Windows version? Is the machine fully-patched at Windows Update?

General OE Caveats:

- Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
folders created for this purpose.

- Empty Deleted Items folder daily.

- Disable Background Compacting [not available in SP2] and frequently
perform a manual compact of all OE folders while "working offline". More at
http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm

- WinXP SP2 only: Do not shut down your machine while Windows is
automatically compacting your message store.

- Your anti-virus application's email scanning feature can also cause such
corruption. Disable it. It provides no additional protection.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org


Bobm0001 wrote:
About every four or five times I follow the compact messages directions, I
lose 1-6 months of messages in either the deleted or send file. Each
time,
I swear I'll never compact messages again, but OE wears me down by forcing
me to reject the compacting.

Can I retreive the lost messages? How do I backup the messages so I don't
lose them permanently?