This is due to a recent OE update, (KB923694). Now when you compact, a copy
of your dbx files are sent to the Recycle Bin in the event that something
should go wrong and messages, or entire folders, are lost when you are
compacting.

Many people do not back up Outlook Express on a regular basis. This new
mandatory backup is something people have been asking for quite awhile as we
spend a lot of time helping people getting their messages back, and they
have to purchase a tool to recover messages.

You can empty the Recycle Bin any time you want and the bak files will go
away until you compact again.

For more info, see the information outlined in red he
www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#2

If you don't currently back up OE regularly, I would suggest you get this,
or a similar tool, (freeware):

This freeware tool backs up everything in OE in seconds. Disregard what is
written in red. That is referring to a different program.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB):
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"Clivuus" wrote in message
...
For some strange reason compacting folders now takes longer because
Outlook
Express is making a backup copy of all of my folders and placing them into
the recycle bin. I am sure this never used to happen and can find no way
of
stopping this happening. Can anyone help, I know I can just delete the
folders from the recycle bin manually afterwards, but it just annoying as
to
why they are being placed there in the first place. Thanks