Do not say Outlook when you mean Outlook Express. They are two different
programs.

View | Current View. Is Show All Messages checked and nothing else? If that
is OK, then your Inbox has probably become corrupted by heavy volume and
lack of compacting.

Create your own local folder(s) and move all the messages you wish to save
out of the Inbox and then delete it and follow up with a compact all
folders.

Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the location of
your Outlook Express files. Write the location down and navigate to it in
Windows Explorer.

In WinXP, Win2K & Win2K3, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) 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.

With OE closed, find the DBX file for the folder in question {Inbox.dbx} and
delete it. A new one will be created automatically when you open OE.

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.

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


"millermixing" wrote in message
...
Hi there,

I'm having some trouble with Outlook Express 6 running on Windows XP pro.
The problem has just started happening for some unknown reason. What
happens
is that Outlook seems to be operating normally downloading and sending
mail
but when it downloads emails, whilst the INBOX seems to display a number
that
indicates new emails have been received, I cannot see any new emails
actually
in the INBOX. The spam folder seems to be filling up nicely though! Does
anyone know what Outlook is doing with the emails I actually need! Many
thanks all

Paul Miller