Many possibilities. Please read the whole reply and try everything.

It could be Message Rules. Have you checked in other folders for the
messages?

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}.

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.

If you are running XP/SP2, make sure you have the patch at this site. With
it, a copy of your dbx files will be sent to the Recycle Bin. Should you
lose messages while compacting for whatever reason, you will be able to
restore them from this backup.

Patch KB918651:
http://tinyurl.com/mx3r2

Clear the Temporary Internet Files often. In IE | Tools | Internet Options |
Delete Files button. And check the box to Delete Offline content.

And the BEST recommendation I can offer is to get rid if Norton completely.

To remove Norton completely, see:
http://basconotw.mvps.org/SymRem.htm
and:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...05033108162039

I use, and recommend, AVG Free:
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5
or:
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/40/lng/ww

When prompted, choose Custom Installation and *uncheck* e-mail scanning when
you see the option.

Norton, and McAfee, products are not Outlook Express friendly, and I don't
know of any OE-MVP that would recommend using them.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS MVP - Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"pierce" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have Windows XP and use Outlook Express 6 for my email. I also have
Norton for security. Intermittantly, not always, when I boot up OE6, it
will say "Receiving mail" then something like "Two new emails" but
nothing appears on my Inbox list. Server connection is fine. I'm afraid
I'm missing important emails and don't know how to access them. Is this
a security issue?