Fix PST File Size Issue with IMAP Account in Outlook 2003!
Most popular email client applications i.e. Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2003 imposes larger file size limit and different file format i.e. Unicode for its personal folder. The personal folder which is also termed as PST file can now store more information or data in comparison to its earlier ANSI format PST file which is used in Outlook 2002 and its earlier versions. But not all accounts of MS Outlook 2003 uses standard Unicode file format. IMAP4 (Internet Messages Access Protocol version 4rev1) accounts and HTTP accounts of Outlook 2003 still uses ANSI format for the PST file and thus give rise to the same PST file size issue as it use to give in earlier versions. So, it is important for the Outlook 2003 users that they should manage their PST file size properly and for this the best remedy is to split PST file when needed.
To have a good understanding of scenario, let’s consider a situation where suppose user uses MS Outlook 2003 application with an IMAP account. Without knowing the fact that its PST file can store only limited number of data, he continues to receive large number of mails and other information into it. As a result, his account’s PST file grows so large that due to this he is observing several performance issues with his Outlook like slow working of Outlook, delayed sending and receiving of mails and many more. When the issue is investigated it is found that the PST file is large in size.
The above mentioned issues occurred due to the corruption of the large PST file due to its size limited which his restricted to 2GB only. So, in order to resolve this issue just try the below mentioned steps –
- As a first step try to update your current version of Outlook to Outlook 2007 using IMAP account with PST of large size limit.
- Empty the ‘Deleted Items’ folder, delete all the unwanted mails and contacts and compact the PST file.
If nothing worked to lower the PST file size, then go for third party utility to split PST file and get rid of this issue.