Outlook Express

Question

I have Dell Dimension XPS M200 Computer with Windows95 & Office 97 on it. I have Outlook Express 5.0 for e-mail. I Stored my important e-mails in Outlook Express Inbox in sub-folders with senders name on each folder. Today I received a virus e-mail that automatically opened itself (no activation by me), then deleted all of my e-mails from the Inbox, and deleted all of the inbox subfolders (with my stored letters). I have no stored e-mails left in my Outlook Express Inbox when I open Outlook Express. Looking for a fix, I discovered that in the computer contains a folder (C/Program Files/Outlook Express/Default). In this computer folder I still have the Inbox Sub-folders. The subfolder names are correct, and they all have a .dbx suffix. I assume that .dbx means 'Database', because all of the Sub-folders appear to be about the correct megabyte size for the letters that they held previously. However, I do not know how to reinstall these .dbx folders back into my Outlook Express so that I can recover & view the letters again. The File/Import/Outlook Express 5.0 function in e-mail does not work. Additionally, I now get an error message on computer startup that says "File missing MFC42.dll". How can I convert my subfolder .dbx files back into true subfolders of Outlook Express to recover my lost e-mail letters & their folders? What does the file MFC42.dll do, and where can I locate another copy of this file?
Can someone please help me - these are my work files and my important client's information. Please contact me with some suggestions at me98@yahoo.com

Denny Denham · Answer

me98,

It is a cumbersome process but you can bring the individual *.dbx files back into Outlook Express one at a time using the procedure here (text version here).

The procedure for extracting a copy of mfc42.dll is given here. The file should be in C:\Windows\System.

You say, "Can someone please help me - these are my work files and my important client's information." If this is the case, working without a backup copy of those files and using an operating system (Win95) which is at least five years out of date is extremely risky.

Message Edited by Denny Denham on 06-06-2004 08:59 AM

me98 · Answer

Dear Mr. Denham,
Your suggested fix for my Outlook Express worked beautifully, and I could recover all of my Mail Folders and information. I am very grateful to you and your kind assistance. Without your help, I would have been in very great business trouble. I am taking your suggestion about backing up files, and will be purchasing a new Dell desktop computer in the next couple weeks. Thank you so much for your rescue/help. Michael J. Erickson

Productivity Software

Outlook Express

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