Mountain Lion OSX slow response after upgrade from Lion

Terry:

Already did that.

Here's the link that MS provided. While I've looked at it, I haven't had the time to dig in, explore and work with their solutions. I will keep you posted when I do.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2409331

Meanwhile, a few re-boots of Outlook (only) loaded up in about 35 seconds. And, it is functioning normally when it does load. I can't believe that there are so few enough of us using Outlook 2011 in Mountain Lion that MS wouldn't take that to heart (maybe) and fix the situation.

Anyway, thanks for your input.

Regards.

GeneonMAC -

You might want to read this thread at the Microsoft forums:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/mac/forum/macoffice2011-macoutlook/long-wait- time-when-opening-outlook-in-mountain/a21587bc-2b42-449a-8801-328c571abcbf

Note that there are at least two pages to that thread.

I'm wondering whether you might have a font problem. In any event, do check out that discussion as they discuss several issues. Had I realized that my problem was not actually a problem with Mountain Lion, I probably would have posted at that forum first.

I have been following this thread carefully -- thank you all for your expertise. I followed the instructions about moving the identities folder, and DID experience great results. However, I now have a BIG problem: outlook was running great for a few days, but when I shut down the computer (MacBook Pro) and re-started Outlook, EVERYTHING was gone -- all my saved folders, contacts, etc. I have tried to rebuild, but no luck. I know the file is somewhere, I just cant figure out which file and how to point Outlook to it. Any help you all can offer is greatly appreciated!

I think this is Apple's way of making us give up on Outlook and use Mail exclusively -- which I am seriously considering!

This fixed my problems. What a godsend. Thanks.

It's about 6 weeks from my original post and just wanted the group to know that I have completely given up on Outlook and switched over to mac mail. It's not that bad. I do miss some of the functionality of Outlook, but the constant headaches are not worth it.

This worked brilliantly - thanks so much for your help!

Thanks for the help. This literally made my whole computer faster.

Nothing else worked, but this did extremely well. Thanks for your post.

Thank you so much. This solved it for me. Sure enough there were 2 pref files. Now I can use my Mac in Mac OS mode again. I was dual booting into Windows as my Mac outlook was unusable, great to be rid of this headache now!

Since I didn't end up having multiple "Office 2011" folders I went looking for another solve. And found this that worked beautifully:

The Outlook database and data records are stored in the Office 2011 Identities folder. By moving the folder to the desktop, Outlook will automatically create a new database. If Outlook opens without a problem, we will have to troubleshoot the Outlook database. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Quit all applications.
2. On the Go menu, click Home.
3. Open Documents, and then open Microsoft User Data.
4. Drag Office 2011 Identities to the desktop.
5. Open Outlook.

If the problem is resolved, the issue is related to the Outlook database. You may have to repair the Outlook database. To do this, view the following Microsoft knowledge base article:

2360509 How to troubleshoot Mac Outlook 2011 identity database

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Start-up takes a couple seconds now. Very easy solve and hope it helps others.

Good one, Bickity! You are right; that will let you know right away whether you've got a database issue ...or not.

To add to this I didn't have to actually reapir my database, I just put the one Identity back in the same place.

I only put back the Main Idenity folder, not the backup. So I wonder if the back up was the issue.

Not sure. I regularly make backups when I do a periodic check/repair of the database. However, I keep the backups on a separate external hard drive. The only database that Outlook finds in my Documents folder is the newest "Main Identity" database, as I trash the backup that Microsoft Database Utility places there (after copying it and the repaired "Main Identity" to the external drive).

As a bit of an aside, those backups have saved my hide more than once. Most recently, a malfunctioning mouse caused me to unknowingly delete an entire folder of e-mail. Thousands of important e-mail messages would have been lost without that backup.

But, again, since I specifically keep only one database where Outlook is expecting to find it, I can't answer as my situation is different. I know you can keep more than one profile there, but even then I personally would not keep the backups in that folder.