First, check the size of the dbx files for each folder to see if they are
large enough to contain messages. (Over at least 100kb).

ToolsOptionsMaintenanceStore folder will reveal the location
of your Outlook Express files. Press the Tab key to highlight the folder
location, then Ctrl+C. Close OE, then StartRunCtrl+V will put the location
in the box - Click OK and you'll see the OE files. Otherwise, write the
location down and navigate to it in Windows Explorer.

In WindowsXP & 2K &3K, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default
marked as hidden. To view these files in Explorer, you must enable
Show Hidden Files and Folders under StartControl PanelFolder
OptionsView.

If it appears that the messages are still there, use one of these tools to
retrieve them:

DBXtract: {Cost: $5.00}
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtract/Default.aspx

DBXpress: {$24.95, but much faster for large files}
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/Default.aspx

***After*** you retrieve your messages, take heed of this:

A general warning if you don't want to lose your messages in the futu

Do not archive mail in default OE folders. They will eventually
become corrupted. 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: FileWork Offline (or double click
Working Online in the Status Bar).
FileFolderCompact all folders. Don't touch anything until
the compacting is completed.

In ToolsOptionsMaintenance: Uncheck Compact messages in background
and leave it unchecked. {N/A if running XP/SP2}.

And, get rid of Norton.

I would recommend AVG Free:
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5
or:
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/40/lng/ww

When prompted, choose Custom Installation and *uncheck* e-mail scanning when
you see the option.

Norton (and McAfee) products are not Outlook Express friendly, and I don't
know of any OE-MVP that would recommend using them.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS MVP - Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"saffie" wrote in message
...
Hello, I had a new h/d installed, I run Norton, use Outlook Express on
Windows Xp. Yesterday, when I retreived my settings from Freeserve, I
noticed
that some of my xmas mail was missing from Outlook Express. I carried on
regardless and made several new files-up,dragged'n'dropped from Inbox to
named files, last night I went to check mail, and one of the files with 20
odd e-mails was missing, I have looked everywhere that I can think of,
even
on freeserve site for the missing file, has anyone any ideas of retreiving
file or is it lost forever?
Thank you from Saffie