Outlook - Missing message files/folders

Asked By Ramesh

10-Nov-07 12:11 AM

HI,

I use OE with 3 identities on my system.  One "fine" day, i found all the
mail boxes empty in all the 3 identities.  All the folders and messages
gone.  I was left only with the default folders empty.  Have no clue what
could have caused this.  Need some inputs cos i cant afford to risk this
happening again.

There was no other problem in the system with any application.  Virus check
showed clean.  Could it be some hacker?

Thanks in advance
Ramesh

10-Nov-07 01:32 AM

Might you have tried to move each identity's store folder?

Assuming WinXP SP2, fully patched, and you've not emptied the Recycle Bin
since this happened, do you find lots of BAK files in the Recycle Bin?

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

- Do not cancel Automatic Compacting, should it occur, and do not attempt to
close OE via Task Manager or shutdown your machine if Automatic Compacting
is taking place.

- 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)
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.org/

10-Nov-07 07:07 AM

This is generally caused by shutting down the compacting process before it
is finished.
With your version of OE it saves copies of the OE folders as *.BAK files
(Inbox.bak, drafts.bak, etc.).
In OE click File | Work Offline.
Make new folders for any messages currently in OE that you want to save.
Make sure they do not have names you have used before and move messages to
them.
In OE go to Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder and write down
where OE stores its data.
Close OE and open Windows Explorer.
Click Tools | Folder Options | View and make sure it is set to Show hidden
files and folders.
Go to OE's store folder and rename all default DBX files.
Delete Folders.dbx
Open the Recycle bin and delete Folders.bak.
Restore all the BAK files for the old OE folders.
Go bak to OE's storage files and rename them to DBX files.  Make sure there
is no Folders.dbx.
Open OE.  All of your folders should be there with their contents, but the
lists of newsgroups on the news servers will be gone.

Do not store messages in OE's default folders and don't let any folder get
much over 100 MB.

--
Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
www.fjsmjs.com
Do not send email

16-Nov-07 04:14 AM

Thanks very much Frank and Dyer.  Sorry for the delay in acknowledgement.
You were immensely helpful.

Thanks
Ramesh