I have no idea what could have happened if there is not another directory of
dbx files there somewhere. For the address book search for *~* and see what
you find and rename whatever to give it a wab file extension and then see if
the contacts are there. For the messages, you might check first the Recycle
bin for bak files that are backups of the dbx files that you may be able to
restore (see www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#2). Otherwise, I think your only
shot is the extract from disk feature of DBXpress (www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/)
which will bypass the file system and analyze the all the disk clusters on
the drive and if the messages are still there, it will recover them. But
there is no way of knowing if they are there without running the program.

steve

"Bobby" wrote in message
...
There are no signs of any other dbx files on the system.

I have Kapsersky Anti-Virus - anti-Spam - I have turned this off for now -

Any other ideas?

Thanks,


"Steve Cochran" wrote:

It sounds as if you lost the entire user profile, or at least you lost
the
previous message store location. I would do an Advanced Search for *.dbx
and include hidden files and folders under the Advanced search
parameters.
Make sure also you have in Explorer, Tools | Folder Options | View and
uncheck the option to hide extensions of known file types and to show
hidden
files and perhaps even protected and OS files. That way you will see
them
if they are there.

If you find a directory of dbx files that are not the current ones, then
you
can try File | Import | Messages to get them into the current message
store.
See www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#4

steve

"Bobby" wrote in message
...
Following the last Windows Update all my email messages and contacts
have
been lost
Am Using Win XP with Auto updates turned on
My desktop picture also disappeared and now the desktop is a plain blue
colour and
When I look in the message store
Userlocal settingsapplication data
identities?{91D2DB82-1315-4914-B477-BAD761E79D3A}Microsoft Outlook
Express
I just have the default and empty dbx files - all my many folders etc.
have
gone.

I tried system restore to before the update and nothing has
re-appeared.

Where could my email messages/contacts have gone?

Thanks
Bobby