missing folders-outlook express problems?

Question

For the 3rd time now(over a period of about 2-3 months), upon restarting the computer, when I went into outlook all my user-created folders were gone.  All other folders (inbox, sent, outbox, etc.) were empty.  Only my drafts folder was intact.  When this happened today, I had shut down express normally, then deleted cookies and history files for the internet before shutting down.  What is going on?  Can using the restore (which I haven't done before) bring these folders back?  I have a dimension 4550, windows xp, service pack 2 and anti-virus software running.

thewaltons · Answer

What a day.  Ok, I found them, I must not have turned on the look in hidden files (although I thought I did).  Followed your instructions, got the following error.  The specified message cannot be opened.  It may be in use by outlook express.

thewaltons · Answer

I did a search for .dbx files (I already have the system set to show all hidden files) and there are none there.  Assuming I can't recover them, how do I stop this from happening again.  The second time it happened, I exiled my 11 year old to web mail.  This time, my husband swears he just checked the e-mail and exited oe without deleting anything.  Then he deleted internet cookies and the current history file (ie>tools>internet options>general) before he shut off the computer.  I have Norton anti-virus on.  I read on another site that I should turn off the incoming e-mail scanning because that might be a problem.  I really want to prevent this from happening again.

Denny Denham · Answer

thewaltons,

System Restore will not recover the missing folders. However, they may still be on your hard disk. Go to Starte|Search|All Files and Folders and look for *.dbx. Make sure Windows Explorer is set to display hidden files and folders. Those files should be in C:\Documents and Settings\ Your account\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{...alphanumerics...}\Microsoft\Outlook Express.

If the files are there, open OE and go to File|Import|Messages|Microsoft Outlook Express 6 and point the import facility at the folder containing the *.dbx files.

thewaltons · Answer

When I go to import the message, I keep getting the error message 'The specified message cannot be opened.  It maybe in use by outlook express.'  I tried taking oe offline, but still get the error message.  I would like to do this first, if I can.  If I reinstall outlook express I have to re-update to service pack 2 again.

thewaltons · Answer

Any idea on how to handle the error message?

Denny Denham · Answer

thewaltons,

I don't know of any fix to that error (since it's not clear how the folders "disappeared"). Since the problem has occurred before, it may be worthwhile to reinstall Outlook Express and see if perhaps that restores the "missing" messages. Instructions for this are here.

To safeguard the messages it would be a good idea to copy the entire folder containing the *.dbx files to removable media. Once they are there (assuming that the folders.dbx file has not been corrupted) it should be possible to import them into a new account as a group or individually if the resintalled OE does not locate them.

Windows General

missing folders-outlook express problems?

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