installation, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

202946 OFF2000: Setup Command-Line Switches for Office 2000

On each system where you want this behavior, you must add a registry entry.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
On computers running Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows 98:
  1. Click Start, click Run, and then type regedit in the Open box.
  2. In Registry Editor, locate or create the following key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Outlook\PST

  3. If you see the PSTNullFreeOnClose entry (the PSTNullFreeOnClose entry is of type DWORD) under the PST key, go on to step 8. If the PSTNullFreeOnClose entry is not under the PST key, you must add it. To add the PSTNullFreeOnClose key with its associated DWORD value, follow steps a through d:
    1. Click the PST key.
    2. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value. You see a new DWORD with the temporary name of New Value #1 appear under the PST key.
    3. Click New Value #1, and then on the Edit menu, click Rename.
    4. Change the name to PSTNullFreeOnClose.
  4. Double-click PSTNullFreeOnClose to open it.
  5. Under Base, click Decimal.
  6. In the Value data box, set the PSTNullFreeOnClose value to one of the following:

    0 - original behavior, do not delete data on close
    1 - remove deleted data from PST and OST files on close

    After you type the setting that you want in Value data, click OK.
  7. Quit Registry Editor.
On computers running Microsoft Windows NT or Microsoft Windows 2000:
  1. Click Start, click Run, and then type regedt32 in the Open box.
  2. In Registry Editor, locate or create the following key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Outlook\PST

  3. If you see the PSTNullFreeOnClose entry (the PSTNullFreeOnClose entry is of type DWORD) under the PST key, double-click it, and then go to step 8. If the PSTNullFreeOnClose entry is not under the PST key, you must add it. To add the PSTNullFreeOnClose key with its associated DWORD value, follow steps a through d:
    1. Click the PST key.
    2. On the Edit menu, click Add Value.
    3. In the Value Name box, type PSTNullFreeOnClose.
    4. In the Data Type list, click REG_DWORD, and then click OK.
  4. In the Value data box, set the PSTNullFreeOnClose value to one of the following:

    0 - original behavior, do not delete data on close
    1 - remove deleted data from PST and OST files on close

    After you type the setting that you want in Value data, click OK.
  5. Under Radix, click Decimal. Click OK.
  6. Quit Registry Editor.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/21/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbfix kbprb kbQFE KB245776
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