where did my msgs go? 1

[audiochick]

outlook express decided to compact my msgs to free up disk space...and they all disappeared!!! not all exactly, but all that were linked to my inbox - deleted, sent, spam are all still there. but I had several folders under the inbox folder...and they're all gone. where are the 'compacted' to??? thanks for any help!

 

[smah]

Did the compaction process get interrupted? The OE mail store is a bit delicate. Search for your *.dbx files (hidden). There should be 1 .dbx for each 'folder' you had, plus a few others. If they all seem to be there, with OE closed, delete the folders.dbx file. Then open OE and the folders will be recreated. You'll need to move them back to the sub-folder level because they will be recreated in the top level of the mail store.

 

[audiochick]

just now got your suggestion. but, alas - didn't work! in fact, when I deleted all the .dbx files, ALL my e-mail messages went away! so I restored from the recycle box. still don't have that whole month's worth though of msgs. and, phooey!, the stupid OE keeps asking me to compact every single time I close! it never use to do that! now I'm backing up and exporting to outlook just to be sure everything gets saved. any other suggestions? or is it a lost cause now?

 

[smah]

Don't delete all the .dbx files! As you found out, those are your messages. Only delete folders.dbx with OE closed.

 

[audiochick]

thanks for clarification! this time I searched for all *.dbx files and chose only the folders.dbx. deleted it, but still didn't get my messages back. I've probably tried too many things in the interim to have that work....but will definitely remember the advice should it (pray not!) happen again. do you have any suggestion to make oe STOP asking to compact? I don't know why it started....but there must be some way to 'turn it off'!!

thanks!

 

[smah]

The best way to have it stop prompting to compact, is to do it & wait as long as it takes to complete.

 

[TFoss]

The messages "may" be in the hard delete area of you inbox.