Lost all folder

[Gene]

I was working in Windows Mail deleting what was in my trash folder and the
software stopped responding. This has happened before when creating emails
and I usually just stop working and the system would catch up and start to
respond. This time when it came back to life, so to speak, all of my folders
disappeared. After reading some of treads, I checked on the "View Folders"
(View-Layout-Folders) tab and that was not it. Right now the only options are
Local Folders that include Inbox, Outbox, Sent Items, Deleted Items, Drafts &
Junk Emails. Under this I used to have a second Inbox that included all of my
folder that I imported for another PC over two years ago and had added to
since then. I'm running Vista Home Premium on a Sony Vio. I also use Norton
Internet Security and have since I purchased the PC. Please HELP!!!! Thank
you.

 

[Gary VanderMolen [MVP]]

Norton security products are among the top three troublemakers for
Windows Mail. First, be sure to disable its email scanning, for the
reason explained here:
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm

Disabling Norton's email scanning is sometimes insufficient. If so,
do a trial uninstall, followed by using their debris removal tool:
http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

If no improvement after uninstalling Norton, try running the various
database repair functions in the free WMUtil program:
http://www.oehelp.com/WMUtil

Instead of uninstalling your antivirus, another option is to upgrade to
Windows Live Mail, which is more resistant to the adverse effects of overly
intrusive antivirus products: http://download.live.com/wlmail

 

[Steve Cochran]

Search for *.eml and see if you can find the files somewhere. The messages are stored under directories that match the name of the folder in WinMail. See www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx for background. You can also try my Windows Mail Utility to repair the WinMail database to see if that has any impact. And Norton is notorious for messing with OE and WinMail (see point 3 here: www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#3), so its better if you can replace it with something less invasive.

steve