Microsoft KB Archive/222328

= OL2000: (CW) How to Change File LockTimeout Value for PST Inactivity =

Article ID: 222328

Article Last Modified on 10/23/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Outlook 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q222328



NOTE: The procedures in this article only apply if you have installed Outlook with the Corporate or Workgroup option. With this option, you can use Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) services. To determine your installation type, click About Microsoft Outlook on the Help menu. If you have the Corporate or Workgroup installation, you see "Corporate or Workgroup".

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



SUMMARY
Outlook locks personal folder files (.pst) while they are in use; it is not possible to copy the .pst file while it is locked. Outlook releases the lock on a .pst file after 30 minutes of inactivity, by default. This article describes how to control the timeout value after which Outlook releases the file lock on a .pst file.



MORE INFORMATION
To control the timeout value after which Outlook releases the file lock on a .pst file, follow these steps:

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.

 Quit Outlook. Click Start, and then click Run. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK. Locate and click the following registry key:

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

 On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value. Type PSTDisconnectDelay, and then press ENTER.</li> Right-click PSTDisconnectDelay, and then click Modify. In the Value data box, type the appropriate value, and then click OK.

Note Setting PSTDisconnectDelay to a value of 10 (hexadecimal) is equivalent to setting the timeout value on the .pst file to 16 seconds.</li> On the File menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.</li></ol>

This problem was first fixed in Outlook 98 through the use of a patch. The Outlook 98 fix was included in Outlook 2000.

For additional information about this topic, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

234211 OL98: Outlook .pst File Lock Release Interval Now Configurable

Additional query words: OL2K

Keywords: kbhowto kbinfo KB222328

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