I've seen many threads about these ghost folders that are created in my PST files, but the only solution proposed - create new pst and move the items there - is not working for me. I just created two new pst files, moved the old emails to the new ones, removed old pst's and closed Outlook. When I opened it again, the ghost folders were created in the NEW pst files I had  just created.

Have there been any progress in a solution to this?

Thanks.

Please use the MFCMAPI tool and logon your Outlook profile to find the certain PST.Then Try to delete the ghost folder as the following steps to check the result.

Open MFCMAPI.exe > Session > Logon your current profile > Hightlight the PST and double click to open it > Root Container > Top of Personal Folders > Find the certain folder > Right click and Delete folder.

MFCMAPI tool download link: http://mfcmapi.codeplex.com/releases/view/104434

Please Note: Since the web site is not hosted by Microsoft, the link may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this information.

Tony Chen
TechNet Community Support

Could you please tell the name of "Ghost folders", I suspect these folders might be created by the add-ins or other application.

To troubleshoot, please delete the folder first and then re-launch Outlook with the safe mode. ("Outlook.exe /safe") to check if the removed folder would be back.

Thanks.

Tony Chen
TechNet Community Support

Could you please tell the name of "Ghost folders", I suspect these folders might be created by the add-ins or other application.

To troubleshoot, please delete the folder first and then re-launch Outlook with the safe mode. ("Outlook.exe /safe") to check if the removed folder would be back.

Thanks.

Tony Chen
TechNet Community Support

• Marked as answer by Tony Chen CHNMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Monday, August 05, 2013 11:36 AM

Could you please tell the name of "Ghost folders", I suspect these folders might be created by the add-ins or other application.

To troubleshoot, please delete the folder first and then re-launch Outlook with the safe mode. ("Outlook.exe /safe") to check if the removed folder would be back.

Thanks.

Tony Chen
TechNet Community Support

• Marked as answer by Tony Chen CHNMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Monday, August 05, 2013 11:36 AM

Could you please tell the name of "Ghost folders", I suspect these folders might be created by the add-ins or other application.

To troubleshoot, please delete the folder first and then re-launch Outlook with the safe mode. ("Outlook.exe /safe") to check if the removed folder would be back.

Thanks.

Tony Chen
TechNet Community Support

• Marked as answer by Tony Chen CHNMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Monday, August 05, 2013 11:36 AM

I found a solution after talking with Microsoft (which got me no where) and doing some reading. It seems that this arises out of a conflict with SP2 in Office 2010 and Norton. Assuming you use Norton you can fix it by doing this: In outlook click on File>Options>Add-ins. At the bottom of the box that opens click on go and then uncheck Norton Anti-Spam Filter.

Close that out and then restart Outlook. Go into the folders where these files appeared and delete them manually by right clicking and left clicking delete. The empty the deleted folder. I did this and have not had the problem since. I did not have to download any files or programs to do it, just worked within Outlook.

I found a solution after talking with Microsoft (which got me no where) and doing some reading. It seems that this arises out of a conflict with SP2 in Office 2010 and Norton. Assuming you use Norton you can fix it by doing this: In outlook click on File>Options>Add-ins. At the bottom of the box that opens click on go and then uncheck Norton Anti-Spam Filter.

Close that out and then restart Outlook. Go into the folders where these files appeared and delete them manually by right clicking and left clicking delete. The empty the deleted folder. I did this and have not had the problem since. I did not have to download any files or programs to do it, just worked within Outlook.

• Proposed as answer by mjmagic Wednesday, August 14, 2013 5:54 PM

I found a solution after talking with Microsoft (which got me no where) and doing some reading. It seems that this arises out of a conflict with SP2 in Office 2010 and Norton. Assuming you use Norton you can fix it by doing this: In outlook click on File>Options>Add-ins. At the bottom of the box that opens click on go and then uncheck Norton Anti-Spam Filter.

Close that out and then restart Outlook. Go into the folders where these files appeared and delete them manually by right clicking and left clicking delete. The empty the deleted folder. I did this and have not had the problem since. I did not have to download any files or programs to do it, just worked within Outlook.

• Proposed as answer by mjmagic Wednesday, August 14, 2013 5:54 PM

I found a solution after talking with Microsoft (which got me no where) and doing some reading. It seems that this arises out of a conflict with SP2 in Office 2010 and Norton. Assuming you use Norton you can fix it by doing this: In outlook click on File>Options>Add-ins. At the bottom of the box that opens click on go and then uncheck Norton Anti-Spam Filter.

Close that out and then restart Outlook. Go into the folders where these files appeared and delete them manually by right clicking and left clicking delete. The empty the deleted folder. I did this and have not had the problem since. I did not have to download any files or programs to do it, just worked within Outlook.

• Proposed as answer by mjmagic Wednesday, August 14, 2013 5:54 PM

No need to download anything.

I found a solution after talking with Microsoft (which got me no where) and doing some reading. It seems that this arises out of a conflict with SP2 in Office 2010 and Norton. Assuming you use Norton you can fix it by doing this: In outlook click on File>Options>Add-ins. At the bottom of the box that opens click on go and then uncheck Norton Anti-Spam Filter.

Close that out and then restart Outlook. Go into the folders where these files appeared and delete them manually by right clicking and left clicking delete. The empty the deleted folder. I did this and have not had the problem since. I did not have to download any files or programs to do it, just worked within Outlook.

Since I have the same problem, I tried to use this software.

I get as far as Root Container but when I double click on the PST but I get a window with a list of items but no 'Top of Personal Folders' option and nothing in the list helps me identify the unwanted folder. 

I've experienced the same problem.  I have Outlook 2010 on a Win 7 64-bit system and get them frequently in various .PST files.  Norton IS NOT the culprit.  I don't have any flavor of Norton and never have.  It's a problem with SP2.  Creating a new .PST file is a waste of time as well.  Once I uninstalled the SP2 update the problems stopped in ALL my .PST files.  I've since installed it again and they come back.  Maybe 4 or 5 times a week and the .PST files vary.  I have 24 different .PST files for various email accounts and it hits them all - although I don't remember my primary OUTLOOK.PST file being affected.

Sometimes I'll have two or three in a single .PST file.  I can delete all but one when that occurs.  The only solution - other than uninstalling SP2 - is to delete what I can, restart Outlook and delete the other.  Don't get them every time I open Outlook but maybe 3 or 4 times a week and I generally open/close Outlook 3 or 4 times a day.

Since Microsoft knows the EXACT verbiage of the ghost folder, that text must be coming from somewhere in the SP2 update so why does it take years to fix?