Hi Bruce, Michael, Frank.

Thanks for your help you guys - I really appreciate this contact and advice.

And thanks for your specific comments. I think they mostly duplicate
earlier comments on this type of issue and I have tried most of the
suggestions you offer. In reply I am using XP with SP3, up to date every
day. OE build is 6.00.2900.5512.
I would prefer to use a recovery tool that is free - my experience with
buying tools is tha you may not get the right one first time. I have already
tried OutlookExtract.exe (including DOS version) and WOE5Extract.exe and so
far have not recovered any emails in my Inbox.dbx which is 12MB in size.
Perhaps I m doing something wrong. I am locating the recovery exe file plus
a copy of my Inbox.dbx in a "C:\temp" sub-folder.
I estimate since my last Compact about a week back there could be 200+
emails there that were dragged elsewhere and (I presume) got internally
marked in the Inbox.dbx file as hidden / for compact deletion and do not show
today. The ones I need are those that arrived and disappeared yesterday, so
I will be able to identify them by date. Personally I am amazed that MS does
not provide a recovery tool similar to "Compact".
Is there an option using Import (I cannot get this to do the job myself - I
have tried to import a copied and renamed Inbox.dbx file)?

--
Geoff


"Bruce Hagen" wrote:

Windows version? Did you have these messages in the Inbox the last time you
compacted? If so, and you are using XP/SP2 or SP3, have you checked the
Recycle Bin for bak files?

The Inbox size is irrelevant as it won't get smaller until you compact.
(Don't do it right now).

Does the personal folder have other messages in it or was this a new folder?

Have you checked Deleted Items?
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA


"Geoff" wrote in message
...
read the threads about restoring dbx files but my problem is that
immediately after dragging some emails from Inbox to a personal folder, my
system froze. When I rebooted, the dragged emails have gone. My Inbox
dbx
file looks large and I suspect the emails are there but marked internally
for
deletion / hidden (I have not compacted for some days). How can I import
or
restore a copy of this file so as to bring all emails into view, including
those marked to be deleted or hidden?
--
Geoff