Bruce,

There's the rub -- I am not absolutely positive I sent the message.

Well, anyway, I will now be a little more attentive all the way around,
including compacting, size, etc.

Question: If I backup (via Explore using copy/paste to another folder on
the HD) the dbx files and later want to open one without disturbing the
current same dbx file, what's the best way to do that?


Jack



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
There are recovery tools, but if you are not even sure you actually sent the
message do you want to go that route? You /may/ find the message with one of
these tools. Note that only DBXpress has a chance if the folders have been
compacted.

Macallan Outlook Express Extraction:
http://www.insideoe.com/resources/tools.htm#macallan

DBXtract:
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtract/Default.aspx

DBXpress: {much faster for large files}
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/Default.aspx
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Bruce,

You move messages out of Sent Items

Yes -- I try not to accumulate more than 100 messages there.

compact often?

Approx once/wk.

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Yes to all above. No .dbx file is 300 mb at present.



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
It is possible. You move messages out of Sent Items which is good. Do you
compact often? Do you do all of the following?

General precautions for Outlook Express:

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Information about the maximum file size of the .dbx files that are used by
Outlook Express:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=903095

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.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB Freeware)
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Is it possible for OE to lose some messages I sent. I was checking SENT
for
a sent message and couldn't find it (actually, I move messages out of
SENT
after a while and put them into SAVED). I'd swear I sent it, but now I'm
wondering.

Jack

You want to move all your current dbx files to another location as an
archive? Any particular reason? If you do, you would have to bring them back
into OE to read them. Not always a simple thing to do.

If you want folders with messages out of your current folder tree, the
easiest way around this is to create another identity and import the folders
you want to archive to it. This way you can just switch identities to read
them if need be.

How to Create and Use Identities in Outlook Express
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=209169

I would still get OEQB. It will back up all identities at the same time.
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Bruce,

There's the rub -- I am not absolutely positive I sent the message.

Well, anyway, I will now be a little more attentive all the way around,
including compacting, size, etc.

Question: If I backup (via Explore using copy/paste to another folder on
the HD) the dbx files and later want to open one without disturbing the
current same dbx file, what's the best way to do that?


Jack



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
There are recovery tools, but if you are not even sure you actually sent
the
message do you want to go that route? You /may/ find the message with one
of
these tools. Note that only DBXpress has a chance if the folders have been
compacted.

Macallan Outlook Express Extraction:
http://www.insideoe.com/resources/tools.htm#macallan

DBXtract:
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtract/Default.aspx

DBXpress: {much faster for large files}
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/Default.aspx
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Bruce,

You move messages out of Sent Items

Yes -- I try not to accumulate more than 100 messages there.

compact often?

Approx once/wk.

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Yes to all above. No .dbx file is 300 mb at present.



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
It is possible. You move messages out of Sent Items which is good. Do you
compact often? Do you do all of the following?

General precautions for Outlook Express:

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Information about the maximum file size of the .dbx files that are used
by
Outlook Express:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=903095

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.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB Freeware)
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Is it possible for OE to lose some messages I sent. I was checking SENT
for
a sent message and couldn't find it (actually, I move messages out of
SENT
after a while and put them into SAVED). I'd swear I sent it, but now
I'm
wondering.

Jack

You want to move all your current dbx files to another location as an
archive? Any particular reason? If you do, you would have to bring them back
into OE to read them. Not always a simple thing to do.

If you want folders with messages out of your current folder tree, the
easiest way around this is to create another identity and import the folders
you want to archive to it. This way you can just switch identities to read
them if need be.

How to Create and Use Identities in Outlook Express
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=209169

I would still get OEQB. It will back up all identities at the same time.
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Bruce,

There's the rub -- I am not absolutely positive I sent the message.

Well, anyway, I will now be a little more attentive all the way around,
including compacting, size, etc.

Question: If I backup (via Explore using copy/paste to another folder on
the HD) the dbx files and later want to open one without disturbing the
current same dbx file, what's the best way to do that?


Jack



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
There are recovery tools, but if you are not even sure you actually sent
the
message do you want to go that route? You /may/ find the message with one
of
these tools. Note that only DBXpress has a chance if the folders have been
compacted.

Macallan Outlook Express Extraction:
http://www.insideoe.com/resources/tools.htm#macallan

DBXtract:
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtract/Default.aspx

DBXpress: {much faster for large files}
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/Default.aspx
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Bruce,

You move messages out of Sent Items

Yes -- I try not to accumulate more than 100 messages there.

compact often?

Approx once/wk.

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Yes to all above. No .dbx file is 300 mb at present.



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
It is possible. You move messages out of Sent Items which is good. Do you
compact often? Do you do all of the following?

General precautions for Outlook Express:

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Information about the maximum file size of the .dbx files that are used
by
Outlook Express:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=903095

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.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB Freeware)
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Is it possible for OE to lose some messages I sent. I was checking SENT
for
a sent message and couldn't find it (actually, I move messages out of
SENT
after a while and put them into SAVED). I'd swear I sent it, but now
I'm
wondering.

Jack

[Do yourself a BIG favor and never copy/paste any DBX files anywhere, Jack.]

Jack B wrote:
Bruce,

There's the rub -- I am not absolutely positive I sent the message.

Well, anyway, I will now be a little more attentive all the way around,
including compacting, size, etc.

Question: If I backup (via Explore using copy/paste to another folder on
the HD) the dbx files and later want to open one without disturbing the
current same dbx file, what's the best way to do that?


Jack



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
There are recovery tools, but if you are not even sure you actually sent
the
message do you want to go that route? You /may/ find the message with one
of
these tools. Note that only DBXpress has a chance if the folders have been
compacted.

Macallan Outlook Express Extraction:
http://www.insideoe.com/resources/tools.htm#macallan

DBXtract:
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtract/Default.aspx

DBXpress: {much faster for large files}
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/Default.aspx

"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Bruce,

You move messages out of Sent Items

Yes -- I try not to accumulate more than 100 messages there.

compact often?

Approx once/wk.

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Yes to all above. No .dbx file is 300 mb at present.



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
It is possible. You move messages out of Sent Items which is good. Do you
compact often? Do you do all of the following?

General precautions for Outlook Express:

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Information about the maximum file size of the .dbx files that are used
by
Outlook Express:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=903095

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.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB Freeware)
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Is it possible for OE to lose some messages I sent. I was checking SENT
for
a sent message and couldn't find it (actually, I move messages out of
SENT
after a while and put them into SAVED). I'd swear I sent it, but now
I'm
wondering.

Jack

[Do yourself a BIG favor and never copy/paste any DBX files anywhere, Jack.]

Jack B wrote:
Bruce,

There's the rub -- I am not absolutely positive I sent the message.

Well, anyway, I will now be a little more attentive all the way around,
including compacting, size, etc.

Question: If I backup (via Explore using copy/paste to another folder on
the HD) the dbx files and later want to open one without disturbing the
current same dbx file, what's the best way to do that?


Jack



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
There are recovery tools, but if you are not even sure you actually sent
the
message do you want to go that route? You /may/ find the message with one
of
these tools. Note that only DBXpress has a chance if the folders have been
compacted.

Macallan Outlook Express Extraction:
http://www.insideoe.com/resources/tools.htm#macallan

DBXtract:
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtract/Default.aspx

DBXpress: {much faster for large files}
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/Default.aspx

"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Bruce,

You move messages out of Sent Items

Yes -- I try not to accumulate more than 100 messages there.

compact often?

Approx once/wk.

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Yes to all above. No .dbx file is 300 mb at present.



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
It is possible. You move messages out of Sent Items which is good. Do you
compact often? Do you do all of the following?

General precautions for Outlook Express:

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Information about the maximum file size of the .dbx files that are used
by
Outlook Express:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=903095

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.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB Freeware)
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Is it possible for OE to lose some messages I sent. I was checking SENT
for
a sent message and couldn't find it (actually, I move messages out of
SENT
after a while and put them into SAVED). I'd swear I sent it, but now
I'm
wondering.

Jack

Jack B,
On your Sent Messages problem. Were these messages sent from an IMAP
account? If they were then there is possibly a setting you need to check the
web mail interface for that acct. There may be a setting there, to
automatically delete messages in some of the main folders, such as Inbox,
Sent Items, or Deleted Items folders, after XX days. This is used to
maintain space on the mail server. You may need to have user created folders
added to the account, and manually move the messages to them, if you want to
maintain them longer.

For POP3 accounts, make sure that save to Sent Items folder is checked.

In OE TOOLS Options Send tab Check box to save messagesApply/OK. It
might have been accidently unchecked.

The easiest way I have found to archive/backup messages in OE6, is to create
a separate Identity or Identities for those messages. Each new year I
"archive" my messages, I have Identities labeled in OE like this:
1. Messages 2001
2. Messages 2002
through
7. Messages 2007
8. Messages 2008

Once I know that all the messages have been transferred correctly, I delete
all the messages I don't need on a "daily basis" in the new year, from my
Default Identity, then "Compact All" my folders.

Then if I need to review a message, I switch to that Identity.

PA Bear,
Why is there a problem with Copy and Paste, of *DBX files? I could
understand Cut & Paste could lead to problems. I have copy/paste these files
and the entire message store folder, between partitions on a HDD, to
different HDDs in the same PC, and over my home network between PCs. And I
have never had a problem.

I would think it better to copy/paste the OE Message Store folder containing
the *.DBX files before doing things like burning them to CDs/DVDs, using the
copy of the message store folder. This way if something goes wrong, you have
not damaged your current message store folder.

--
Add MS to your News Reader: news://msnews.microsoft.com
Rich/rerat
(RRR News) message rule
Previous Text Snipped to Save Bandwidth When Appropriate


"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote in message
...
[Do yourself a BIG favor and never copy/paste any DBX files anywhere, Jack.]

Jack B wrote:
Bruce,

There's the rub -- I am not absolutely positive I sent the message.

Well, anyway, I will now be a little more attentive all the way around,
including compacting, size, etc.

Question: If I backup (via Explore using copy/paste to another folder on
the HD) the dbx files and later want to open one without disturbing the
current same dbx file, what's the best way to do that?


Jack



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
There are recovery tools, but if you are not even sure you actually sent
the
message do you want to go that route? You /may/ find the message with one
of
these tools. Note that only DBXpress has a chance if the folders have been
compacted.

Macallan Outlook Express Extraction:
http://www.insideoe.com/resources/tools.htm#macallan

DBXtract:
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtract/Default.aspx

DBXpress: {much faster for large files}
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/Default.aspx

"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Bruce,

You move messages out of Sent Items

Yes -- I try not to accumulate more than 100 messages there.

compact often?

Approx once/wk.

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Yes to all above. No .dbx file is 300 mb at present.



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
It is possible. You move messages out of Sent Items which is good. Do you
compact often? Do you do all of the following?

General precautions for Outlook Express:

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Information about the maximum file size of the .dbx files that are used
by
Outlook Express:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=903095

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.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB Freeware)
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Is it possible for OE to lose some messages I sent. I was checking SENT
for
a sent message and couldn't find it (actually, I move messages out of
SENT
after a while and put them into SAVED). I'd swear I sent it, but now
I'm
wondering.

Jack

Jack B,
On your Sent Messages problem. Were these messages sent from an IMAP
account? If they were then there is possibly a setting you need to check the
web mail interface for that acct. There may be a setting there, to
automatically delete messages in some of the main folders, such as Inbox,
Sent Items, or Deleted Items folders, after XX days. This is used to
maintain space on the mail server. You may need to have user created folders
added to the account, and manually move the messages to them, if you want to
maintain them longer.

For POP3 accounts, make sure that save to Sent Items folder is checked.

In OE TOOLS Options Send tab Check box to save messagesApply/OK. It
might have been accidently unchecked.

The easiest way I have found to archive/backup messages in OE6, is to create
a separate Identity or Identities for those messages. Each new year I
"archive" my messages, I have Identities labeled in OE like this:
1. Messages 2001
2. Messages 2002
through
7. Messages 2007
8. Messages 2008

Once I know that all the messages have been transferred correctly, I delete
all the messages I don't need on a "daily basis" in the new year, from my
Default Identity, then "Compact All" my folders.

Then if I need to review a message, I switch to that Identity.

PA Bear,
Why is there a problem with Copy and Paste, of *DBX files? I could
understand Cut & Paste could lead to problems. I have copy/paste these files
and the entire message store folder, between partitions on a HDD, to
different HDDs in the same PC, and over my home network between PCs. And I
have never had a problem.

I would think it better to copy/paste the OE Message Store folder containing
the *.DBX files before doing things like burning them to CDs/DVDs, using the
copy of the message store folder. This way if something goes wrong, you have
not damaged your current message store folder.

--
Add MS to your News Reader: news://msnews.microsoft.com
Rich/rerat
(RRR News) message rule
Previous Text Snipped to Save Bandwidth When Appropriate


"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote in message
...
[Do yourself a BIG favor and never copy/paste any DBX files anywhere, Jack.]

Jack B wrote:
Bruce,

There's the rub -- I am not absolutely positive I sent the message.

Well, anyway, I will now be a little more attentive all the way around,
including compacting, size, etc.

Question: If I backup (via Explore using copy/paste to another folder on
the HD) the dbx files and later want to open one without disturbing the
current same dbx file, what's the best way to do that?


Jack



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
There are recovery tools, but if you are not even sure you actually sent
the
message do you want to go that route? You /may/ find the message with one
of
these tools. Note that only DBXpress has a chance if the folders have been
compacted.

Macallan Outlook Express Extraction:
http://www.insideoe.com/resources/tools.htm#macallan

DBXtract:
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtract/Default.aspx

DBXpress: {much faster for large files}
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/Default.aspx

"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Bruce,

You move messages out of Sent Items

Yes -- I try not to accumulate more than 100 messages there.

compact often?

Approx once/wk.

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Yes to all above. No .dbx file is 300 mb at present.



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
It is possible. You move messages out of Sent Items which is good. Do you
compact often? Do you do all of the following?

General precautions for Outlook Express:

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Information about the maximum file size of the .dbx files that are used
by
Outlook Express:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=903095

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.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB Freeware)
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Is it possible for OE to lose some messages I sent. I was checking SENT
for
a sent message and couldn't find it (actually, I move messages out of
SENT
after a while and put them into SAVED). I'd swear I sent it, but now
I'm
wondering.

Jack

Jack B wrote:
Is it possible for OE to lose some messages I sent. I was checking
SENT for a sent message and couldn't find it (actually, I move
messages out of SENT after a while and put them into SAVED). I'd
swear I sent it, but now I'm wondering.

Jack

From the other posts, it doesn't sound like you have any corruption or
problems, so I'd hazard the guess that, if it's not in Sent and not in
Saved, then it either was never sent or somehow it was accidentally
deleted. If you can remember it well enough, it's probably faster and a
lot less work to just rewrite and resend it with a bried apology if it's
going to be noticed being late, IMO.

If you have Webmail, you might be able to go to the Webmail address and
check the Sent mails there. Not sure all ISPs do, but when I send a mail
from OE, it shows as a Send in my Webmail folder online.

HTH,

Twayne

Jack B wrote:
Is it possible for OE to lose some messages I sent. I was checking
SENT for a sent message and couldn't find it (actually, I move
messages out of SENT after a while and put them into SAVED). I'd
swear I sent it, but now I'm wondering.

Jack

From the other posts, it doesn't sound like you have any corruption or
problems, so I'd hazard the guess that, if it's not in Sent and not in
Saved, then it either was never sent or somehow it was accidentally
deleted. If you can remember it well enough, it's probably faster and a
lot less work to just rewrite and resend it with a bried apology if it's
going to be noticed being late, IMO.

If you have Webmail, you might be able to go to the Webmail address and
check the Sent mails there. Not sure all ISPs do, but when I send a mail
from OE, it shows as a Send in my Webmail folder online.

HTH,

Twayne

Bruce,

Any particular reason?

Just as part of a backup, I include a copy/paste of Documents and Settings
(most of it) into an external HD.
So, if I want to see if a SENT message (actually kept in Sent 2009.dbx) in
the backup file, are you saying I should create another identity and import
the Sent 2009.dbx?

Jack
------------------------------------



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
You want to move all your current dbx files to another location as an
archive? Any particular reason? If you do, you would have to bring them back
into OE to read them. Not always a simple thing to do.

If you want folders with messages out of your current folder tree, the
easiest way around this is to create another identity and import the folders
you want to archive to it. This way you can just switch identities to read
them if need be.

How to Create and Use Identities in Outlook Express
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=209169

I would still get OEQB. It will back up all identities at the same time.
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Bruce,

There's the rub -- I am not absolutely positive I sent the message.

Well, anyway, I will now be a little more attentive all the way around,
including compacting, size, etc.

Question: If I backup (via Explore using copy/paste to another folder on
the HD) the dbx files and later want to open one without disturbing the
current same dbx file, what's the best way to do that?


Jack



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
There are recovery tools, but if you are not even sure you actually sent
the
message do you want to go that route? You /may/ find the message with one
of
these tools. Note that only DBXpress has a chance if the folders have been
compacted.

Macallan Outlook Express Extraction:
http://www.insideoe.com/resources/tools.htm#macallan

DBXtract:
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtract/Default.aspx

DBXpress: {much faster for large files}
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/Default.aspx
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Bruce,

You move messages out of Sent Items

Yes -- I try not to accumulate more than 100 messages there.

compact often?

Approx once/wk.

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Yes to all above. No .dbx file is 300 mb at present.



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
It is possible. You move messages out of Sent Items which is good. Do you
compact often? Do you do all of the following?

General precautions for Outlook Express:

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Information about the maximum file size of the .dbx files that are used
by
Outlook Express:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=903095

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.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB Freeware)
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Is it possible for OE to lose some messages I sent. I was checking SENT
for
a sent message and couldn't find it (actually, I move messages out of
SENT
after a while and put them into SAVED). I'd swear I sent it, but now
I'm
wondering.

Jack