Try this - http://www.oehelp.com/dbxtract/default.aspx - it costs about $11 and may not even resolve your issue -- but if some of those emails are worth $11 it might be worth the try
Something simple to check first: Go to View - Current View, and make sure "Show All Messages" is set.
But it sounds more like your Inbox file could have been corrupted -whether it had something to do with the Deleted items folder, or was just a coincidence, can't say. If that's the case, Outlook Express may automatically create a new Inbox to replace it.
Try this: Right click on your Inbox in the left panel, select Properties, then look at the string under "This folder is stored under the following file". You'll have to click and drag to see the whole thing, but the last item should be inbox.dbx. If instead it says "inbox (1).dbx, then it would appear OE made you a new inbox to replace a corrupted one.
Depending on how bad it is, you may need specialized software to recover the mail, but you can try a manual recovery first:
1) Close Outlook Express completely - don't want any new mail going in or out.
2) Use the guide here (under "finding your store folder") to see a list all your Outlook Express Folders. Note that you'll have to have "show hidden files" on to be able to see them. Actually, read the whole page - it's very informative on what can go wrong with OE.
3) When you get there, look for both the Inbox.dbx and Inbox (1).dbx files. Copy both files and paste them somewhere safe, so you can get back to where you started in case something goes wrong..
Better yet, back up the whole Identities folder somewhere - then you'll have a complete backup of everything. Good idea to do that anyway as part of your backup plan (you do have a backup plan, right?).
3) Now to try and trick OE into reading the old mail. Rename Inbox (1).dbx to Inbox (1).dbx.old. Then rename inbox.dbx to Inbox (1).dbx.
4) Open up Outlook Express and see if the mail reappears. If it does, IMMEDIATELY move that mail into a new folder. Now go back and reverse the renaming you did.
5) If that doesn't work, only way I know of to get the mail back (assuming you need to) is with a paid recovery tool. The most recommended one is DBXtract, or the newer (and more expensive) DBExpress.
Something to think about: Outlook Express is no longer supported by MS, and as you can tell it's prone to bad behavior. I ended up downloading and installing Windows LIve Mail instead. There are still features of OE that I miss, but the Live Mail client is simply more reliable. And you don't have to give up OE entirely - I still have both installed and working.
Thanks both for the brilliant replies - Alexandra because although the manual extract didn't work, I now feel I have a clue about what I'm up to; and gmd024 for the DBXtract advice. When I Googled DBXtract, I found that up to version 4.5, it's free (even better!) Not being tech minded, and there being no info with it, had to fiddle about a bit, but now have all my emails back, yipee!
It extracted them easily, but I couldn't find where it was putting them all - they didn't turn up in Outlook Express. After a bit of tinkering, found them all in the Downloads folder that I'd saved DBXtract to - probably some silly mistake on my part.
However, real wake-up call to get organised, and as your advice puts it: back up, then back up , then back up some more. Thanks again,
gmd024
36 Posts
0
January 15th, 2010 12:00
Try this - http://www.oehelp.com/dbxtract/default.aspx - it costs about $11 and may not even resolve your issue -- but if some of those emails are worth $11 it might be worth the try
Alexandra_P
3 Apprentice
•
2.6K Posts
0
January 15th, 2010 13:00
Something simple to check first: Go to View - Current View, and make sure "Show All Messages" is set.
But it sounds more like your Inbox file could have been corrupted -whether it had something to do with the Deleted items folder, or was just a coincidence, can't say. If that's the case, Outlook Express may automatically create a new Inbox to replace it.
Try this: Right click on your Inbox in the left panel, select Properties, then look at the string under "This folder is stored under the following file". You'll have to click and drag to see the whole thing, but the last item should be inbox.dbx. If instead it says "inbox (1).dbx, then it would appear OE made you a new inbox to replace a corrupted one.
Depending on how bad it is, you may need specialized software to recover the mail, but you can try a manual recovery first:
1) Close Outlook Express completely - don't want any new mail going in or out.
2) Use the guide here (under "finding your store folder") to see a list all your Outlook Express Folders. Note that you'll have to have "show hidden files" on to be able to see them. Actually, read the whole page - it's very informative on what can go wrong with OE.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx#EKE
3) When you get there, look for both the Inbox.dbx and Inbox (1).dbx files. Copy both files and paste them somewhere safe, so you can get back to where you started in case something goes wrong..
Better yet, back up the whole Identities folder somewhere - then you'll have a complete backup of everything. Good idea to do that anyway as part of your backup plan (you do have a backup plan, right?).
3) Now to try and trick OE into reading the old mail. Rename Inbox (1).dbx to Inbox (1).dbx.old. Then rename inbox.dbx to Inbox (1).dbx.
4) Open up Outlook Express and see if the mail reappears. If it does, IMMEDIATELY move that mail into a new folder. Now go back and reverse the renaming you did.
5) If that doesn't work, only way I know of to get the mail back (assuming you need to) is with a paid recovery tool. The most recommended one is DBXtract, or the newer (and more expensive) DBExpress.
http://www.oehelp.com/dbxtract/default.aspx
Something to think about: Outlook Express is no longer supported by MS, and as you can tell it's prone to bad behavior. I ended up downloading and installing Windows LIve Mail instead. There are still features of OE that I miss, but the Live Mail client is simply more reliable. And you don't have to give up OE entirely - I still have both installed and working.
Gill M M
2 Posts
0
January 16th, 2010 07:00
Thanks both for the brilliant replies - Alexandra because although the manual extract didn't work, I now feel I have a clue about what I'm up to; and gmd024 for the DBXtract advice. When I Googled DBXtract, I found that up to version 4.5, it's free (even better!) Not being tech minded, and there being no info with it, had to fiddle about a bit, but now have all my emails back, yipee!
It extracted them easily, but I couldn't find where it was putting them all - they didn't turn up in Outlook Express. After a bit of tinkering, found them all in the Downloads folder that I'd saved DBXtract to - probably some silly mistake on my part.
However, real wake-up call to get organised, and as your advice puts it: back up, then back up , then back up some more. Thanks again,
Gill
gmd024
36 Posts
0
January 16th, 2010 08:00
Nice!! -- Glad you got your emails back -- and good work on finding the free DBXtract - I didn't realize there was free version offered
Alexandra_P
3 Apprentice
•
2.6K Posts
0
January 16th, 2010 09:00
Ditto gmd024. :emotion-1: