Limited time MSExchange.org offer! -- 1.Sep.2008 1:00:00 PM
TechGenix and SolarWinds have partnered to provide free copies of SolarWinds Exchange Monitor to all visitors who join the MSExchange.org Forums. SolarWinds Exchange Monitor is a handy desktop dashboard that continuously monitors Microsoft Exchange to deliver real-time insight into Exchange services, mail queue sizes, and host server health. Learn more about Exchange Monitor and the free offer!
Mailbox total items mismatch - 16.Oct.2006 9:56:38 AM
In system manager, one of the mailboxes reportedly has 353,000 items and is 111MB. However, when I open the mailbox in Outlook it has around 2000 items and is 65MB. Has anyone seen this before? All other mailboxes that I've checked seem to be correct, and I am definitely logging on to the right mailbox as I show up in the last logged on by field.
Many thanks for the advice jchong, much appreciated.
Unfotunately I've already checked the deleted items retention and managed to delete perhaps a few hundred, but the total in Exhcange has actually gone up to 356,000 although I can only see 2327 in the inbox.
Posts: 2516
Joined: 1.Dec.2005
From: Centreville, Virginia
Status: offline
If you would like to investigate further, you can use mfcmapi to get into this mailbox to determine where this item count is coming from. You will see mapi properties ie. PR_ itemcount or something to that affect. This utility will also give you the ability to look in the dumpster. I've also heard about this in the past where the count would not go away and the user had to end up exporting to pst or moving mailbox.
_____________________________
James Chong MCSE | M+, S+, MCTS, Security+ msexchangetips.blogspot.com
The size of the mailbox as reported in Outlook is 67MB, as opposed to 173MB in System Manager.
It is an account where our incomming spam is redirected. So there are lots of emails coming in and being deleted (manually, by helpdesk) each day. I've checked the dumpster and it is empty, following the changes recommended by James.
James - I will take a look at mfcmapi, thanks. I guess maybe moving mailbox will be the solution in the end.
Is there any updated information on this? I am having the same issue with one of my users. His total item count is 83,000 but in out look he has only 20,000. We are running Exchange 2003 envir.
Posts: 7111
Joined: 7.Jan.2004
From: California, USA
Status: offline
You are asking about a thread that hasn't been updated in over two years. The original poster seems to have gotten his answer. I'm not sure what update you were expecting.
The item count is not just messages in the mailbox. It's also contacts, notes, journal entries, calendar entries, deleted items within the retention period.
_____________________________
Regards,
Dean T. Uemura Microsoft MVP - Exchange exchangeguy.blogspot.com uemurad@yahoo.com
I understand that it includes total items not just messages. The 20000 items I mentioned earlier were and appoximate total of all the users items.
What I was looking for in this post was to bring it back in front of the eyes of individuals that would have solutions to the issue not people like yourself that would rather spend there time ridiculing other peoples posts.
Posts: 7111
Joined: 7.Jan.2004
From: California, USA
Status: offline
I apologize if you felt I was ridiculing your post. That was not my intent, and if you had read a sampling of my previous posts, you'd know that's not my style. I was surprised that you appended your query to a very old post asking specifically for updates. In the future, please consider starting a new thread and possibly referring back to the previous one within it.
In any case, let's talk about your situation. Is there anything special about this account? You'll note that the original poster said he was directing incoming spam to it. How are you verifying that there are only 20K items? Are you sure there aren't any view filters applied? Are you sure the additional messages aren't sitting in the deleted item retention? How many messages do you see in the PST file if you ExMerge the mailbox? Is the difference in item count causing any particular problems for the user or your server?
_____________________________
Regards,
Dean T. Uemura Microsoft MVP - Exchange exchangeguy.blogspot.com uemurad@yahoo.com
I got the 20k by checking the folder size in the properties of the mailbox in Outlook. How can I check the deleted items retention? This isn't causing any real problems for the user I was just noticing and didn't know why it might be happening.
Posts: 7111
Joined: 7.Jan.2004
From: California, USA
Status: offline
quote:
How can I check the deleted items retention?
The Deleted Items retention is a Mailbox Store configuration setting. If you open the Exchange System Manager (ESM) and expand to your server, Storage Group, and Mailbox Store, right click on the Mailbox Store and open the Properties. You'll find the setting on the Limits tab.
Perhaps I'm confusing the issue, but the Folder size you see in Outlook isn't an item count, but the approximate disk space utilization (on the server) for each of the folders in the mailbox.
Please clarify. When you look in the ESM at the Mailbox Store containing this user, there is a column for Size (KB) and a column for Total Items. Which column are you comparing, and to what in Outlook are you comparing it to?
_____________________________
Regards,
Dean T. Uemura Microsoft MVP - Exchange exchangeguy.blogspot.com uemurad@yahoo.com
Sorry I told you wrong. I am getting the item count by clicking on the users individual folders and seeing the number in the bottom left hand side of Outlook. I will check the Deleted Item Retention.
The Deleted Items retention is a Mailbox Store configuration setting. If you open the Exchange System Manager (ESM) and expand to your server, Storage Group, and Mailbox Store, right click on the Mailbox Store and open the Properties. You'll find the setting on the Limits tab.
It is set to keep deleted items for 7 day. The total item count has been incorrect for over 7 days so I am guessing that isn't it.
Posts: 7111
Joined: 7.Jan.2004
From: California, USA
Status: offline
quote:
Sorry I told you wrong. I am getting the item count by clicking on the users individual folders and seeing the number in the bottom left hand side of Outlook.
No problem - then you must be adding up those number to get the 20K item count. I don't know if you are aware, but calendar items, notes, tasks, contacts, and journal entries all count towards the Item count as well.
The one view that doesn't normally reflect the true number of entries is the Calendar. That will show you the number of items in the view definition. In other words, if you are viewing a single day, you'll see how many entries are in that day. If you are viewing a week, the item count will reflect that time period. To see the actual number, view the Calendar, go to the View menu and select Arrange by-->Current View-->Events. I doubt it will explain the count discrepency, but I thought you'd like that bit if information.
Also, for each of the folders, make sure that the lower-left corner (next to the count) doesn't say Filter Applied (which hides items).
Make sure the Deleted Items retention is working. View the Deleted Items folder, then under the Tools menu select Recover Deleted Items. Note the deletion dates and make sure none of them are older than 7 days.
_____________________________
Regards,
Dean T. Uemura Microsoft MVP - Exchange exchangeguy.blogspot.com uemurad@yahoo.com
|
My Subscription |
My Forums |
Address Book |
Member List |
Search |
FAQ |
Ticket List |
Log Out
Printable Version
All Forums >> [Microsoft Exchange 2003] >> Information Stores >> Mailbox total items mismatch 
Limited time MSExchange.org offer! -- 1.Sep.2008 1:00:00 PM
Mailbox total items mismatch - 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread
