Is there a way to permanently delete Exchange/Outlook email while away?

Like many, I'm locked into using Exchange server emails for work via Outlook on Windows XP at my work place.

In my case there is absolutely no opportunity to use a different client at all ever.

Is there a way to permanently delete emails while I'm away on leave?

By using Rules and Alerts, I found that the permanent deletion is a client-side only rule, which won't work while I'm away.

Solution 1:

Short answer: Nope -- In Outlook/Exchange land, permanent deletes are client-side only.

Possible workaround:

If you want to do it without leaving you Outlook open, you'd probably need to set up a regular (server-side) Delete rule in Outlook, and then write a script (say with Powershell) to empty your Deleted Items folder.

This script would need to be scheduled to occasionally run on the Exchange server itself (or from a workstation that's on while you're away and has remote management access to the Exchange server).

Solution 2:

You could set a retention policy that automatically deletes messages in the Deleted Items folder or an alternate folder if you move the messages there.