XADM: Clean Mailbox Agent Deletes Outlook Special Folders

• Microsoft Exchange Server, version 5.0

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Microsoft Exchange Administrator program's Clean Mailbox feature, found under Tools, it has the potential to delete Outlook Calendar and Contact information.

CAUSE

This problem can occur because the Outlook client program stores Contact and Calendar information as message files. The Clean Mailbox functionality of the Administrator program cannot differentiate between Outlook's special folder messages and normal mail messages. It will clean ALL messages, based on message size or message age only.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.0. This problem has been corrected in the latest U.S. Service Pack for Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.0. For information on obtaining the Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

S E R V P A C K

MORE INFORMATION

With the Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0 fix described in this article or Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5, the Tools/Clean Mailbox feature has had the user interface extended to include the check box "Only delete mail messages". With this box checked (default), the Clean Mailbox feature will not remove Outlook special folders. If this box is unchecked, Clean Mailbox will clean all messages that fit the age criteria, which includes Calendar appointments, Contacts, and so on.

Additional query words: deleted

Keywords          : kbbug5.00 kbfix5.00.sp2 XADM 
Version           : WinNT:5.0
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbbug 

Last Reviewed: March 13, 1999