# OUTLOOK 2000 Problem: Multiplying Outbox Msgs... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 20, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-2000-problem-multiplying-outbox-msgs/208549 "2003-10-20T17:34:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![smootman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@smootman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smootman)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-2000-problem-multiplying-outbox-msgs/208549/1 "2003-10-20T17:34:05Z")
Okay, this is the second time this has happened to me, and I don’t understand why. Whenever something is delivered to my Inbox in OUTLOOK 2000 (and read), it starts to generate messages in my outbox, sending attachments to everyone I have in my address book. These attachments are strangely named files that probably have ‘virus’ written all over it… Anyone have any ideas on how to fix this… I’m running out of ideas… is there something i should look for in my registry… pop-ups, viruses, and spam are going to kill everything. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-2000-problem-multiplying-outbox-msgs/208549/2 "2003-10-20T21:03:23Z")
What you’re experiencing his not an OL2000 prob. Your machine’s infected with a virus. I’m suspecting a variant of the sobig virus. Visit the home page of your antivirus software maker and search for ‘sobig’. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-2000-problem-multiplying-outbox-msgs/208549/3 "2003-10-20T21:09:49Z")
This certainly does have “virus” written all over it, and your machine is happily trying to spread its infection to the rest of the world. Without knowing precisely which virus you’ve been infected with (there are a bunch of them that behave this way), trying to fix it manually is virtually impossible. Even _knowing_ the identity of the virus, it would be damn tough to tackle by hand, since viruses can hide under all sorts of otherwise valid file names. Get either McAfee or Norton anti-virus software, get it updated, and run it. Until you’ve done this, I’d suggest staying off the Internet - your machine is a hazard to the rest of the web! ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-2000-problem-multiplying-outbox-msgs/208549/4 "2003-10-20T21:25:57Z")
By the way, and this is one of my favorite rants, having anti-virus software but never updating it, or letting your update subscription expire, renders the software almost useless. Broadly speaking, the software will only protect against the viruses that were on the loose when it was last updated. If you haven’t updated it in, say, a year, it will be unable to intercept most of the new viruses produced within the last year. Anti-virus software, unlike a Ron Popeil Rotisserie, is not a “set it and forget it” item! ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-2000-problem-multiplying-outbox-msgs/208549/5 "2003-10-20T21:39:09Z")
Yes, it certainly sounds like a virus. Update your virus scanner and run a scan. If you don’t have one, a good free one is AVG at [http://www.grisoft.com/us/us\_index.php](http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php) I don’t know the ramifications of installing it while already infected. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-2000-problem-multiplying-outbox-msgs/208549/6 "2003-10-20T21:45:33Z")
(The free version is here) > **[AVG Free Antivirus Download | Virus Protection Software](https://www.avg.com/en-us/free-antivirus-download)** > > Download FREE AVG antivirus software. Get protection against viruses, malware and spyware. Easy-to-use virus scanner for PC, Mac & mobile. Download TODAY. ---
**Author:** ![smootman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@smootman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smootman)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-2000-problem-multiplying-outbox-msgs/208549/7 "2003-10-21T13:05:04Z")
thanks everyone for you help… are these virus senders out to destroy the world? are they so anti-technology that they have to destroy it for everyone? man, i hate these idiots.