To highlight a section, click on the first message header you want deleted
then scroll to the last. Hold down the Shift key and click on the last
message header to highlight the section and then Delete.

Or, hold down the Ctrl key while you click on each one and then delete.

You also have the option to highlight the ones you want to keep and move
them to a user created folder, and then delete what is left,
because............

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 & Resto
http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/backup/

This is a great two click program:

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

"PaulT" wrote in message
...
We have over 5000 files in our deleted Items folder but would like to
delete around half(keeping the newer messages)... I can only find a way to
delete all at once or do it one by one.. Is there a trick to deleting a
large group without deleting them all?? Thx in advance.