ToolsOptionsReadGet XXX headers at a time

You may set this option as high as 1,000. Right-click on the newsgroup in
Folders paneSynchronization Settings select New Messages Only. Now every
time you open the newsgroup (or hit F5), you will download the next-newest
set of headers/messages.

When you feel you've downloaded enough headers/messages, again right-click
on the newsgroup in Folders pane and select Catch Up Now. This will Mark as
Read all messages on the server, including ones you've not yet downloaded.
Now return to "Get XXX headers at a time" and uncheck the option completely;
then compact the folder.

From now on, OE will only download headers/messages posted to the server
since you last checked (polled) for messages.

You should probably visit this page, too:
http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm#cleannews (lotsa good stuff
there).
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)


BAD wrote:
On the first download, after subscribing to a newsgroup, I sometimes get
thousands of email. Some going back several years. Then I have to go
through and delete all the old ones.

What setting should I be using so this doesn't happen?