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 Windows XP, 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 Start | Control Panel | Folder Options |
View.

In Windows Explorer, click on the file and drag it to the Desktop. Open OE
and create a folder with the *exact* same name as the one on your desktop.
***Copy a message from any folder to the new one. You MUST do this.*** Close
OE. Go back to Windows Explorer and Click Desktop and drag the folder from
the Desktop to the OE store folder that you clicked on to reveal the .dbx
files. Prompt - "Do you want to overwrite......."? Click Yes.

Tip:

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.

In Tools | Options | Maintenance: Uncheck Compact messages in background and
leave it unchecked. {N/A if running XP/SP2}.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS MVP - Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"Lysbeth Strating" wrote in message
...
I have some subfolders in my inbox. Yesterday, when I opened my OE, one was
gone! There were many e-mails in it, that are very important.
What is wrong? How can I retrieve my mails?
Thanks,

Lysbeth