Outlook Express problem

[Jeff]

I have a problem with my Outlook Express not being able to open my *.dbx
files. I noticed one day when I started OE that my personal folders were
gone, and that my inbox was empty. I knew that I did not delete them, so I
closed OE and navigated to the store folder where the messages are kept.
Inside, I found two copies of each folder: inbox.dbx and inbox (1).dbx,
outbox.dbx and outbox (1).dbx, sent items.dbx and sent items (1).dbx, etc.
etc. OE appears to be using the files with the (1) extension. The original
..dbx files show a signifigant size to them when I look at their properties,
but they will not open. I have tried deleting the (1) files, but they simply
re-appear when I start OE. I have even tried re-naming the original .dbx
files with names containing (1) in them, but that has not worked either. I
have tried opening these messages on another PC running OE and that has not
worked nor has System Restore. Any ideas as to what happened and how I can
open up those original .dbx files? There are some emails that I would really
like to keep if I can. Any help or suggestions is appreciated.

Thanks!

Jeff

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have a problem with my Outlook Express not being able to open my *.dbx
files. I noticed one day when I started OE that my personal folders were
gone, and that my inbox was empty. I knew that I did not delete them, so
I
closed OE and navigated to the store folder where the messages are kept.
Inside, I found two copies of each folder: inbox.dbx and inbox (1).dbx,
outbox.dbx and outbox (1).dbx, sent items.dbx and sent items (1).dbx, etc.
etc. OE appears to be using the files with the (1) extension. The
original
.dbx files show a signifigant size to them when I look at their
properties,
but they will not open. I have tried deleting the (1) files, but they
simply
re-appear when I start OE. I have even tried re-naming the original .dbx
files with names containing (1) in them, but that has not worked either.
I
have tried opening these messages on another PC running OE and that has
not
worked nor has System Restore. Any ideas as to what happened and how I
can
open up those original .dbx files? There are some emails that I would
really
like to keep if I can. Any help or suggestions is appreciated.

Thanks!

Jeff

Best to ask the OE experts in an OE newsgroup.

 

[Bruce Hagen]

Crossposted to Outlook Express General newsgroup.

The dbx files with the (1) suffix are the ones currently being used. For
some reason, OE created new dbx files. It may have been for several reasons.

How many files do you have with the (1) suffix have messages you need? The
Inbox, no doubt. Any else?

Go to the message store and drag all the dbx files without the (1) out of
the message store to the Desktop at the top of the Windows Explorer folder
tree. With them out, see if you can rename, for instance, Inbox(1).dbx to
Inbox.dbx. OK so far?

Now, rename all the dbx files on the Desktop that have messages you need.
Rename the Inbox.dbx to Saved Mail.dbx, for example.

Open OE and create a folder with the *exact* same name as the one on the
Desktop, (Saved Mail). Open the new folder and then close OE. (You must do
this). Go back to Windows Explorer and the Message Store folder for your OE
identity, but don't open it. Click on the Desktop and drag the file from the
Desktop in the right hand pane to the OE store folder in the left pane.
Prompt - "Do you want to overwrite......."? Click Yes.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

cf.
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...ss.general/browse_frm/thread/68a9d3f4d8fc5377
--
OE-specific newsgroup:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

 

[Jeff]

I tried your suggestions, and no luck. When I open the SavedInbox folder in
OE, it is empty.....yet the store folder shows a new SavedInbox file with a
signifigant size to it.

I also noticed there are also copies of my original dbx files with a .bak
extension, and these files also have the same size as the dbx files that will
not open. Are these backups that could somehow be restored? Thanks for your
help so far!

Jeff

 

[Bruce Hagen]

If there are any messages in the current Inbox, move them to a local folder
you create. ***Close OE***

If you have bak files in the message store, they are backups created the
last time you compacted.

Drag all Inbox files out of the message store to the Desktop except the ones
with the bak extension. Right click on each Inbox.bak file and check the
Properties for the date created.

When you find the newest, rename it to Inbox.dbx. Open OE. Are the messages
back in the Inbox?

 

[Jeff]

Bruce,

That worked! It appears I have all my Inbox messages back. Also all of my
other folders (sent items, drafts, personal folders, etc.) seem to be ok now
too. Thanks for the help!

Jeff

 

[Bruce Hagen]

You're very welcome, Jeff. Please head these warnings to help this from
happening again, or at least a quicker fix.

General precautions for Outlook Express:

Do not archive mail in default OE folders. They will eventually become
corrupt. Create your own user defined folders for storing mail and move your
mail to them. Empty Deleted Items folder regularly. Keep user created
folders under 100MB, and Default folders as empty as is feasible.

After you are done, follow up by compacting your folders manually while
working *offline* and do it often.

Click on Outlook Express at the top of the folder tree so no folders are
open. Then: File | Work Offline (or double click Working Online in the
Status Bar). File | Folder | Compact all folders. Don't touch anything until
the compacting is completed.

Turn off e-mail scanning in your anti-virus program. It is a redundant layer
of protection that eats up CPUs and causes a multitude of problems such as
time-outs and account setting changes. Your up-to-date A/V program will
continue to protect you sufficiently. For more, see:
http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#3

In Tools | Options | Maintenance: Uncheck Compact messages in background and
leave it unchecked. {N/A if running XP/SP2}.

And backup often.

Backup & Restore:
http://www.insideoe.com/backup/

This is a great two click program:

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB)
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx