# Outlook express takes forever to load!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-takes-forever-to-load/260266>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 17, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-takes-forever-to-load/260266 "2004-08-17T17:23:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Opus1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/858c86/32.png) [@Opus1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opus1)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-takes-forever-to-load/260266/1 "2004-08-17T17:23:40Z")

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I recently had some computer problems which led me to basically strip my computer and reinstall everything, including Windows XP and Outlook Express.

Now I have a problem I’ve never encountered before: Outlook Express takes forever to load. I just timed it, and from clicking on the icon to being useable took just over 2 minutes. When I send/receive mail while in OE, it only takes a few seconds, so clearly that’s not the problem. I’m thinking it’s doing some sort of archiving or security check every time it starts, but I’ll be damned if I can figure out what it is.

I’ve gotten all of the required updates and service packs, and temporarily disabled my anti-virus program, before anyone suggests that as a possible solution.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-takes-forever-to-load/260266/2 "2004-08-17T17:48:05Z")

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Have you defragged lately? A slow hard drive would account for sluggish program launch.

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**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-takes-forever-to-load/260266/3 "2004-08-17T18:29:41Z")

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Do you store all your mail in your inbox, or in folders inside your inbox? Move it into folders outside the inbox. I think OE has to check the whole inbox every time it starts

If you don’t, then… don’t start, anyway.

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**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-takes-forever-to-load/260266/4 "2004-08-17T19:20:51Z")

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Have you disabled anything Outlook Express relies on, like Windows Messenger?