Outlook Express Identities

[Rainy]

Hi I am trying to help a friend with her outlook express... I told her to go
to the store folder and when she did, she found several identities... 5
different folders.. I wanted her to go to where her dbx are stored and to
delete folders.dbx and then deleted items.dbx and see if OE would start
working again.. but she has so many to choose from.. Is this normal? Rainy

C:\Documents and Settings\My Name\Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities\{3C881BD4-E302-4BD4-831B-59097D1B58AE}\Microsoft\Outlook
Express
3C881BD4-E302-4BD4-831B-59097D1B58AE is only one number

there are four more to choose from... all with different numbers, all with
dbx folders inside.. some different than others..

I am hoping you can help me.. thanks..

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[crosspost to OE General]

cf. http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#storemain

OE Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the location of
the current identity's store.

Tip: Avoid deleting FOLDERS.DBX unless absolutely necessary!

<canned>
1a. Move any messages that you want to keep out of Sent Items and Deleted
Items folders and into other local OE folders you've created for archiving
(saving) such messages.

1b. Move 99% of your messages in your Inbox folder to other local OE
folders, too.

2a. Write down the location of your identity's store
(http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#storemain).

2b. Enable 'Show Hidden Files and Folders' via Start | Control Panel |
Folder Options | View (cf.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial62.html).

3. Close OE.

4. In Windows Explorer, navigate to your store folder, find & delete the
files Outbox.dbx, Sent Items.dbx, and Deleted Items.dbx.

To avoid such problems in the future, adhere to the following caveats:

- Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
folders created for this purpose.

- Empty Deleted Items folder daily.

- Frequently perform a manual compact of all OE folders while "working
offline". More at http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm

- Do not cancel Automatic Compacting, should it occur, and do not attempt to
close OE via Task Manager or shutdown your machine if Automatic Compacting
is taking place.

- Disable email scanning by your anti-virus application. It can cause
corruption (i.e., loss of messages) and provides no additional protection:

Why you don't need your anti-virus to scan your email
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm

 

[Jose]

Hi I am trying to help a friend with her outlook express... I told her togo
to the store folder and when she did, she found several identities... 5
different folders.. I wanted her to go to where her dbx are stored and to
delete folders.dbx and then deleted items.dbx and see if OE would start
working again.. but she has so many to choose from.. Is this normal?  Rainy

C:\Documents and Settings\My Name\Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities\{3C881BD4-E302-4BD4-831B-59097D1B58AE}\Microsoft\Outlook
Express
3C881BD4-E302-4BD4-831B-59097D1B58AE is only one number

there are four more to choose from... all with different numbers, all with
dbx folders inside.. some different than others..

I am hoping you can help me.. thanks..

Could be normal depending on who has been using OE and what they have
been doing.

OE supports multiple OE identities for a single XP login on purpose.
My OE just has one identity.

Here is an article that 'splains how identities work in OE.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/209169

If the user really only needs one OE identity, it would help to
determine what it is from the OE identity changing function, look at
the other identities by switching to them, see if they make sense or
not and delete things that don't make sense if they are confusing. If
the user has no idea what an identity is, they will never see them -
maybe they have a reason.

What is the problem that compels you to delete these files?

 

[Rainy]

OE crashed! thanks. Rainy

Hi I am trying to help a friend with her outlook express... I told her to
go
to the store folder and when she did, she found several identities... 5
different folders.. I wanted her to go to where her dbx are stored and to
delete folders.dbx and then deleted items.dbx and see if OE would start
working again.. but she has so many to choose from.. Is this normal? Rainy

C:\Documents and Settings\My Name\Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities\{3C881BD4-E302-4BD4-831B-59097D1B58AE}\Microsoft\Outlook
Express
3C881BD4-E302-4BD4-831B-59097D1B58AE is only one number

there are four more to choose from... all with different numbers, all with
dbx folders inside.. some different than others..

I am hoping you can help me.. thanks..

Could be normal depending on who has been using OE and what they have
been doing.

OE supports multiple OE identities for a single XP login on purpose.
My OE just has one identity.

Here is an article that 'splains how identities work in OE.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/209169

If the user really only needs one OE identity, it would help to
determine what it is from the OE identity changing function, look at
the other identities by switching to them, see if they make sense or
not and delete things that don't make sense if they are confusing. If
the user has no idea what an identity is, they will never see them -
maybe they have a reason.

What is the problem that compels you to delete these files?

 

[Rainy]

[crosspost to OE General]

cf. http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#storemain

OE Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the location
of the current identity's store.

Tip: Avoid deleting FOLDERS.DBX unless absolutely necessary!

<canned>
1a. Move any messages that you want to keep out of Sent Items and Deleted
Items folders and into other local OE folders you've created for
archiving (saving) such messages.

1b. Move 99% of your messages in your Inbox folder to other local OE
folders, too.

2a. Write down the location of your identity's store
(http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#storemain).

2b. Enable 'Show Hidden Files and Folders' via Start | Control Panel |
Folder Options | View (cf.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial62.html).

3. Close OE.

4. In Windows Explorer, navigate to your store folder, find & delete the
files Outbox.dbx, Sent Items.dbx, and Deleted Items.dbx.

To avoid such problems in the future, adhere to the following caveats:

- Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
folders created for this purpose.

- Empty Deleted Items folder daily.

- Frequently perform a manual compact of all OE folders while "working
offline". More at http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm

- Do not cancel Automatic Compacting, should it occur, and do not attempt
to close OE via Task Manager or shutdown your machine if Automatic
Compacting is taking place.

- Disable email scanning by your anti-virus application. It can cause
corruption (i.e., loss of messages) and provides no additional
protection:

Why you don't need your anti-virus to scan your email
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com

Hi I am trying to help a friend with her outlook express... I told her
to go
to the store folder and when she did, she found several identities... 5
different folders.. I wanted her to go to where her dbx are stored and
to
delete folders.dbx and then deleted items.dbx and see if OE would start
working again.. but she has so many to choose from.. Is this normal?
Rainy

C:\Documents and Settings\My Name\Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities\{3C881BD4-E302-4BD4-831B-59097D1B58AE}\Microsoft\Outlook
Express
3C881BD4-E302-4BD4-831B-59097D1B58AE is only one number

there are four more to choose from... all with different numbers, all
with
dbx folders inside.. some different than others..

I am hoping you can help me.. thanks..

I guess I didn't explain correctly.. OE crashed, it won't open.. thanks
Rainy

 

[Bruce Hagen]

Hi I am trying to help a friend with her outlook express... I told her to
go to the store folder and when she did, she found several identities... 5
different folders.. I wanted her to go to where her dbx are stored and to
delete folders.dbx and then deleted items.dbx and see if OE would start
working again.. but she has so many to choose from.. Is this normal?
Rainy

C:\Documents and Settings\My Name\Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities\{3C881BD4-E302-4BD4-831B-59097D1B58AE}\Microsoft\Outlook
Express
3C881BD4-E302-4BD4-831B-59097D1B58AE is only one number

there are four more to choose from... all with different numbers, all with
dbx folders inside.. some different than others..

I am hoping you can help me.. thanks..

Start here.

When OE crashes or won't start:
http://www.insideoe.com/problems/errors.htm#crash

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

I guess I didn't explain correctly.. OE crashed, it won't open..

You didn't explain it /at all/ and I guess my CrystalBall© missed.

Start here: http://www.insideoe.com/problems/errors.htm#crash

 

[Panic]

To get to the correct identity open Outlook Express in the identity you wish
to work with. Then click on Tools...Options... and select the Maintenance
tab at the top. Now click on the Store Folder button. A window will open
up with the location pathname. Highlight it, right click and choose Copy.
Now at your basic desktop click on Start...Run.. and right click and choose
Paste. That will enter the path you want. Click the OK button and "voila"
it will take you where you want to be.

 

[Bruce Hagen]

How do you do that if OE won't open? <g>

 

[Steve Cochran]

To answer your original issue, the files in the last used Identity will have
the newest dates, so the folders.dbx file that has the newest date is likely
the one you need to delete.

steve

[crosspost to OE General]

cf. http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#storemain

OE Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the location
of the current identity's store.

Tip: Avoid deleting FOLDERS.DBX unless absolutely necessary!

<canned>
1a. Move any messages that you want to keep out of Sent Items and
Deleted Items folders and into other local OE folders you've created for
archiving (saving) such messages.

1b. Move 99% of your messages in your Inbox folder to other local OE
folders, too.

2a. Write down the location of your identity's store
(http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#storemain).

2b. Enable 'Show Hidden Files and Folders' via Start | Control Panel |
Folder Options | View (cf.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial62.html).

3. Close OE.

4. In Windows Explorer, navigate to your store folder, find & delete the
files Outbox.dbx, Sent Items.dbx, and Deleted Items.dbx.

To avoid such problems in the future, adhere to the following caveats:

- Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
folders created for this purpose.

- Empty Deleted Items folder daily.

- Frequently perform a manual compact of all OE folders while "working
offline". More at http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm

- Do not cancel Automatic Compacting, should it occur, and do not
attempt to close OE via Task Manager or shutdown your machine if
Automatic Compacting is taking place.

- Disable email scanning by your anti-virus application. It can cause
corruption (i.e., loss of messages) and provides no additional
protection:

Why you don't need your anti-virus to scan your email
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com


Rainy wrote:
Hi I am trying to help a friend with her outlook express... I told her
to go
to the store folder and when she did, she found several identities... 5
different folders.. I wanted her to go to where her dbx are stored and
to
delete folders.dbx and then deleted items.dbx and see if OE would start
working again.. but she has so many to choose from.. Is this normal?
Rainy

C:\Documents and Settings\My Name\Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities\{3C881BD4-E302-4BD4-831B-59097D1B58AE}\Microsoft\Outlook
Express
3C881BD4-E302-4BD4-831B-59097D1B58AE is only one number

there are four more to choose from... all with different numbers, all
with
dbx folders inside.. some different than others..

I am hoping you can help me.. thanks..

I guess I didn't explain correctly.. OE crashed, it won't open.. thanks
Rainy