Outlook 2010 Search- Won't Find New Messages

[bobob5511]

My Outlook search is not working properly. I cannot search any messages i have received in the last three weeks. If i search a certain recipient that i know has sent me emails both prior to and since Sept. 11th, the only results are from before that date. Anything since that date will not show up in any search. I have checked the indexing options, rebuilt the index, repaired the .PST file (SCANPST.EXE). I can't figure it out. Nothing changed on that day, I did not install any new software or make any changes. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Ranger4]

Hi bobob5511, welcome to Windows Seven Forum.

If outlook is part of Office 2010 you could try repairing Office. Open Control Panel, select Programs & Features, scroll down to Microsoft office, Right Click on it & select Change & that will open a couple of Repair options to try.

 

[bobob5511]

Tried repairing Office, did not fix the problem

 

[bobob5511]

I am wondering if it is something to do with my Windows search service. I find it odd that it will search and find items that are older than three weeks, but anything since Sept. 11th will not show up. The Windows search service was suggested in another online forum i was reading for someone with a similar problem. Now the question is how do i fix that!?

Also i am considering uninstalling/reinstalling Outlook, but i am afraid of loosing all my emails. If i have a .PST file that is current, and i save a copy of that, i should be safe correct?

 

[Ranger4]

I am wondering if it is something to do with my Windows search service. I find it odd that it will search and find items that are older than three weeks, but anything since Sept. 11th will not show up. The Windows search service was suggested in another online forum i was reading for someone with a similar problem. Now the question is how do i fix that!?

Also i am considering uninstalling/reinstalling Outlook, but i am afraid of loosing all my emails. If i have a .PST file that is current, and i save a copy of that, i should be safe correct?

Yes, if you save all your .pst files you should be safe. You should find them under Outlook Files in your Documents library. Save each of them individually as they appear in the folder. There should be one for each email A/C that you have & one for the Address Book.

 

[bobob5511]

Interesting you say that. I looked in the documents/outlook files and the only .PST file i have in there is an archive. I did a search and i have another archive and one mailbox just in the documents folder. Both of those have not benn updated since, surprise surprise, Sept. 11th. Is there a way to merge these files? Or should i have them all in the same location?

 

[Ranger4]

The .pst files should be in the same location.

Open Control Panel & click on Mail Microsoft Outlook, then click on Data Files. This should show you where it's getting it's data files from, for each of your email accounts.

From what you have been saying it seems that Outlook has set up new .pst files on Sept. 11, which is odd. Make sure that your email accounts are exactly as they were before the 11th & there have been no changes.

Once you have moved all the .pst files into the one folder you may have to point Outlook to that folder, if it does not find it itself.

Make sure you have a backed copy of these files in case of a disaster.