Outlook 365 Windows search exited without properly closing outlook datafile (OST)

Question

Hi everyone, randomly for about a month now more than 15 of our users are getting a message like this in Outlook while they try to open a folder or an email.

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Closing Outlook works but only for a few minutes. The message comes back everytime.

Here is everything I tried :

• Install Windows 10 20H2 (2004 to 20H2)
• Updating Office to 2101 (latest version)
• Recreating the OST file
• Creating a new profile
• Reinstalling Office completely
• Rebuilding the index!

Same problem after all this.

Putting Outlook in Online mode works since the OST file is not used but we do not want to put this settings to all the users.

Are we the only one having this issue ?

Thanks

Answer 1

Here's what I've done recently to try and get around this problem:

1. Forced via Regedit PST/OST file creation into a different drive and folder path. (Using a 2nd disk on my computer in this case)
2. Created a new Outlook profile
3. Disabled the Windows Search service
4. Loaded the new Outlook profile and let it sit untouched while it downloaded my mailbox for the past 2 years.
5. Enabled Windows Search service once all folders were up to date.

I've been operating under this new profile for a few hours now and the performance seems to be back to normal. Outlook has not become unresponsive yet or has not hung and thrown the Windows Search error.

Fingers crossed.

Answer 2

Any recent updates to this thread?

I am one of the latest experiencing these issues as well. Hopefully i can contribute some additional background to assist with resolution.

First error received reported 'The Message Store has reached its maximum Size'. My Data file is ~ 7 GB, quota is 100 GB. Ample free space on Exchange 2016 (on Prem) systems, my mailbox is in 365 (Hybrid environment).
Following the above error, new ones about corrupt database and forced to run Scan PST. As expected, it found errors and reports to have repaired them. Since that initial ScanPST, have been forced to run 4 additional times in last 24 hours.
Uninstalled Office 365, rebooted and reinstalled. Same problem. Deleted all e-mail profiles off this system, deleted all OST files, started new.
Same problems.
Outlook on the Web works fine, additionally I have Outlook setup on a second system in my lab and it has been working without these same issues.
Opened a case online with MSFT today, waiting for response.
If any information is gained from that session will be shared .

Answer 3

Hi,
I have the same problem since this morning when Office was updated to version 2102. Never had the probleme before this update.

Is there any update regarding the solution ?

Answer 4

I'm having this same issue with one of our users as well. She has to restart multiple times a day and it triggers anytime she does a search etc. Anyone come up with a solution for this one?

365 Hybrid Environment
Running Windows 1909
Rebuilt profile completely multiple times
Completely uninstalled office and reinstalled through 365
Rebuilt index

Cached exchange mode is organization wide and set by policy, this is the only user affected.