The size doesn't change until you compact. Did you save any messages you
want from Deleted Items and Sent Items? If so, close OE and delete the
corresponding dbx files. If you go back there after you open OE, you will
see they are now 59KB.

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.insideoe.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


"Cali 54" wrote in message
...
Bruce,
It looks like all my default boxes have more than 100MB, for example,
Deleted Items shows 781 MB in "run | file explorer", but shows empty in
OE.
Should I delete these default boxes in the "run | file explorer" view and
let OE recreate them at the next start sequence?
Thanks for your help.

Frank,
Thanks for the reply, but I am using AVG free and have suppressed email
scan.


"Cali 54" wrote:

Some times my OE fails to move the sent email from the Out folder to the
Sent
folder. I know my accounts are set properly because this is a sporadic
condition that comes and goes without changing my outgoing servers. When
the
email does not transfer to the sent folder it remains in the out folder
and
then is sent multiple times to the receipients. This condition even
persists
when I close and restart OE as well as reboot my computer. I think I
have
eliminated malware based on daily scans with AVG and Webroot for viruses
and
spyware and none has been found.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.