Can't Delete Message stuck in Outbox

[OregonSteve]

Greetings-

Exchange Server 2003 on Windows Server 2003; client is OL2003sp1 on XP Pro sp2. One user sent an email with 14MB worth of attachments and message is stuck in their outbox. Message originally sent on client with Cached Mode turned ON. I've tried to delete it both through the Outlook client (on three workstations) and through OWA with no success. Here is the results of my "testing":
NOTE: quotes indicate error message.

In Outlook 2003 Client:

attempt to:
Delete - No apparent effect
Move - No apparent effect
open - "Can't open this item"
Forward - "The operation Failed"

In Outlook Web Access:

attempt to:
Delete - "Some items can't be deleted. They were either moved, already deleted, or access is denied."
open - message opens successfully
Forward - message forwards successfully
Move - Presented with list of folders to choose from; then ultimately "access is denied"

Some suggestions I've come across say to:

1)switch to ""offline" mode
2) turn off cached mode
3) delete OST file on client

I don't know that these could help me as we're in an Exchange environment. What to do???



Thanx
OregonSteve

"..You should never, never doubt what nobody is sure about." -Willy Wonka

 

[markdmac]

All of the suggestions you already have are viable troubleshooting steps.

I ran into this same problem with one user once and deleting the OST resolved the issue.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

 

[OregonSteve]

But how can this be?

+The message shows up in the Outlook client on multiple workstations (i.e. the message is on the server, not the workstation).

+I'm able to forward the message using OWA (another indication to me that the message is on the server, not the workstation).

How can deleting a file on a workstation that is currently not connected to the mail system enable me to delete the email from my workstation?

Thanx
OregonSteve

"..You should never, never doubt what nobody is sure about." -Willy Wonka

 

[markdmac]

Honestly I can't say for certain but I think that Exchange keeps track of what the workstations tell it they are doing. When you went into OWA you see it but it says the files are not really there to delete.

As I said in my case it resolved the issue but there is no guarantee that your is the same problem.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

 

[OregonSteve]

Well, (scratching head) I'm not sure what the deal was, but I went into the mailbox on Thursday, and I highlighted the stuck email and hit the <delete> key and IT DELETED.

My colleague thought it might have been because it just took a long time for the message data to actually get transferred to the server, creating an "open file" type of situation.

But the day it was reported, even though I couldn't delete it, I could go into OWA and forward it, indicating to me that the message was on the server in its entirety.

So, I'm not sure what the solution to this one was, besides time...

Thanx
OregonSteve

"..You should never, never doubt what nobody is sure about." -Willy Wonka