Assuming all four (4) messages are available at www.hotmail.com, your
current Identity may be damaged, especially if its the default Main
Identity. Try one or more of your accounts in a new Named Identity (File
Identities Add new identity). Assuming all is well, (1) compact all
folders in the old identity, (2) import messages from the old identity into
the new one, and then (3) delete the old one (File Identities Manage
Identities).

To avoid such corruption in futu

- Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
folders created for this purpose.

- Empty Deleted Items folder daily.

- Disable Background Compacting [N/A in SP2] and frequently perform a manual
compact of all OE folders while "working offline". More at
http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm

- WinXP SP2 only: Do not attempt to close OE via Task Manager or shutdown
your machine if Automatic Compacting is taking place.

- WinXP SP2 only: If your machine is fully up-to-date at Windows Update,
installing the following patch (KB918766) will help to avoid such data loss
in the futu
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...2-98af2256ccc3

This patch will be included in the next Cumulative Update for Outlook
Express/WinXP SP2.

- Your anti-virus application's email scanning feature can also cause
corruption. Disable it. It provides no additional protection.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Security, Shell/User)


moe103 wrote:
It is Windows XP Home , fully patched,new behavior, one account, POP3,MSN
account.
Thats the whole story . Can't figure out what caused the problem .Thanks
for
your suggestions.

(It feels like we're playing 20 Questions here.)

Windows version? Is the machine fully patched at Windows Update?

Is this sudden, new behavior or an ongoing problem?

Do you have only one mail account running in OE? Is it a POP3 account,
an
MSN/Hotmail account or an IMAP (e.g., AOL) account?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Security, Shell/User)

moe103 wrote:
-- Are the other messages revealed when the plus sign is clicked to
expand
the list? Answer is NO

While in the Inbox
Under the OE View menu | Current View is Group by Conversation
selected?
Answer is NO

"moe103" wrote in message
...
yes there is a plus sign
--
I have been having a problem with my messages listing.
I open OE and I show 4 next to the inbox , but only one message is
listed in
the preview pane . Can't I get all the messages to be listed in
this
preview
window ?
Would surely appreciate any help on this.Thanks

It is the top view in the OE where usually the messages are listed.
Heading is : FROM SUBJECT RECEIVED