outlook express

[scottgroupllc]

I cannot delete any mail from outlook express. It seems as though the delete
button isn't working. Whether I use the direct delete button or right click
delete it is not deleting. I am running very close to email capacity. Will
appreciate any assistance, please help.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

A corrupt Inbox.DBX file in your Identities forlder is probably at fault. If
you can copy all needed messages to another folder, then close OE and delete
that file, a new empty inbox.dbx is created when you restart OE.

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[Bruce Hagen]

And if that does not resolve it:

Deleted Items is probably corrupt. In the off chance that you are keeping
messages you want to save in Deleted Items, (a garbage pail), move them to a
local folder you create and then do the following.

Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the location of
your Outlook Express files. Write the location down and navigate to it in
Windows Explorer or, copy and paste it into Start | Run.

In WinXP, Win2K & Win2K3, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default
marked as hidden. To view these files in Windows Explorer, you must enable
Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder Options
Icon | View, or in Windows Explorer | Tools | Folder Options | View.

With OE closed, find the DBX file for Deleted Items and delete it. A new
one will be created automatically when you open OE.

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.

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

 

[Gerry]

Bruce

Presumably you could test for a corrupted Deleted Items folder. You
could try Shift+Del on a single message and if it deletes this would
tend to confirm that the Deleted Items folder is the problem.


--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~