Outlook - Outlook 2003 using too much CPU on Vista

Asked By Don Gollahon

11-Feb-08 10:46 PM

Outlook 2003 on Vista constantly uses 40%+ of the CPU.  What is it
doing?  Didn't do this on XP.  Also, when I close it it doesn't
completely shut down.  I usually have to kill it after 5 or 10 mins.

I have a dual-core cpu running at 1.9 GHz.

--

Don Gollahon

11-Feb-08 11:47 PM

Do you have any addins installed Are you using any applications that access
outlook data? (including syncing with a pda)

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/
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12-Feb-08 12:06 AM

I have the Sync Center but I am not syncing.

I also have McAfee Security Center.


--

Don Gollahon

12-Feb-08 12:14 AM

I also just found GoogleDesktop as an Add-in to Outlook.

--

Don Gollahon

12-Feb-08 01:05 AM

disable google search in outlook - that may fix it, but if you aren't using
the sync, disable it in outlook. Turn off email scanning by mcafee.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/
Outlook 2007: http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/ol2007/

Outlook Tips by email:
dailytips-subscribe-request@lists.outlooktips.net

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Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com
Subscribe to Exchange Messaging Outlook newsletter:
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14-Feb-08 09:37 PM

I uninstalled McAfee.  It was just a trial anyway.  I also uninstalled
Google Desktop, it came installed and I never liked it in the past.  I
installed AVG Free.

It works a lot better now although Outlook still starts using CPU for
awhile once in awhile.  But not constantly as before.

I do sync with my cell phone about once a week so I need to keep that.

Thanks.

--

Don Gollahon

16-Feb-08 07:32 PM

It is getting more frequent again.  And when I close Outlook it still
stays running in memory.  I have to kill it to be able to restart it or
stop the CPU usage.

--

Don Gollahon

19-Feb-08 10:19 AM

is something keeping outlook open? maybe the sync software?
http://www.slipstick.com/problems/close.asp

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/
Outlook 2007: http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/ol2007/

Outlook Tips by email:
dailytips-subscribe-request@lists.outlooktips.net

Outlook Tips: http://www.outlook-tips.net/
Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com
Subscribe to Exchange Messaging Outlook newsletter:
EMO-NEWSLETTER-SUBSCRIBE-REQUEST@PEACH.EASE.LSOFT.COM

22-Feb-08 01:03 AM

Very well could be.  The software is what comes with Vista:  Sync
Center.  And this happens even when I have not done a sync (I do this
about once per week).  So I didn't think that was the main problem.  It
did not do this with ActiveSync on Windows XP.

--

Don Gollahon

05-Mar-08 10:51 AM

I'm still having trouble with this.  I'm about fed up with it actually.

Anyway, here is what I did.  I uninstalled AVG and turned off Windows
Defender.  With no virus or antispam/spyware the CPU is fine.  Down to
just a few percent.  I bring up Outlook and it uses around 30% for
awhile, which I expect it too, and then gradually falls to a good level
of just a few percent.

I installed Norton IS 2008.  It works fine, does not use CPU.  Until I
open Outlook.  Now Outlook constantly uses 30 to 50%.  I've watched it
all morning and it constantly uses this.

Do not blame it solely on Norton.  Outlook does this with any Antivirus
or Spamware installed (I've tried 4 different ones).

Also, on my wifes XP laptop I have the same version of Outlook and
Norton IS 2008.  The CPU is fine, just a few percent.

So, what is Vista doing?

Thanks.

--

Don Gollahon

05-Mar-08 04:24 PM

Then how come it does not happen for everyone?


Are you sure it is not the indexing of Windows Desktop Search?
--
Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

05-Mar-08 05:17 PM

I will check and make sure indexing is completely off.

I do not blame the AV apps because my wife's XP has them and Outlook is
fine there.

Thanks.

--

Don Gollahon

05-Mar-08 05:40 PM

Well, it has been 15 mins or so since I shut off indexing and restarted
Outlook.  It is still up to 40%+ of cpu.  Maybe I need to remove it and
reinstall it.


--

Don Gollahon

06-Mar-08 07:49 AM

I'd try a new mail profile first.
--
Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

06-Mar-08 10:30 AM

Ok.  That appears to have worked.  Do I dare import contacts and mail
from my previous data file?

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Don Gollahon

06-Mar-08 03:35 PM

It worked fine, until I copied my contacts over from the old data file
and then restarted Outlook.  Now it is back up to 40%+.  That stinks.

I only copied contacts (I have them in several folders).  No email or
anything else.

--

Don Gollahon

06-Mar-08 08:02 PM

Do not import.  Reuse the existing PST as your delivery location.
--
Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

06-Mar-08 08:07 PM

OK, then, start again with a new profile and a new PST, then copy (do not
import) some of the data in the old PST (say the first half of the contacts)
and see what happens.  If that's unstable, start again and copy only the
first quarter.  If it is stable, copy half of what's left.  By proceeding in
this ordered (albeit tedious) fashion, you'll either discover that it's a
general Outlook issue that always happens (and for which you can open a
support incident), or you will find an entry causing the problem and you can
delete the entry and recreate it.
--
Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

06-Mar-08 09:25 PM

With a brand new data file, everything is ok.  I added one set of
contacts and it was ok.  As I added more contacts it started using cpu.
When all contacts were done it was using about 10% cpu.  Then I began
copying email directories over.  CPU usage increased gradually with
each one.  When I was done it was back up to the 40% or so usage.

Final data file size:  384 MB.



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Don Gollahon

07-Mar-08 08:14 AM

What the increase in CPU activity proportional with respect to the number of
data items in the data file or did it jump suddenly at any point?  Have you
disabled Instant Search's inclusion of Ouutlook's data to see if that makes
a difference?
--
Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]