If it is Sent Items, you can move messages out of it to a local folder you
create. A bloated folder is likely causing this problem. Once you have moved
all the messages you wish to save, create a new Sent Items folder as per the
following, and then compact again.

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 Windows Explorer, you must enable
Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder Options |
View.

With OE closed, find the DBX file for the folder in question {Sent
Items.dbx} and delete it. A new one will be created automatically when you
open OE.

***Important*** 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}.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS MVP - Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"Paula" wrote in message
...
When I try to compact my folders, I get a message that says the folder is
in
use by another program, so it never finishes. I've seen this issue posted
a
lot but nobody seems to know what folder it's getting stuck on. For me, I
believe it is getting stuck on the Sent Items folder. I don't think I can
move stuff around from there because isn't this one of the "built - in"
folders and not a user-created folder? Please help, this has been driving
me
crazy all week. I select "work offline" and no joy. I found some article
that
says to shut down OE and then restart it and try again. Still no joy.