Trying to get rid of message in outbox

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My wife uses Windows XP (SP3) and Outlook 2003. Yesterday, she attempted to send an email with a very large attachment (around 127MB) which went to the Outbox and no further. For a time, she shut her computer down while out on errands and, when she rebooted it, the file in Outbox dutifully continued to try to transmit. Late in the evening, I tried to delete it with no response. I tried unplugging the computer from the internet and, even with no place to send the message, Outlook kept trying. Attempts to delete the file while disconnected from the internet were unsuccessful. So, I reconnected and let the computer run overnight and the unsent message was still in the Outbox. Having it there seems to be slowing her other email communications.

So … How do we go about telling Outlook “We’re just kidding. It’s OK for you to stop trying to send that message?”

Llyn

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Hi Llyn

Don’t have Outlook 2003 here, so doing this from memory, but it should be close:
Disconnect from the internet
Click on Tools/Send Receive Settings/Show Progress …
In the progress box click the “Cancel All” button.
Then IMMEDIATELY drag the message out of the outbox and into drafts
Reconnect to the internet and do another send/recieve. It should be normal now.

Delete the message from the drafts folder.

Jock

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Just in case Jock’s suggestion doesn’t work for you, another three methods are detailed and explained on these pages:

Delete Large Messages Stuck in Your Outbox

Delete a Message Stuck in Outlook’s Outbox

Bruce

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Thanks, folks! I tried Jock’s method first and it worked like a charm. Windows Secrets Lounge has gotten me out of several tight spots and I really appreciate your help.

Llyn

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