Note
Access to this page requires authorization. You can try signing in or changing directories.
Access to this page requires authorization. You can try changing directories.
Question
Monday, February 20, 2017 10:01 AM
Hi,
I need your guys help here, because I can't seem to solve this for nothing that I try.
We have a mailbox that is constantly receiving loads of emails, that by now, they have overcome the microsoft recommended numbers.
In order to be able to delete de emails in that folder, I need to clear the deleted items folder, which I can't because it has reached the maximum allowed of 1 milion!!
How can I delete those emails without having to go to my last resort action that will be to recreate the mailbox?
Thanks in advance,
Nuno
Nuno Silva
All replies (21)
Monday, February 20, 2017 10:17 AM
Hello Nuno,
Do you want to delete the emails under "Deleted folder"? Do you require a back up of those emails as well? Are you using an Exchange mailbox?
MCSA Office 365 | MCSA Exchange server 2010 | Red Hat Certified Engineer | https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrar-kaberi-46a483102/
Monday, February 20, 2017 10:29 AM
Hi,
This is in Office 365. No, I just wasnt to delete them. Didn't find a powershell command that does this for me, because all I've seen they keep a copy, when they make me use -TargetFolder
Nuno Silva
Monday, February 20, 2017 10:37 AM
Two solutions:-
Solution-1:-
You can make use of MFCMAPI tool and delete the "Deleted Items folder" > This will delete the content inside it > Once that is done > You can recreate the Deleted items folder via Outlook or Outlook.exe /Resetfolders switch.
1. Download MFCMAPI:-
- https://mfcmapi.codeplex.com/
2. Delete the folder using below article:-
- https://www.slipstick.com/outlook/delete-outlooks-default-folders/
Else, follow below article to Clear out Deleted Items Folder with MFCMapi Exchange 2010
- http://m1econsulting.com/knowledge-base/clear-out-deleted-items-folder-with-mfcmapi-exchange-2010/
Note:- Make sure the affected mailbox Outlook profile is kept in Online mode
Solution:-2
As you said this mailbox is a client facing one and receives alot of email flow. You can create a new retention policy/Tag > Apply that to this mailbox > Keep the retention value to 6 Months.
Else you can create an archive mailbox for this affected mailbox and set up retention is an appropriate way (That suits you the best)
Hope above info helps
MCSA Office 365 | MCSA Exchange server 2010 | Red Hat Certified Engineer | https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrar-kaberi-46a483102/
Monday, February 20, 2017 4:07 PM
Hi,
I tried by moving the emails from the deleted items, to a temp folder I've created, and tried to do the steps you suggested, with no luck. When running MFCMAPI tool, I see the folder being deleted, but not in Outlook. So, I've closed the MFCMAPI and reopened, and there was the folder again, meaning it hasn't been deleted.
The retention, for this mailbox is set to 1 month, because it gets a huge daily load of emails ... :-)
Nuno Silva
Monday, February 20, 2017 4:24 PM
Hi Nuno,
Once you delete a folder using MFCMAPI, its permanently deleted from the mailbox/outlook.
I hope the mailbox in question was in online mode (Outlook). If not then try again
MCSA Office 365 | MCSA Exchange server 2010 | Red Hat Certified Engineer | https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrar-kaberi-46a483102/
Monday, February 20, 2017 4:39 PM
If you mean Online mode, by not using Cached Exchange Mode, then yes, I'm online.
I've deleted the folder, three times, and everytime I refresh in MFCMAPI the folder reappears. :(
Nuno Silva
Monday, February 20, 2017 4:47 PM
Well that is unfortunate. I have done this so many times and never heard of such situation
Strange.
Are you performing this action on the user's machine or your own machine (By providing delegate rights and then creating an outlook profile)?
try to close all the outlook session for this mailbox and then try to remove the folder using MFCMAPI
Also is this a shared mailbox or a user mailbox
MCSA Office 365 | MCSA Exchange server 2010 | Red Hat Certified Engineer | https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrar-kaberi-46a483102/
Monday, February 20, 2017 4:50 PM
This is a "service" account.
That is, it is a shared mailbox. I simply assigned it a license, reseted the password, so that I could login directly on it. I've tried both on my laptop, and my remote computer at home.
I can take the emails out of the deleted Items and put on the temp folder, but either way I can't make them go away for good.
Nuno Silva
Tuesday, February 21, 2017 2:45 AM
Hi Nuno,
Have you tried using the "Mailbox Cleanup" and the "Empty Deleted Items Folder" option under File > Info > Tools to see the result?
We may also try to logon to OWA of the mailbox and then right click on the Deleted Items folder and select Empty folder to see the result.
In addition, we may also try using the Archive/AutoArchive feature in Outlook to permanently delete the items in the Deleted Items folder to see the result. After that, we can just delete the archived PST file to achieve the goal.
By the way, if you have multiple deleted items daily, you may try to enable the "Empty Deleted Items folders when exiting Outlook" option under File > Options > Advanced.
Regards,
Steve Fan
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they helped.
If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].
Tuesday, February 21, 2017 10:49 AM
This is a "service" account.
That is, it is a shared mailbox. I simply assigned it a license, reseted the password, so that I could login directly on it. I've tried both on my laptop, and my remote computer at home.
I can take the emails out of the deleted Items and put on the temp folder, but either way I can't make them go away for good.
Nuno Silva
This is very odd behaviour. I have never seen such case with MFCMAPI.
What if you try to create a customised sub folder for your personal mailbox > Then try to delete it from MFCMAPI
This will let us know, if the problem is with the shared mailbox or the MFCMAPI tool
MCSA Office 365 | MCSA Exchange server 2010 | Red Hat Certified Engineer | https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrar-kaberi-46a483102/
Tuesday, February 21, 2017 11:54 AM
I had tried that too. The folder disapears, and then re-apears.
I can take some screenshots if you want to. but something to note here, when I delete, I get a warning(like a code exception) so apparently nothing is being done here because of that warning
Nuno Silva
Tuesday, February 21, 2017 12:02 PM
Can you please share the warning message that you get when you try to delete the folder via MFCMAPI.
MCSA Office 365 | MCSA Exchange server 2010 | Red Hat Certified Engineer | https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrar-kaberi-46a483102/
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 3:55 PM
Nuno Silva
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 4:05 PM
Is below enabled in MFCMAPI:-
Tools > Options
Abrar Kaberi| MCSA Office 365 | MCSA Exchange server 2010 | Red Hat Certified Engineer | https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrar-kaberi-46a483102/
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 5:21 PM
It wasn't. Still, I enabled them, and got the same warning. :-(
Nuno Silva
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 6:54 PM
Expand root container> Expand Top of information store > right click on the folder > Delete > Hard delete > Ok
If it does not help then follow below:-
http://mfcmapi.codeplex.com/releases/view/630569
Download 64 or 32 bit version of MFCMAPI then see if that helps
Abrar Kaberi| MCSA Office 365 | MCSA Exchange server 2010 | Red Hat Certified Engineer | https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrar-kaberi-46a483102/
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 7:00 PM
The version of MFCMAPI that i had shared initially was a x86 bit version
Try to install 64 bit version and then check the behaviour
Abrar Kaberi| MCSA Office 365 | MCSA Exchange server 2010 | Red Hat Certified Engineer | https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrar-kaberi-46a483102/
Friday, February 24, 2017 1:38 AM
Hi Nuno,
How is everything going? Have you got the opportunity to try the 64 bit version of MFCMAPI tool as Abrar suggested?
Please don't hesitate to post back if you need further assistance.
Regards,
Steve Fan
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they helped.
If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 12:31 PM
Hi,
That didn't work too, I think because I am using Outlook 32bit. For now, it appears that I'm being able to delete the emails from outlook itself.
At a later stage I will try using 64bit just for testing purposes.
thanks a lot all.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 12:44 PM
With outlook 32 bit, MFCMAPI 32/64 bit version should work.
Sure and i hope it will eventually work for you
Abrar Kaberi | MCSA Office 365 | MCSA Exchange server 2010 | Red Hat Certified Engineer | https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrar-kaberi-46a483102/
Wednesday, March 15, 2017 2:01 PM
Nuno, try this command for deleting emails in Deleted items.
Search-Mailbox -Identity "Mailbox" -SearchDumpsterOnly - -DeleteContent