DBStore files

We have a user who's profile on their local machine has become very large and
is causing the machine to be very slow when they are logging in. Most of the
space seems to be taken up with a whole load of DBStore files under the
"<User Name>\Application Data\Windows Live Contacts" folder.

Is it safe to delete any of these?
Are they all active or are some from earlier versions of WLM?

Many thanks

Bill

Greetings Bill,

These are active, but if you delete them when the user isn't using Messenger, the file will
be re-generated from the Messenger server (and usually ends up smaller).

Although their next Messenger sign in will be a bit slow initially.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--


"Bill@SSP" <> wrote in message
news:174D59F0-9465-40A2-84A9-...
> We have a user who's profile on their local machine has become very large and
> is causing the machine to be very slow when they are logging in. Most of the
> space seems to be taken up with a whole load of DBStore files under the
> "<User Name>\Application Data\Windows Live Contacts" folder.
>
> Is it safe to delete any of these?
> Are they all active or are some from earlier versions of WLM?
>
> Many thanks
>
> Bill

Bill,
In WLMail or WLMsgr, each Live ID in use(or used previously) has two folders(a primary and shadow) for storing the Contacts
database.
Each of these folders has a numerical name.
The numerical name can be found in this registry key
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts\Database

Each folder(hidden, protected system file) contains a DBStore folder and a Backup folder(including a 'new' folder) and numerous log
files.
If WLMail or Msgr is closed the respective Live ID folders(primary and shadow) can be deleted, but they will be recreated on the
next use of that Live ID to logon to Windows Live in WLMail/Msgr.

If multiple Live ID's have been used to logon to Windows Live, you can see how the Windows Live Contacts folder can grow to a
surprising size.
If profile space is an issue, sometimes limiting the use of one Live ID to logon to Windows Live when using WLMail/Msgr can
help(e.g. by deleting the other Live ID numerical folders).


Note: If a Live ID is not used, one is operating in the Default account(the above registry key shows the numerical name for the
Default folder). Deleting that folder will delete all contacts data, even though it will be recreated, it ***will be recreated with
"No" data***. No Live ID, no sync, no rebuilding of the contacts from the web server(contacts.live.com).



--
...winston
ms-mvp mail

"Bill@SSP" <> wrote in message news:174D59F0-9465-40A2-84A9-...
> We have a user who's profile on their local machine has become very large and
> is causing the machine to be very slow when they are logging in. Most of the
> space seems to be taken up with a whole load of DBStore files under the
> "<User Name>\Application Data\Windows Live Contacts" folder.
>
> Is it safe to delete any of these?
> Are they all active or are some from earlier versions of WLM?
>
> Many thanks
>
> Bill