Even after I compact folders and messages in OE, it seems that the file size
of my DBX files is still as large as before. Is there a way to get the file
size to shrink?

Dan

Check the Deleted Items.dbx file size after compacting. That would be your
best observation point. Compacting only removes space that was used prior to
messages being deleted, so if you haven't deleted any messages, compacting
won't show much of a change.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS MVP - Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"Dan" wrote in message
...
Even after I compact folders and messages in OE, it seems that the file
size
of my DBX files is still as large as before. Is there a way to get the
file
size to shrink?

Dan

Are you examining DBX files in the correct OE store
(http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#storemain)?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP, DTS-L.org

Dan wrote:
Even after I compact folders and messages in OE, it seems that the file
size of my DBX files is still as large as before. Is there a way to get
the file size to shrink?

Dan

Yes. I have specified my own folder for the message store, so I know exactly
where it is. Even though my Deleted Items folder is empty, the DBX file is 30
MB or bigger.

Every time I choose Compact from the Maintenance tab in Options, it finishes
very quickly (one second or less), as though it's not really doing anything.
It has always made me wonder whether Compacting really works. I would have
thought that it should reduce the file size down to a minimum after deleting
all the messages in a folder.

Dan

"PA Bear" wrote:

Are you examining DBX files in the correct OE store
(http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#storemain)?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP, DTS-L.org

Dan wrote:
Even after I compact folders and messages in OE, it seems that the file
size of my DBX files is still as large as before. Is there a way to get
the file size to shrink?

Dan

Compacting in Tools | Options | Maintenance only compacts Newsgroups.

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.

Now check the message store dbx files.

Some general OE advice:

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.

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

And backup often.

Backup and Resto

http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/backup/

http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx

http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--
Bruce Hagen
MS MVP - Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"Dan" wrote in message
...
Yes. I have specified my own folder for the message store, so I know
exactly
where it is. Even though my Deleted Items folder is empty, the DBX file is
30
MB or bigger.

Every time I choose Compact from the Maintenance tab in Options, it
finishes
very quickly (one second or less), as though it's not really doing
anything.
It has always made me wonder whether Compacting really works. I would have
thought that it should reduce the file size down to a minimum after
deleting
all the messages in a folder.

Dan

"PA Bear" wrote:

Are you examining DBX files in the correct OE store
(http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#storemain)?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP, DTS-L.org

Dan wrote:
Even after I compact folders and messages in OE, it seems that the file
size of my DBX files is still as large as before. Is there a way to get
the file size to shrink?

Dan

"Dan" wrote in message
...
Yes. I have specified my own folder for the message store, so I know
exactly
where it is. Even though my Deleted Items folder is empty, the DBX file is
30
MB or bigger.


I don't know how or why it happens, but some messages I receive with
pictures inline do NOT show as having an attachment. If I save the pictures,
I often find that they're huge. Obviously, this has an impact on the size of
your mail files. Is it possible you've got a bunch of these lurking
somewhere in your OE folders?

I don't think so.

I think my problem was that I was using the wrong procedure for compacting
my folders. I used the procedure that Bruce Hagen described earlier in this
thread and it worked fine.

Thanks for your help, nonetheless.

Dan

"Doug Kanter" wrote:

"Dan" wrote in message
...
Yes. I have specified my own folder for the message store, so I know
exactly
where it is. Even though my Deleted Items folder is empty, the DBX file is
30
MB or bigger.


I don't know how or why it happens, but some messages I receive with
pictures inline do NOT show as having an attachment. If I save the pictures,
I often find that they're huge. Obviously, this has an impact on the size of
your mail files. Is it possible you've got a bunch of these lurking
somewhere in your OE folders?