It could be that the option to "Compact messages in background" in Tools, Options, Maintenance has been selected. Deselect as it will corrupt folders.
The inability to send emails could be caused by a corrupted folders.dbx, outbox.dbx or sent items.dbx. First try File, Folder, Compact All whilst Offline.
If that fails to resolve the inability to send then you need to enable show hidden files. Start, Control Panel, Folder Options, View, Advanced Settings. Next enter Windows Explorer and select Search, All files and folders, enter "folders.dbx" without the quotes, select Local hard drive as source to be searched and click on Search. Delete the file. A new folder will be automatically generated when you restart Outlook Express. Repeat the process for "outbo*.dbx" and the "sent item*.dbx.
It is important to establish the location of your Store Folder as you need to make that you have the correct folders as you will probably have more than one Folders. dbx etc. The current Store Folder location can found by selecting Tools, Options, Maintenance, Store Folder. Take care to delete the current folders not the older folders with the same name. If you have compacted the current folders will have a current date / time stamp. Before deleting the Sent Items folder make sure you have copied the messages to another folder if you wish to retain the messages.
Further reading at:
http://www.tomsterdam.com/insideoe/problems/errors.htm#foldersdbx
See if this Knowledge Base Article helps withe missing emails.
OLEXP: Mail Folders, Address Book, and E-mail Messages Are Missing After You Upgrade to Microsoft Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;313055&Product=oex
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Hope this helps.
Gerry
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FCA
(e-mail address removed)
Stourport, Worcs, England
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