Crazy, but a friend just e-maid me and there has been a few instances of a
bak file ending up in the message store. One possibility mentioned was if
the compacting stopped using Task Manager or possibly just pulling the plug,
but apparently it can happen. Not sure why, and certainly don't depend on
it.
Even if it proves redundant, it never hurts to be safe. I backup OE daily
with this.
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
Imperial Beach, CA
"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Bruce,
"but Sent 2007.bak did not get into the message store by
itself"
But it did -- that is, it was there already, that is, when I first
discovered that my Sent 2007 folder was empty:
Upon checking Identities, I see there is a small Sent 2007.dbx file and
a
large Sent 2007.bak file. Apparently, my lost msgs are in the Sent
2007.bak
Also, I may have left out a step I did -- somewhere in the process, if not
mistaken, I created a new Sent 2007 folder in OE.
Jack
------------------------------------
"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
I'm glad it worked, but Sent 2007.bak did not get into the message store
by
itself. Someone had to click Restore in the RB to get it there. Deleting
the
dbx file and then changing the bak file to dbx is fine. I only suggest
dragging it out in case renaming the bak file fails in some way. At least
then you still have the option of using a recovery tool should it come to
that.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA
"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Bruce,
Thanks.
My situation was a little different than any of those alternatives.
I discovered that I had a Sent 2007.bak in the Recycle Bin but it was
about
a month old. So, I deleted the Recycle Bin.
Then I deleted Sent 2007 in OE. Closed OE. Used Windows Explore and
deleted Sent 2007.dbx and then changed the file name of Sent 2007.bak to
Sent 2007.dbx.
I held my breath, and it all worked ok.
Jack
------------------------
"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
All e-mail items may be missing when you start Outlook Express 6 Service
Pack 1:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918069
To restore a bak folder to the message store folder, first locate the
Message Store in Windows Explorer.
In OE: Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store 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 Start | Run | Ctrl+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 WinXP, the dbx files are by default marked as hidden. To view these
files
in Windows Explorer, you must enable Show Hidden Files and Folders under
Start | Control Panel | Folder Options Icon | View, or in Windows
Explorer
|
Tools | Folder Options | View.
In Windows Explorer, click on the dbx file for the missing, or empty,
folder
and drag it to the Desktop. It can be deleted later once you have
successfully restored the bak file. Minimize the Message Store.
Open OE and, if the folder is missing, create a folder with the *exact*
same
name as the bak file you want to restore but without the .bak. Eg: If the
file is Saved.bak, the new folder should be named Saved. Open the new
folder
and then close OE. If the folder is there, but just empty, continue on to
the next step.
Open the Recycle bin and right click on the bak file for the folder in
question and click Restore. Open the Message Store back up and change the
file extension from .bak to .dbx. Close the Message Store and open OE.
The
messages should now be back in the folder.
If the messages are successfully restored, you can go ahead and delete
the
old dbx file that you moved to the Desktop.
*********************************************
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
Imperial Beach, CA
"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Win XP and OE 6 -----------
I did a Compact All Folders today, and there was an error, so, I did it
again.
Now I discover that all msgs in my "Sent 2007" folder are missing. (I
often
move msgs out my Sent folder to my Sent 2007 folder so that my Sent
folder
doesn't get too big.)
Upon checking Identities, I see there is a small Sent 2007.dbx file and
a
large Sent 2007.bak file. Apparently, my lost msgs are in the Sent
2007.bak
file. How do I get them back into OE?
Jack