I turned off my system before it completed the shutdown process. Now the
Deleted Items folder is gone from Outlook Express and I can't delete any
messages.

I deleted the .dbx file and re-opened OE but it did not create a new
Deleted Items folder. Is re-installing OE the only solution? If so, how
do I back up the existing folders and my message rules so I don't have to
recreate them?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Make sure no programs are running including OE when you delete the dbx file,
and then reboot before you open OE.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS MVP - Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"Shirley" wrote in message
4.196...
I turned off my system before it completed the shutdown process. Now the
Deleted Items folder is gone from Outlook Express and I can't delete any
messages.

I deleted the .dbx file and re-opened OE but it did not create a new
Deleted Items folder. Is re-installing OE the only solution? If so, how
do I back up the existing folders and my message rules so I don't have to
recreate them?

Thanks for any suggestions.

"Bruce Hagen" wrote in
:

Make sure no programs are running including OE when you delete the dbx
file, and then reboot before you open OE.

Thanks for the suggestion, Bruce. Unfortunately I already deleted the .dbx
file, and emptied it from the Recycle Bin, so I can't delete it using the
proper procedure.

Is there a Plan B?

File | Identity | Add New Identity. Create a new one and it should have a
Deleted Items folder. If all is well, you can import your messages from the
old identity and delete it after you're sure it's working fine.

How to Create and Use Identities in Outlook Express
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=209169
--
Bruce Hagen
MS MVP - Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"Shirley" wrote in message
4.196...
"Bruce Hagen" wrote in
:

Make sure no programs are running including OE when you delete the dbx
file, and then reboot before you open OE.

Thanks for the suggestion, Bruce. Unfortunately I already deleted the
.dbx
file, and emptied it from the Recycle Bin, so I can't delete it using the
proper procedure.

Is there a Plan B?

Have you looked in the Message Store folder to see if it's still there? How
about doing a file search for all files named "Deleted Items.dbx" making
sure that no instance of Outlook Express is running, and delete them all.
And if running Windows 2000 or XP, the DBX files are marked hidden by the
system, so you will need to modify the search criteria to include search for
hidden files.
--
Jim Pickering, MVP, Outlook Express
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pr...8-1171988A62D6
Please deliver feedback to the newsgroup, so that others can be helped.


"Shirley" wrote in message
4.196...
"Bruce Hagen" wrote in
:

Make sure no programs are running including OE when you delete the dbx
file, and then reboot before you open OE.

Thanks for the suggestion, Bruce. Unfortunately I already deleted the
.dbx
file, and emptied it from the Recycle Bin, so I can't delete it using the
proper procedure.

Is there a Plan B?

You may have deleted the wrong Deleted Items.dbx file.

1. Tools Options Maintenance Store folder will reveal the location of
your current Identity's store
(http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#storemain). Write it down.

In WindowsXP and 2000, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default marked
as hidden. To view these files in Explorer, you must enable Show Hidden
Files and Folders under Start Control Panel Folder Options View.

2. Close OE.

3. In Windows Explorer, search for Deleted Items.dbx. Assuming you find
such a file in your identity's store, delete it.

General OE Caveats:

- 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.

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

- 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, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP, DTS-L.org


Shirley wrote:
I turned off my system before it completed the shutdown process. Now the
Deleted Items folder is gone from Outlook Express and I can't delete any
messages.

I deleted the .dbx file and re-opened OE but it did not create a new
Deleted Items folder. Is re-installing OE the only solution? If so, how
do I back up the existing folders and my message rules so I don't have to
recreate them?

Thanks for any suggestions.