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Get message to compact files - then can't because "The folder 'Inbox' cannot be compacted because another operation is in progress. Please try again"

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by Wayne Mery

puternut
puternut
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Nearly every time I start T'bird a message pops up

'Do you wish to compact all local and offline folders to save disk space? This will save about XX.X MB'

I reply yes - compact. And every time it says

'The folder 'Inbox' cannot be compacted because another operation is in progress. Please try again later.'

Anything I need to do? TIA.

Nearly every time I start T'bird a message pops up 'Do you wish to compact all local and offline folders to save disk space? This will save about XX.X MB' I reply yes - compact. And every time it says 'The folder 'Inbox' cannot be compacted because another operation is in progress. Please try again later.' Anything I need to do? TIA.

Modified by Wayne Mery

All Replies (2)

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
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First of all I'd create a full backup of the Thunderbird profile folder. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Thunderbird_:_FAQs_:_Backing_Up_and_Restoring

Are you accumulating messages in Inbox? What is the size of your Inbox?

Note, in case of mail file corruption messages may already be gone, but you still see the headers in the thread pane. The step below would attempt to clear that corruption and allow proper compacting. The visible effect would be that there appear to be less messages afterwards.

Try to rebuild the index file for Inbox. Right-click Inbox - Properties - Repair Folder

Modified by christ1

Wayne Mery
Wayne Mery
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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puternut53

could you reply please?