Some Outlook folders not being scanned now

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

For some reason my “c:\User\D…\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst” is no longer being scanned because “the process cannot access the file because another process has locked a portion of the file(33)”

Never had this happen before with this location and nothing has changed. Seeing that the outlook file is important I’d like it to be scanned. I have turned off Outlook and it still won’t scan it.

Any ideas on this?

Thanks

2

Me too! I just logged in to ask the same question. I am getting the same reason on my Outlook.pst too.

Wondering how to tell what process has it locked??

(Win XP Vs. 2002 SP3; Avast 6.0.1000 Virus Def 110518-0)

3

Update your avast to 6.0.1125

4

For whatever reason it seems to be scanning okay now. Nothing changed on my end so I’m not sure what was up with that.

5

Well, good that it’s solved now. (Whatever it was…)

6

I did the update yesterday. Scan last night shows same problem - “can’t scan Outlook.pst because another process has locked a portion of the file (33)”

Is there any way I can tell what process has the file locked?

7

I’m having the problem again.

I don’t know what process has it locked, but avast used to have no problem with it and I haven’t added anything to the computer.

Any suggestions?

8

Yes. Unlocker (take care of taking no action with the file, I mean, not to delete it).

9

I wonder why this is happening now all of the sudden?

Will Unlocker allow the file to be scanned or just to see what’s blocking access?

10

You can unlock the file only, killing the handlers.
It could happen due to Google Desktop or Windows Search indexing among other things.

11

I always forget I have Unlocker! I closed Outlook, went to the outlook.pst file and clicked Unlocker. Says nothing is locking it, no handlers found. So, I got out of that, choosing No Action. Then used my right click/Scan with Avast on just the outlook.pst file. Scanned it no problem.

I know almost nothing about this stuff, but I have two thoughts.

  1. Is the scan Avast does from the menu on one file different than the scan it does at night while doing a full scan?
  2. I leave Outlook open all the time. And Avast never used to have a problem scanning it while open until this last update. Should it matter to Avast if Outlook is running?

Thanks for any input! :smiley:

12

No it shouldn’t.
But if any other process “blocks” the Outlook file, then avast can’t scan because it cannot “touch” the blocked pst file.

13

I ran Unlocker again, only I left Outlook running this time. I’ve attached a screen shot of the results. Unfortunately, it doesn’t mean much to me. It looks to me like it is saying that it can’t access the outlook.pst file because the process outlook.exe has it locked. Wouldn’t that be a normal state? I’m also curious why I seem to be the only one having this issue. I’m not comfortable not having this particular file not being scanned. I can start closing it every night if that will allow it to scan, but I’ve been using it this way for years. Why has it changed now?

14

You’re not the only one–so don’t feel lonely!

I don’t understand why this just started. The outlook file would be an important file to scan I would think.

15

Hi dagarev, looks like it’s you and me!

I closed Outlook yesterday at the end of my day. When Avast scanned at 3:30 a.m. (with Outlook not running) I got NO messages this morning. Meaning it did scan outlook.pst.

I don’t get why it just started not liking that it is running while being scanned, but it’s not a big deal for me to close it. I do think I’ll send a message to Support though.

Good luck,
Pat

16

It is also a dangerous file to scan. There are many that warn against it, can’t recall the references.

I don’t use Outlook, so I can’t speak from personal experience. Essentially .pst files if an infected email is found inside many AVs (not necessarily avast!) will delete the complete .pst file not try to extract the infected email with the resultant loss of your emails.

I believe if you check the Mail Shield, Expert Settings, MS Outlook related settings, the Scan archived messages when opening, these aren’t scanned by default and my guess that has something to do with scanning (or not) the .pst file also. But the advice is to scan only unread messages, see image extract of the avast Help Center.

17

Hi David!
Thanks for that reply! What you have said makes perfect sense.

Because I don’t really “get” what scanning is doing, I just know I need to do it to keep my computer safe, the .pst file seemed like an important one to keep clean. But your explanation clears up my questions. I’ve never understood the .pst file but you are right, I certainly wouldn’t want it deleted! I just didn’t know what else was in there besides emails.

Thanks again!
Pat ;D

18

You’re welcome.

19

Thanks for the possible reason. That makes sense. I wonder what chanced and why this started just now. I’m just curious about that.

Thanks

20

You’re welcome.

I don’t know if it might have been a change in the default avast MS Outlook settings or as a result of a windows security update.

But the error 33 is as has been said the crux of the matter as it wouldn’t really have thought it would be avast locking it, whereby it couldn’t scan it. That could be a) MS Outlook trying to protect the file (possibly in use, etc.) or b) other security software locking the file preventing avast from scanning it…