When I select "Turn Off", Win XP shuts down any program that happens to be
running (with prompts to save any open files). This is convenient, but the
exception is Outlook - if it's open, I am prompted to close it. Is this
normal, or is there a setting I can alter?

It's normal with some (or all) versions of outlook.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
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"John Jeffrey" discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:CECD2F69-6F4E-4EC1-911A-8668F3E1AC47@microsoft.com...

You should never expect a Windows shutdown to close your programs,
especially Outlook as its data file (.pst) can corrupt easily with this kind
of abuse.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

After furious head scratching, John Jeffrey asked:

| When I select "Turn Off", Win XP shuts down any program that happens
| to be running (with prompts to save any open files). This is
| convenient, but the exception is Outlook - if it's open, I am
| prompted to close it. Is this normal, or is there a setting I can
| alter?

Milly Staples opined "You should never expect a Windows shutdown to close
your programs, especially Outlook as its data file (.pst) can corrupt
easily with this kind of abuse."

This implies that ALL Outlook users MUST invest in a UPS, I suggest MS ship
one with every Outlook, they should get good bulk discounts.

A quick check shows a half decent UPS costs approx $US70, $AU120, £40 - I
know the AU price is about right 'cos I got one recently.

It further implies that all processes must be shut down "manually". I never
have less than 60 odd processes running, by the time I'd shut them all down
manually it would be time to turn the computer on again. Can Millie confirm
that she shuts down everything manually, including services!

Another program that does not like being closed via a Windows shutdown is
Firefox, if you do, then 2mora it will tell you that your last session
crashed.

As a programmer, I can't understand why things like firefox & outlook behave
differently if the shutdown message comes from Windows or a click on red
cross top right - but they do.

When you close any program manually it has time to shut things down
correctly. When Windows is shutting down it sends a close message to every
running application. The application has a finite amount of time to shut
down before Windows takes over and forces a shutdown, much as if you forced
a process close in Task Manager. That may not give the application
sufficient time to correctly shut down.

Windows will force Outlook to shut down but your data files and cache may
not be correctly written out and closed. Services are different animals in
how they're supposed to be written so you shouldn't need to force a shutdown
of a service before shutting down Windows.

Use this information as you will, but since Milly is a volunteer just as we
all are, you shouldn't really blame her for providing you with the best
information we have available.

I shut down all programs before logging off of Windows. I don't bother with services as they take care of themselves when Windows gives the quit command.

I don't know a single person who presses the shutdown button with programs open and expects them to behave properly, especially if that is an every day shut down.

Do you shut off your lights by pulling the breaker at the electrical box?

--