Help! Where have my compressed e-mails gone?

MissMoneyPenny_5

When closing the pc down the other night, I was asked if I wanted to compress my e-mails to save space. I clicked on yes and continued closing down.

The next morning when I opened Outlook Express, all my messages, from all my folders (Inbox, Outbox, Sent etc) had disappeared.

Any ideas as to how I might be able to retrieve them?

I have many important bits of information on these mails and need them

Thanks everyone.

scheming_gypsy

do a search for *.dbx when it finds them go into Express and Tools > Options > Maintenance > store folder and make sure it's looking in the right place, if not change it.

MissMoneyPenny_5

Thanks scheming_gypsy, I appreciate your help and have found the files ... sort of .....

The 'Inbox.dbx' is in the right directory, but Outlook Express isn't reading that file, but reading one named 'Inbox(1).dbx' instead.

What this means is that I am receiving the new mail that is arriving ok, but I can see that in the 'Inbox.dbx' there are 99,082kb of messages that I just can't seem to be able to access.

I suppose it's good news that they seem to be there, but I don't seem to be able to get at them ???

Any ideas?

Thanks again.

Chippy_Minton

The 'Inbox.dbx' is in the right directory, but Outlook Express isn't reading that file, but reading one named 'Inbox(1).dbx' instead.

This sounds like you have a corrupted Inbox folder. Firstly, in Outlook Express, Tools - Options - Maintenance and uncheck "Compact messages in the background". This compacting can cause corrupted folders, however if you have the XP SP2 version of OE, the option of disabling the compacting isn't available.

When you have a series of files like inbox.dbx, inbox(1).dbx, inbox(2).dbx, inbox(3).dbx then all except inbox(3).dbx are corrupted files. In your case you have inbox.dbx and inbox(1).dbx and the former is corrupted. You can use DBXtract (costs $5) to extract the messages from inbox.dbx and place them in inbox(1).dbx or a new archive folder. Then with Outlook Express closed, use Windows Explorer to delete inbox.dbx and then rename inbox(1).dbx as inbox.dbx. Take a copy of your entire OE Store Folder before starting any recovery of the messages in case something goes wrong and you need to start again.

Also, check out Messages in Inbox or other mail folders disappear. If your anti-virus software has email scanning enabled then this can cause corruption. Disable it as it provides no additional protection.

austinplatt

Dear Chippy

Thanks a million! Downloaded that program ($5) and it worked!

Fantastic advice.

;D

MissMoneyPenny_5

Ooops - that was me masquerading as my son! 8) ::)