Oh dear :o(

alanalea

My Outlook Express mailbox has just compressed all of my mail and i can't find it anywhere?

Please can someone help me, i think i've just lost some important emails :mad: :eek: Where can i find them again?

Cheers all,

Lea x

Toxteth_OGrady

Do a search for *.dbx

:cool:

TOG

derrick

For the last 2 days when logging out of O E/ turning computer off, I get the message " To free up disc space,Outlook Express can compact messages. This may take up to a few minutes.
OK CANCEL
in a window on the desktop.

I have not altered anything and need to know how I can loose this message so that I do not inadvertantly press "OK"

As I said this has just started of its own accord.

Thanks

Lorian

That message is normal when you mailbox gets to a certain size. It should just compress the messages, not delete them.

derrick

Thanks but I have not,(as for as I know) stored any extra messages, is there a certain number/size that is known and can I somehow delte the message, because I certainly do not wish to compact them.

espresso

derrick wrote:

Thanks but I have not,(as for as I know) stored any extra messages, is there a certain number/size that is known and can I somehow delte the message, because I certainly do not wish to compact them.

Why not? You should back up your e-mails anyway! If you do OE, Tools, Options, Maintenance, Store Folder you will see where your *dbx files are stored. Compacting the database files is normal housekeeping, just like backing up your files.

:rolleyes:

derrick

espresso wrote:

Why not? You should back up your e-mails anyway! If you do OE, Tools, Options, Maintenance, Store Folder you will see where your *dbx files are stored. Compacting the database files is normal housekeeping, just like backing up your files.

:rolleyes:

Got to admit I do not back up anything, I have done so in the past with various cd's, but then the cd's won't read,sometimes,which means I have no back up anyway, what does compacting do? I don't want to loose anything and am not a computer whizz

derrick

espresso wrote:

Why not? You should back up your e-mails anyway! If you do OE, Tools, Options, Maintenance, Store Folder you will see where your *dbx files are stored. Compacting the database files is normal housekeeping, just like backing up your files.

:rolleyes:

Having done that this is where they are stored

"your personal message store is located in the following folder":-

C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\!!7CFD7B7B-4000-43DD-AE09-9DC9246A10A4}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Is there any reason to change from where they are stored? if so to where, and do I still access them as required via O E ?

tigermatt

No, you don't need to change that location, but you can backup the folder it specifies by copying (not cutting) and pasting it to another hard disk, a CD or similar. If you change it you outlook express won't be able to find your emails, it'll be looking in a different location and therefore you will have to get them back which is quite easy but it's worth avoiding in the first place.

John_Gray

It's probably worth reading Compact your OE Folders to see what this actually does! It certainly does not delete messages...

John

PS Well, not as a matter of course...!

PPS I've used Outlook Express Quick Backup (downloads near the bottom of the web page) for some years with good results.

derrick

John_Gray wrote:

It's probably worth reading Compact your OE Folders to see what this actually does! It certainly does not delete messages...

Sorry for sounding stupid, but what does it do? I have read the link and it says deleted messages are not deleted, and compacting will recover disc space? What will happen to the e-mails I keep in folders that I need to refer back to ? Is there a way to remove the previously deleted e-mails? without losing the one I need to keep, i.e the one I always have in folders, inbox etc