We have over 5000 files in our deleted Items folder but would like to delete
around half(keeping the newer messages)... I can only find a way to delete
all at once or do it one by one.. Is there a trick to deleting a large group
without deleting them all?? Thx in advance.

To highlight a section, click on the first message header you want deleted
then scroll to the last. Hold down the Shift key and click on the last
message header to highlight the section and then Delete.

Or, hold down the Ctrl key while you click on each one and then delete.

You also have the option to highlight the ones you want to keep and move
them to a user created folder, and then delete what is left,
because............

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}.

And backup often.

Backup & Resto
http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/backup/

This is a great two click program:

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

"PaulT" wrote in message
...
We have over 5000 files in our deleted Items folder but would like to
delete around half(keeping the newer messages)... I can only find a way to
delete all at once or do it one by one.. Is there a trick to deleting a
large group without deleting them all?? Thx in advance.

"PaulT" wrote in message ...
We have over 5000 files in our deleted Items folder but would like to delete around half(keeping
the newer messages)... I can only find a way to delete all at once or do it one by one.. Is there
a trick to deleting a large group without deleting them all?? Thx in advance.
Bruce gave you the full and correct response, but think about what you told us.
Do you keep your personal mail in the trash bin because you think you might want to look at it
again?
That is dumpster diving. Make folders like "save for later", or "hold" to move mail into that you
might want to look at again.

1a. Move the messages in Deleted Items that you want to keep to a local
folder you've created for this purpose.

1b. Move any messages in Sent Items that you want to keep to a local folder
you've created for this purpose.

2. Delete everything else in Sent Items folder.

3. Empty (delete the contents of) the Deleted Items folder.

4. Compact all folders.

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 [not available 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 shut down your machine while Windows is
automatically compacting your message store.

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


PaulT wrote:
We have over 5000 files in our deleted Items folder but would like to
delete
around half(keeping the newer messages)... I can only find a way to delete
all at once or do it one by one.. Is there a trick to deleting a large
group
without deleting them all?? Thx in advance.

Another easy way is to use Edit | Find. Then specify a date range then you
can use CTRL-A or Edit | Select all on the results and then right click on
the selection and copy them to a folder or delete them.

Do a File | Folder | Compact to shrink the file down after doing that.

steve

"PaulT" wrote in message
...
We have over 5000 files in our deleted Items folder but would like to
delete around half(keeping the newer messages)... I can only find a way to
delete all at once or do it one by one.. Is there a trick to deleting a
large group without deleting them all?? Thx in advance.