Guest Bruce Hagen Posted March 27, 2008 Posted March 27, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished And my eyeballs were wavering. I read it as 124MB. I just now got back from having an eye exam too. <VBEG> -- Bruce Hagen MS-MVP Outlook Express Imperial Beach, CA "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message news:uDpo9lBkIHA.4140@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... >I don't understand why you can't believe that "yesterday's" email can't be >1.24 MB. Any messages with images embedded or attached? > > -- > Gary S. Terhune > MS-MVP Shell/User > http://www.grystmill.com > > "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message > news:erUy0yAkIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>> I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did you >> determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? >> >> By seeing the size of the Inbox.dbx file in Windows Explorer. >> >>> > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files >>> and >> run >>> it >> >> I did try OE Extract and it doesn't do anything and provides no >> instructions, so I guess one of the nonfreeware apps is next. >> >> >> "dadiOH" <someone@fuggetit.com> wrote in message >> news:eGJ5QW$jIHA.4120@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >>> Larry wrote: >>> > Strange things going on (see below), but I think the problem may be >>> > solvable. >>> > >>> > 1. The Inbox, prior to the problem, would have been around 80 or 90 >>> > MB. As I said, my procedure is to let it build up for a few weeks >>> > and then move a lot of it into a custom folder. But after the >>> > problem occurred, the Inbox was 130 KB. After I received e-mails >>> > since this morning, it went up to about 400 KB. >>> > >>> > 2. But here's the strange thing: just now I looked again, and the >>> > only Inbox.dbx in the OE folder has 1.24 MB!!! So somehow it's >>> > returned. >>> >>> I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did you >>> determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? >>> ________________ >>> >>> > 3. Yet the Inbox in the OE application is still just the e-mails >>> > received since this morning. >>> >>> Because it is screwed up. That is, whatever methodology used to >>> determine >>> messages start/end and/or count is wrong. Like a file that has its EOF >>> in >>> the wrong place/ >>> __________________ >>> >>> This is what I'd do... >>> >>> 1. Save a copy of Inbox.dbx somewhere >>> >>> 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files and >> run >>> it >>> >>> 3. If it is successful in getting your messages, save them as MAIL ( >> i.e., >>> *.eml - separate, discrete messages) in a folder on your desktop. >>> >>> If not successful, forget what follows. >>> >>> 4. Delete Inbox.dbx using Explorer >>> >>> 5. Open OE and display its Inbox - which should now be empty >>> >>> 6. Select all the recovered email messages in your temporary desktop >> folder >>> and drag them to the OE pane where they would normally be displayed. >>> >>> 7. Close OE >>> >>> dadiOH >>> >>> >> >
Guest Franc Zabkar Posted March 27, 2008 Posted March 27, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished On Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:40:58 -0400, "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> put finger to keyboard and composed: >The way this happened was: my computer froze last night and I restarted it >by pressing the external restart button on the tower, which I regularly do >when the computer freezes, which happens fairly frequently (Win 98!). But >there was no compacting of OE going on at the time. Did Scandisk run after the restart? Did it detect any lost clusters and offer to save them as file fragments? Are there any filennnn.chk files in the root directory? - Franc Zabkar -- Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.
Guest Gary S. Terhune Posted March 28, 2008 Posted March 28, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished Yeah, I woulda said, "Eureka!", too if I'd read it as 124! -- Gary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User http://www.grystmill.com "Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message news:egzL2uDkIHA.5724@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > And my eyeballs were wavering. I read it as 124MB. I just now got back > from having an eye exam too. <VBEG> > -- > Bruce Hagen > MS-MVP Outlook Express > Imperial Beach, CA > > > "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message > news:uDpo9lBkIHA.4140@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... >>I don't understand why you can't believe that "yesterday's" email can't be >>1.24 MB. Any messages with images embedded or attached? >> >> -- >> Gary S. Terhune >> MS-MVP Shell/User >> http://www.grystmill.com >> >> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message >> news:erUy0yAkIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>>> I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did >>>> you >>> determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? >>> >>> By seeing the size of the Inbox.dbx file in Windows Explorer. >>> >>>> > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files >>>> and >>> run >>>> it >>> >>> I did try OE Extract and it doesn't do anything and provides no >>> instructions, so I guess one of the nonfreeware apps is next. >>> >>> >>> "dadiOH" <someone@fuggetit.com> wrote in message >>> news:eGJ5QW$jIHA.4120@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >>>> Larry wrote: >>>> > Strange things going on (see below), but I think the problem may be >>>> > solvable. >>>> > >>>> > 1. The Inbox, prior to the problem, would have been around 80 or 90 >>>> > MB. As I said, my procedure is to let it build up for a few weeks >>>> > and then move a lot of it into a custom folder. But after the >>>> > problem occurred, the Inbox was 130 KB. After I received e-mails >>>> > since this morning, it went up to about 400 KB. >>>> > >>>> > 2. But here's the strange thing: just now I looked again, and the >>>> > only Inbox.dbx in the OE folder has 1.24 MB!!! So somehow it's >>>> > returned. >>>> >>>> I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did you >>>> determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? >>>> ________________ >>>> >>>> > 3. Yet the Inbox in the OE application is still just the e-mails >>>> > received since this morning. >>>> >>>> Because it is screwed up. That is, whatever methodology used to >>>> determine >>>> messages start/end and/or count is wrong. Like a file that has its EOF >>>> in >>>> the wrong place/ >>>> __________________ >>>> >>>> This is what I'd do... >>>> >>>> 1. Save a copy of Inbox.dbx somewhere >>>> >>>> 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files and >>> run >>>> it >>>> >>>> 3. If it is successful in getting your messages, save them as MAIL ( >>> i.e., >>>> *.eml - separate, discrete messages) in a folder on your desktop. >>>> >>>> If not successful, forget what follows. >>>> >>>> 4. Delete Inbox.dbx using Explorer >>>> >>>> 5. Open OE and display its Inbox - which should now be empty >>>> >>>> 6. Select all the recovered email messages in your temporary desktop >>> folder >>>> and drag them to the OE pane where they would normally be displayed. >>>> >>>> 7. Close OE >>>> >>>> dadiOH >>>> >>>> >>> >> >
Guest bobster Posted March 28, 2008 Posted March 28, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished Try this. It's the successor to MiTec OE view. I use it and it works fine for me. http://www.snapfiles.com/get/dbxviewer.html "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message news:erUy0yAkIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did you determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? By seeing the size of the Inbox.dbx file in Windows Explorer. > > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files and run > it I did try OE Extract and it doesn't do anything and provides no instructions, so I guess one of the nonfreeware apps is next. "dadiOH" <someone@fuggetit.com> wrote in message news:eGJ5QW$jIHA.4120@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... > Larry wrote: > > Strange things going on (see below), but I think the problem may be > > solvable. > > > > 1. The Inbox, prior to the problem, would have been around 80 or 90 > > MB. As I said, my procedure is to let it build up for a few weeks > > and then move a lot of it into a custom folder. But after the > > problem occurred, the Inbox was 130 KB. After I received e-mails > > since this morning, it went up to about 400 KB. > > > > 2. But here's the strange thing: just now I looked again, and the > > only Inbox.dbx in the OE folder has 1.24 MB!!! So somehow it's > > returned. > > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did you > determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? > ________________ > > > 3. Yet the Inbox in the OE application is still just the e-mails > > received since this morning. > > Because it is screwed up. That is, whatever methodology used to determine > messages start/end and/or count is wrong. Like a file that has its EOF in > the wrong place/ > __________________ > > This is what I'd do... > > 1. Save a copy of Inbox.dbx somewhere > > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files and run > it > > 3. If it is successful in getting your messages, save them as MAIL ( i.e., > *.eml - separate, discrete messages) in a folder on your desktop. > > If not successful, forget what follows. > > 4. Delete Inbox.dbx using Explorer > > 5. Open OE and display its Inbox - which should now be empty > > 6. Select all the recovered email messages in your temporary desktop folder > and drag them to the OE pane where they would normally be displayed. > > 7. Close OE > > dadiOH > >
Guest MEB Posted March 28, 2008 Posted March 28, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished Interesting, I find MiTeC's newest is 2007. The original site shows activity as of 29.12.2007 with the OE Viewer updated 03-05-07. http://www.mitec.cz/oeview.html The supposed successor is Last updated Aug 16, 2006 so SnapFiles is apparently not up to date. -- MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com -- _________ "bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message news:uyN57AIkIHA.4664@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... | Try this. It's the successor to MiTec OE view. I use it and it works fine | for me. | | http://www.snapfiles.com/get/dbxviewer.html | | "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message | news:erUy0yAkIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... | > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did you | determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? | | By seeing the size of the Inbox.dbx file in Windows Explorer. | | > > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files and | run | > it | | I did try OE Extract and it doesn't do anything and provides no | instructions, so I guess one of the nonfreeware apps is next. | | | "dadiOH" <someone@fuggetit.com> wrote in message | news:eGJ5QW$jIHA.4120@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... | > Larry wrote: | > > Strange things going on (see below), but I think the problem may be | > > solvable. | > > | > > 1. The Inbox, prior to the problem, would have been around 80 or 90 | > > MB. As I said, my procedure is to let it build up for a few weeks | > > and then move a lot of it into a custom folder. But after the | > > problem occurred, the Inbox was 130 KB. After I received e-mails | > > since this morning, it went up to about 400 KB. | > > | > > 2. But here's the strange thing: just now I looked again, and the | > > only Inbox.dbx in the OE folder has 1.24 MB!!! So somehow it's | > > returned. | > | > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did you | > determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? | > ________________ | > | > > 3. Yet the Inbox in the OE application is still just the e-mails | > > received since this morning. | > | > Because it is screwed up. That is, whatever methodology used to determine | > messages start/end and/or count is wrong. Like a file that has its EOF in | > the wrong place/ | > __________________ | > | > This is what I'd do... | > | > 1. Save a copy of Inbox.dbx somewhere | > | > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files and | run | > it | > | > 3. If it is successful in getting your messages, save them as MAIL ( | i.e., | > *.eml - separate, discrete messages) in a folder on your desktop. | > | > If not successful, forget what follows. | > | > 4. Delete Inbox.dbx using Explorer | > | > 5. Open OE and display its Inbox - which should now be empty | > | > 6. Select all the recovered email messages in your temporary desktop | folder | > and drag them to the OE pane where they would normally be displayed. | > | > 7. Close OE | > | > dadiOH | > | > |
Guest Larry Posted March 29, 2008 Posted March 29, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished Hi, sorry I didn't get back sooner. I downloaded OE Reader as recommended, browsed to the Inbox.dbx file (which I had renamed XXX.dbx and placed on the Desktop), and opened it. Message said: "File does not contain any message." Yet the file's size is 1.24 MB. Go figure. Larry "bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message news:uyN57AIkIHA.4664@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > Try this. It's the successor to MiTec OE view. I use it and it works fine > for me. > > http://www.snapfiles.com/get/dbxviewer.html > > "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message > news:erUy0yAkIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did you > determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? > > By seeing the size of the Inbox.dbx file in Windows Explorer. > > > > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files and > run > > it > > I did try OE Extract and it doesn't do anything and provides no > instructions, so I guess one of the nonfreeware apps is next. > > > "dadiOH" <someone@fuggetit.com> wrote in message > news:eGJ5QW$jIHA.4120@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... > > Larry wrote: > > > Strange things going on (see below), but I think the problem may be > > > solvable. > > > > > > 1. The Inbox, prior to the problem, would have been around 80 or 90 > > > MB. As I said, my procedure is to let it build up for a few weeks > > > and then move a lot of it into a custom folder. But after the > > > problem occurred, the Inbox was 130 KB. After I received e-mails > > > since this morning, it went up to about 400 KB. > > > > > > 2. But here's the strange thing: just now I looked again, and the > > > only Inbox.dbx in the OE folder has 1.24 MB!!! So somehow it's > > > returned. > > > > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did you > > determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? > > ________________ > > > > > 3. Yet the Inbox in the OE application is still just the e-mails > > > received since this morning. > > > > Because it is screwed up. That is, whatever methodology used to determine > > messages start/end and/or count is wrong. Like a file that has its EOF in > > the wrong place/ > > __________________ > > > > This is what I'd do... > > > > 1. Save a copy of Inbox.dbx somewhere > > > > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files and > run > > it > > > > 3. If it is successful in getting your messages, save them as MAIL ( > i.e., > > *.eml - separate, discrete messages) in a folder on your desktop. > > > > If not successful, forget what follows. > > > > 4. Delete Inbox.dbx using Explorer > > > > 5. Open OE and display its Inbox - which should now be empty > > > > 6. Select all the recovered email messages in your temporary desktop > folder > > and drag them to the OE pane where they would normally be displayed. > > > > 7. Close OE > > > > dadiOH > > > > >
Guest MEB Posted March 29, 2008 Posted March 29, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message news:%235VtCHXkIHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... | Hi, sorry I didn't get back sooner. | | I downloaded OE Reader as recommended, browsed to the Inbox.dbx file (which | I had renamed XXX.dbx and placed on the Desktop), and opened it. Message | said: | | "File does not contain any message." | | Yet the file's size is 1.24 MB. | | Go figure. | | Larry | Sounds like you got major corruption during the lockup/bad shutdown. Did you check for *.chk files as Franc suggested? You can try to open that file [or others you might find] with a code capable editor or hex editor and maybe recover some of the text {a tedious task}. Of course, from now on, follow the normal procedure of moving from the inbox to some other folder, and exporting the most important to text or eml files. BTW: 98SE doesn't crash all that often if everything is setup properly, so you might want to diagnose WHY your system seems to crash alot. -- MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com -- _________ | | | | "bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message | news:uyN57AIkIHA.4664@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... | > Try this. It's the successor to MiTec OE view. I use it and it works | fine | > for me. | > | > http://www.snapfiles.com/get/dbxviewer.html | > | > "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message | > news:erUy0yAkIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... | > > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did you | > determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? | > | > By seeing the size of the Inbox.dbx file in Windows Explorer. | > | > > > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files | and | > run | > > it | > | > I did try OE Extract and it doesn't do anything and provides no | > instructions, so I guess one of the nonfreeware apps is next. | > | > | > "dadiOH" <someone@fuggetit.com> wrote in message | > news:eGJ5QW$jIHA.4120@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... | > > Larry wrote: | > > > Strange things going on (see below), but I think the problem may be | > > > solvable. | > > > | > > > 1. The Inbox, prior to the problem, would have been around 80 or 90 | > > > MB. As I said, my procedure is to let it build up for a few weeks | > > > and then move a lot of it into a custom folder. But after the | > > > problem occurred, the Inbox was 130 KB. After I received e-mails | > > > since this morning, it went up to about 400 KB. | > > > | > > > 2. But here's the strange thing: just now I looked again, and the | > > > only Inbox.dbx in the OE folder has 1.24 MB!!! So somehow it's | > > > returned. | > > | > > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did you | > > determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? | > > ________________ | > > | > > > 3. Yet the Inbox in the OE application is still just the e-mails | > > > received since this morning. | > > | > > Because it is screwed up. That is, whatever methodology used to | determine | > > messages start/end and/or count is wrong. Like a file that has its EOF | in | > > the wrong place/ | > > __________________ | > > | > > This is what I'd do... | > > | > > 1. Save a copy of Inbox.dbx somewhere | > > | > > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files and | > run | > > it | > > | > > 3. If it is successful in getting your messages, save them as MAIL ( | > i.e., | > > *.eml - separate, discrete messages) in a folder on your desktop. | > > | > > If not successful, forget what follows. | > > | > > 4. Delete Inbox.dbx using Explorer | > > | > > 5. Open OE and display its Inbox - which should now be empty | > > | > > 6. Select all the recovered email messages in your temporary desktop | > folder | > > and drag them to the OE pane where they would normally be displayed. | > > | > > 7. Close OE | > > | > > dadiOH | > > | > > | > |
Guest Larry Posted March 29, 2008 Posted March 29, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished > Sounds like you got major corruption during the lockup/bad shutdown. Yes, the computer froze, I restarted by pressing the external restart button on the tower, and after that is when the Inbox contents were missing. > Did you check for *.chk files as Franc suggested? I don't see a Franc in this thread, and don't remember anything about .chk files. But from what you say, it sounds as though the e-mails are basically lost. It's not a terrible disaster. Larry "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:eG7RcSXkIHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > > "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message > news:%235VtCHXkIHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > | Hi, sorry I didn't get back sooner. > | > | I downloaded OE Reader as recommended, browsed to the Inbox.dbx file > (which > | I had renamed XXX.dbx and placed on the Desktop), and opened it. Message > | said: > | > | "File does not contain any message." > | > | Yet the file's size is 1.24 MB. > | > | Go figure. > | > | Larry > | > > Sounds like you got major corruption during the lockup/bad shutdown. > > Did you check for *.chk files as Franc suggested? > > You can try to open that file [or others you might find] with a code > capable editor or hex editor and maybe recover some of the text {a tedious > task}. > > Of course, from now on, follow the normal procedure of moving from the > inbox to some other folder, and exporting the most important to text or eml > files. > > BTW: 98SE doesn't crash all that often if everything is setup properly, so > you might want to diagnose WHY your system seems to crash alot. > > -- > MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com > -- > _________ > > > | > | > | > | "bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message > | news:uyN57AIkIHA.4664@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > | > Try this. It's the successor to MiTec OE view. I use it and it works > | fine > | > for me. > | > > | > http://www.snapfiles.com/get/dbxviewer.html > | > > | > "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message > | > news:erUy0yAkIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > | > > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did > you > | > determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? > | > > | > By seeing the size of the Inbox.dbx file in Windows Explorer. > | > > | > > > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files > | and > | > run > | > > it > | > > | > I did try OE Extract and it doesn't do anything and provides no > | > instructions, so I guess one of the nonfreeware apps is next. > | > > | > > | > "dadiOH" <someone@fuggetit.com> wrote in message > | > news:eGJ5QW$jIHA.4120@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... > | > > Larry wrote: > | > > > Strange things going on (see below), but I think the problem may be > | > > > solvable. > | > > > > | > > > 1. The Inbox, prior to the problem, would have been around 80 or 90 > | > > > MB. As I said, my procedure is to let it build up for a few weeks > | > > > and then move a lot of it into a custom folder. But after the > | > > > problem occurred, the Inbox was 130 KB. After I received e-mails > | > > > since this morning, it went up to about 400 KB. > | > > > > | > > > 2. But here's the strange thing: just now I looked again, and the > | > > > only Inbox.dbx in the OE folder has 1.24 MB!!! So somehow it's > | > > > returned. > | > > > | > > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did > you > | > > determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? > | > > ________________ > | > > > | > > > 3. Yet the Inbox in the OE application is still just the e-mails > | > > > received since this morning. > | > > > | > > Because it is screwed up. That is, whatever methodology used to > | determine > | > > messages start/end and/or count is wrong. Like a file that has its > EOF > | in > | > > the wrong place/ > | > > __________________ > | > > > | > > This is what I'd do... > | > > > | > > 1. Save a copy of Inbox.dbx somewhere > | > > > | > > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files > and > | > run > | > > it > | > > > | > > 3. If it is successful in getting your messages, save them as MAIL ( > | > i.e., > | > > *.eml - separate, discrete messages) in a folder on your desktop. > | > > > | > > If not successful, forget what follows. > | > > > | > > 4. Delete Inbox.dbx using Explorer > | > > > | > > 5. Open OE and display its Inbox - which should now be empty > | > > > | > > 6. Select all the recovered email messages in your temporary desktop > | > folder > | > > and drag them to the OE pane where they would normally be displayed. > | > > > | > > 7. Close OE > | > > > | > > dadiOH > | > > > | > > > | > > | > >
Guest Ron Sommer Posted March 29, 2008 Posted March 29, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished Have you checked the Recycle Bin for bak files? -- Ronald Sommer "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message news:uUw8#8XkIHA.5088@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > >> Sounds like you got major corruption during the lockup/bad shutdown. > > Yes, the computer froze, I restarted by pressing the external restart > button > on the tower, and after that is when the Inbox contents were missing. > >> Did you check for *.chk files as Franc suggested? > > I don't see a Franc in this thread, and don't remember anything about .chk > files. > > But from what you say, it sounds as though the e-mails are basically lost. > It's not a terrible disaster. > > Larry > > > > "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message > news:eG7RcSXkIHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> >> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message >> news:%235VtCHXkIHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >> | Hi, sorry I didn't get back sooner. >> | >> | I downloaded OE Reader as recommended, browsed to the Inbox.dbx file >> (which >> | I had renamed XXX.dbx and placed on the Desktop), and opened it. > Message >> | said: >> | >> | "File does not contain any message." >> | >> | Yet the file's size is 1.24 MB. >> | >> | Go figure. >> | >> | Larry >> | >> >> Sounds like you got major corruption during the lockup/bad shutdown. >> >> Did you check for *.chk files as Franc suggested? >> >> You can try to open that file [or others you might find] with a code >> capable editor or hex editor and maybe recover some of the text {a >> tedious >> task}. >> >> Of course, from now on, follow the normal procedure of moving from the >> inbox to some other folder, and exporting the most important to text or > eml >> files. >> >> BTW: 98SE doesn't crash all that often if everything is setup properly, >> so >> you might want to diagnose WHY your system seems to crash alot. >> >> -- >> MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com >> -- >> _________ >> >> >> | >> | >> | >> | "bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message >> | news:uyN57AIkIHA.4664@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> | > Try this. It's the successor to MiTec OE view. I use it and it >> works >> | fine >> | > for me. >> | > >> | > http://www.snapfiles.com/get/dbxviewer.html >> | > >> | > "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message >> | > news:erUy0yAkIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> | > > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How >> did >> you >> | > determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? >> | > >> | > By seeing the size of the Inbox.dbx file in Windows Explorer. >> | > >> | > > > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx > files >> | and >> | > run >> | > > it >> | > >> | > I did try OE Extract and it doesn't do anything and provides no >> | > instructions, so I guess one of the nonfreeware apps is next. >> | > >> | > >> | > "dadiOH" <someone@fuggetit.com> wrote in message >> | > news:eGJ5QW$jIHA.4120@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >> | > > Larry wrote: >> | > > > Strange things going on (see below), but I think the problem may > be >> | > > > solvable. >> | > > > >> | > > > 1. The Inbox, prior to the problem, would have been around 80 or > 90 >> | > > > MB. As I said, my procedure is to let it build up for a few >> weeks >> | > > > and then move a lot of it into a custom folder. But after the >> | > > > problem occurred, the Inbox was 130 KB. After I received e-mails >> | > > > since this morning, it went up to about 400 KB. >> | > > > >> | > > > 2. But here's the strange thing: just now I looked again, and > the >> | > > > only Inbox.dbx in the OE folder has 1.24 MB!!! So somehow it's >> | > > > returned. >> | > > >> | > > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did >> you >> | > > determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 > MB? >> | > > ________________ >> | > > >> | > > > 3. Yet the Inbox in the OE application is still just the e-mails >> | > > > received since this morning. >> | > > >> | > > Because it is screwed up. That is, whatever methodology used to >> | determine >> | > > messages start/end and/or count is wrong. Like a file that has its >> EOF >> | in >> | > > the wrong place/ >> | > > __________________ >> | > > >> | > > This is what I'd do... >> | > > >> | > > 1. Save a copy of Inbox.dbx somewhere >> | > > >> | > > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files >> and >> | > run >> | > > it >> | > > >> | > > 3. If it is successful in getting your messages, save them as MAIL > ( >> | > i.e., >> | > > *.eml - separate, discrete messages) in a folder on your desktop. >> | > > >> | > > If not successful, forget what follows. >> | > > >> | > > 4. Delete Inbox.dbx using Explorer >> | > > >> | > > 5. Open OE and display its Inbox - which should now be empty >> | > > >> | > > 6. Select all the recovered email messages in your temporary >> desktop >> | > folder >> | > > and drag them to the OE pane where they would normally be >> displayed. >> | > > >> | > > 7. Close OE >> | > > >> | > > dadiOH >> | > > >> | > > >> | > >> | >> >> >
Guest Bruce Hagen Posted March 29, 2008 Posted March 29, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished That reinforces what I thought. That is the file is empty, and the size would not reflect that there is mail in it as the size is not reduced until you compact. -- Bruce Hagen MS-MVP Outlook Express Imperial Beach, CA "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message news:%235VtCHXkIHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > Hi, sorry I didn't get back sooner. > > I downloaded OE Reader as recommended, browsed to the Inbox.dbx file > (which > I had renamed XXX.dbx and placed on the Desktop), and opened it. Message > said: > > "File does not contain any message." > > Yet the file's size is 1.24 MB. > > Go figure. > > Larry > > > > > "bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message > news:uyN57AIkIHA.4664@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> Try this. It's the successor to MiTec OE view. I use it and it works > fine >> for me. >> >> http://www.snapfiles.com/get/dbxviewer.html >> >> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message >> news:erUy0yAkIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did >> > you >> determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? >> >> By seeing the size of the Inbox.dbx file in Windows Explorer. >> >> > > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files > and >> run >> > it >> >> I did try OE Extract and it doesn't do anything and provides no >> instructions, so I guess one of the nonfreeware apps is next. >> >> >> "dadiOH" <someone@fuggetit.com> wrote in message >> news:eGJ5QW$jIHA.4120@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >> > Larry wrote: >> > > Strange things going on (see below), but I think the problem may be >> > > solvable. >> > > >> > > 1. The Inbox, prior to the problem, would have been around 80 or 90 >> > > MB. As I said, my procedure is to let it build up for a few weeks >> > > and then move a lot of it into a custom folder. But after the >> > > problem occurred, the Inbox was 130 KB. After I received e-mails >> > > since this morning, it went up to about 400 KB. >> > > >> > > 2. But here's the strange thing: just now I looked again, and the >> > > only Inbox.dbx in the OE folder has 1.24 MB!!! So somehow it's >> > > returned. >> > >> > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did you >> > determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? >> > ________________ >> > >> > > 3. Yet the Inbox in the OE application is still just the e-mails >> > > received since this morning. >> > >> > Because it is screwed up. That is, whatever methodology used to > determine >> > messages start/end and/or count is wrong. Like a file that has its EOF > in >> > the wrong place/ >> > __________________ >> > >> > This is what I'd do... >> > >> > 1. Save a copy of Inbox.dbx somewhere >> > >> > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files and >> run >> > it >> > >> > 3. If it is successful in getting your messages, save them as MAIL ( >> i.e., >> > *.eml - separate, discrete messages) in a folder on your desktop. >> > >> > If not successful, forget what follows. >> > >> > 4. Delete Inbox.dbx using Explorer >> > >> > 5. Open OE and display its Inbox - which should now be empty >> > >> > 6. Select all the recovered email messages in your temporary desktop >> folder >> > and drag them to the OE pane where they would normally be displayed. >> > >> > 7. Close OE >> > >> > dadiOH >> > >> > >> >
Guest Bruce Hagen Posted March 29, 2008 Posted March 29, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished Windows 98. -- ~Bruce "Ron Sommer" <rsommer@nospam.ktis.net> wrote in message news:%23Ge$GKZkIHA.5160@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > Have you checked the Recycle Bin for bak files? > -- > Ronald Sommer > > "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message > news:uUw8#8XkIHA.5088@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >> >>> Sounds like you got major corruption during the lockup/bad shutdown. >> >> Yes, the computer froze, I restarted by pressing the external restart >> button >> on the tower, and after that is when the Inbox contents were missing. >> >>> Did you check for *.chk files as Franc suggested? >> >> I don't see a Franc in this thread, and don't remember anything about >> .chk >> files. >> >> But from what you say, it sounds as though the e-mails are basically >> lost. >> It's not a terrible disaster. >> >> Larry >> >> >> >> "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com> wrote in message >> news:eG7RcSXkIHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>> >>> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message >>> news:%235VtCHXkIHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>> | Hi, sorry I didn't get back sooner. >>> | >>> | I downloaded OE Reader as recommended, browsed to the Inbox.dbx file >>> (which >>> | I had renamed XXX.dbx and placed on the Desktop), and opened it. >> Message >>> | said: >>> | >>> | "File does not contain any message." >>> | >>> | Yet the file's size is 1.24 MB. >>> | >>> | Go figure. >>> | >>> | Larry >>> | >>> >>> Sounds like you got major corruption during the lockup/bad shutdown. >>> >>> Did you check for *.chk files as Franc suggested? >>> >>> You can try to open that file [or others you might find] with a code >>> capable editor or hex editor and maybe recover some of the text {a >>> tedious >>> task}. >>> >>> Of course, from now on, follow the normal procedure of moving from the >>> inbox to some other folder, and exporting the most important to text or >> eml >>> files. >>> >>> BTW: 98SE doesn't crash all that often if everything is setup properly, >>> so >>> you might want to diagnose WHY your system seems to crash alot. >>> >>> -- >>> MEB http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com >>> -- >>> _________ >>> >>> >>> | >>> | >>> | >>> | "bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message >>> | news:uyN57AIkIHA.4664@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>> | > Try this. It's the successor to MiTec OE view. I use it and it >>> works >>> | fine >>> | > for me. >>> | > >>> | > http://www.snapfiles.com/get/dbxviewer.html >>> | > >>> | > "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message >>> | > news:erUy0yAkIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>> | > > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How >>> did >>> you >>> | > determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 >>> MB? >>> | > >>> | > By seeing the size of the Inbox.dbx file in Windows Explorer. >>> | > >>> | > > > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx >> files >>> | and >>> | > run >>> | > > it >>> | > >>> | > I did try OE Extract and it doesn't do anything and provides no >>> | > instructions, so I guess one of the nonfreeware apps is next. >>> | > >>> | > >>> | > "dadiOH" <someone@fuggetit.com> wrote in message >>> | > news:eGJ5QW$jIHA.4120@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >>> | > > Larry wrote: >>> | > > > Strange things going on (see below), but I think the problem may >> be >>> | > > > solvable. >>> | > > > >>> | > > > 1. The Inbox, prior to the problem, would have been around 80 or >> 90 >>> | > > > MB. As I said, my procedure is to let it build up for a few >>> weeks >>> | > > > and then move a lot of it into a custom folder. But after the >>> | > > > problem occurred, the Inbox was 130 KB. After I received >>> e-mails >>> | > > > since this morning, it went up to about 400 KB. >>> | > > > >>> | > > > 2. But here's the strange thing: just now I looked again, and >> the >>> | > > > only Inbox.dbx in the OE folder has 1.24 MB!!! So somehow it's >>> | > > > returned. >>> | > > >>> | > > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How >>> did >>> you >>> | > > determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 >> MB? >>> | > > ________________ >>> | > > >>> | > > > 3. Yet the Inbox in the OE application is still just the >>> e-mails >>> | > > > received since this morning. >>> | > > >>> | > > Because it is screwed up. That is, whatever methodology used to >>> | determine >>> | > > messages start/end and/or count is wrong. Like a file that has >>> its >>> EOF >>> | in >>> | > > the wrong place/ >>> | > > __________________ >>> | > > >>> | > > This is what I'd do... >>> | > > >>> | > > 1. Save a copy of Inbox.dbx somewhere >>> | > > >>> | > > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx >>> files >>> and >>> | > run >>> | > > it >>> | > > >>> | > > 3. If it is successful in getting your messages, save them as >>> MAIL >> ( >>> | > i.e., >>> | > > *.eml - separate, discrete messages) in a folder on your desktop. >>> | > > >>> | > > If not successful, forget what follows. >>> | > > >>> | > > 4. Delete Inbox.dbx using Explorer >>> | > > >>> | > > 5. Open OE and display its Inbox - which should now be empty >>> | > > >>> | > > 6. Select all the recovered email messages in your temporary >>> desktop >>> | > folder >>> | > > and drag them to the OE pane where they would normally be >>> displayed. >>> | > > >>> | > > 7. Close OE >>> | > > >>> | > > dadiOH >>> | > > >>> | > > >>> | > >>> | >>> >>> >>
Guest PA Bear [MS MVP] Posted March 29, 2008 Posted March 29, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished The file is probably bloated due to (1) archiving messages in Inbox folder and/or (2) not manually compacting all OE folders on a regular basis. If DBXtract, DBXpress or another extraction utility cannot recover any messages, there's no point in trying anything else. Win9x-specific 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 and frequently perform a manual compact of all OE folders while "working offline". More at http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm - Disable email scanning by your anti-virus application. It can cause corruption (i.e., loss of messages), it provides no additional protection, and even Symantec says it's not necessary: <QP> Disabling Email Scanning does not leave you unprotected against viruses that are distributed as email attachments. Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect scans incoming files as they are saved to your hard drive, including email and email attachments. Email Scanning is just another layer on top of this. To make sure that Auto-Protect is providing the maximum protection, keep Auto-Protect enabled and run LiveUpdate regularly to ensure that you have the most recent virus definitions. </QP> http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav.nsf/docid/2002111812533106 -- ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002 AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net DTS-L http://dts-l.net/ Larry wrote: > Hi, sorry I didn't get back sooner. > > I downloaded OE Reader as recommended, browsed to the Inbox.dbx file > (which > I had renamed XXX.dbx and placed on the Desktop), and opened it. Message > said: > > "File does not contain any message." > > Yet the file's size is 1.24 MB. <snip>
Guest Larry Posted March 29, 2008 Posted March 29, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished Thank you everyone. I just dragged the file, XXX.dbx, back into the OE folder, launched OE, did a file compact on the folder XXX, and it went down from 1.24 MB to 58 KB. So that settles that. As far as OE's vulnerabilty to this kind of disaster is concerned, I've been using the same OE program for over nine years and never lost the contents of a folder and never heard of that happening. About a year ago, I began to have computer freeze-ups when doing send-receive, and that's when PA Baer (I think it was) gave me the instructions of OE maintenance, which I've followed pretty regularly since then. But not 100 percent! Not keeping the Inbox completely empty! I have an extremely active e-mail correspondence, and that's just not realistic for me. Thanks again all. Larry "Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message news:uGu5ekakIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > That reinforces what I thought. That is the file is empty, and the size > would not reflect that there is mail in it as the size is not reduced until > you compact. > -- > Bruce Hagen > MS-MVP Outlook Express > Imperial Beach, CA > > > "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message > news:%235VtCHXkIHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > > Hi, sorry I didn't get back sooner. > > > > I downloaded OE Reader as recommended, browsed to the Inbox.dbx file > > (which > > I had renamed XXX.dbx and placed on the Desktop), and opened it. Message > > said: > > > > "File does not contain any message." > > > > Yet the file's size is 1.24 MB. > > > > Go figure. > > > > Larry > > > > > > > > > > "bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message > > news:uyN57AIkIHA.4664@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > >> Try this. It's the successor to MiTec OE view. I use it and it works > > fine > >> for me. > >> > >> http://www.snapfiles.com/get/dbxviewer.html > >> > >> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message > >> news:erUy0yAkIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > >> > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did > >> > you > >> determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? > >> > >> By seeing the size of the Inbox.dbx file in Windows Explorer. > >> > >> > > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files > > and > >> run > >> > it > >> > >> I did try OE Extract and it doesn't do anything and provides no > >> instructions, so I guess one of the nonfreeware apps is next. > >> > >> > >> "dadiOH" <someone@fuggetit.com> wrote in message > >> news:eGJ5QW$jIHA.4120@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... > >> > Larry wrote: > >> > > Strange things going on (see below), but I think the problem may be > >> > > solvable. > >> > > > >> > > 1. The Inbox, prior to the problem, would have been around 80 or 90 > >> > > MB. As I said, my procedure is to let it build up for a few weeks > >> > > and then move a lot of it into a custom folder. But after the > >> > > problem occurred, the Inbox was 130 KB. After I received e-mails > >> > > since this morning, it went up to about 400 KB. > >> > > > >> > > 2. But here's the strange thing: just now I looked again, and the > >> > > only Inbox.dbx in the OE folder has 1.24 MB!!! So somehow it's > >> > > returned. > >> > > >> > I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did you > >> > determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? > >> > ________________ > >> > > >> > > 3. Yet the Inbox in the OE application is still just the e-mails > >> > > received since this morning. > >> > > >> > Because it is screwed up. That is, whatever methodology used to > > determine > >> > messages start/end and/or count is wrong. Like a file that has its EOF > > in > >> > the wrong place/ > >> > __________________ > >> > > >> > This is what I'd do... > >> > > >> > 1. Save a copy of Inbox.dbx somewhere > >> > > >> > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files and > >> run > >> > it > >> > > >> > 3. If it is successful in getting your messages, save them as MAIL ( > >> i.e., > >> > *.eml - separate, discrete messages) in a folder on your desktop. > >> > > >> > If not successful, forget what follows. > >> > > >> > 4. Delete Inbox.dbx using Explorer > >> > > >> > 5. Open OE and display its Inbox - which should now be empty > >> > > >> > 6. Select all the recovered email messages in your temporary desktop > >> folder > >> > and drag them to the OE pane where they would normally be displayed. > >> > > >> > 7. Close OE > >> > > >> > dadiOH > >> > > >> > > >> > > >
Guest PA Bear [MS MVP] Posted March 29, 2008 Posted March 29, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished Sooner or later, file corruption will hit every OE user. It only makes sense to do what you can to avoid it. The Other E-Mail Threat: File Corruption in Outlook Express: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx > ...I have an extremely active e-mail correspondence, > and that's just not realistic for me. I send well over 100 messages a day using OE, just about every day of the week. If I can remember to take 2 minutes at the end of every day to empty Sent Items & Deleted Items folders and then compact all folders (ALT+F+F+F), you can, too. If you don't value your message store, keep doing what you've been doing...and don't bother backing-up your message store either. <wink> -- ~PA Bear Larry wrote: > Thank you everyone. > > I just dragged the file, XXX.dbx, back into the OE folder, launched OE, > did > a file compact on the folder XXX, and it went down from 1.24 MB to 58 KB. > So that settles that. > > As far as OE's vulnerabilty to this kind of disaster is concerned, I've > been > using the same OE program for over nine years and never lost the contents > of > a folder and never heard of that happening. About a year ago, I began to > have computer freeze-ups when doing send-receive, and that's when PA Baer > (I > think it was) gave me the instructions of OE maintenance, which I've > followed pretty regularly since then. But not 100 percent! Not keeping > the > Inbox completely empty! I have an extremely active e-mail correspondence, > and that's just not realistic for me. > > "Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message > news:uGu5ekakIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... >> That reinforces what I thought. That is the file is empty, and the size >> would not reflect that there is mail in it as the size is not reduced >> until >> you compact. >> -- >> Bruce Hagen >> MS-MVP Outlook Express >> Imperial Beach, CA >> >> >> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message >> news:%235VtCHXkIHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>> Hi, sorry I didn't get back sooner. >>> >>> I downloaded OE Reader as recommended, browsed to the Inbox.dbx file >>> (which >>> I had renamed XXX.dbx and placed on the Desktop), and opened it. > Message >>> said: >>> >>> "File does not contain any message." >>> >>> Yet the file's size is 1.24 MB. >>> >>> Go figure. >>> >>> Larry >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> "bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message >>> news:uyN57AIkIHA.4664@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>>> Try this. It's the successor to MiTec OE view. I use it and it works >>>> fine for me. >>>> >>>> http://www.snapfiles.com/get/dbxviewer.html >>>> >>>> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message >>>> news:erUy0yAkIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>>>> I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did >>>>> you >>>> determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? >>>> >>>> By seeing the size of the Inbox.dbx file in Windows Explorer. >>>> >>>>> > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx > files >>> and >>>> run >>>>> it >>>> >>>> I did try OE Extract and it doesn't do anything and provides no >>>> instructions, so I guess one of the nonfreeware apps is next. >>>> >>>> >>>> "dadiOH" <someone@fuggetit.com> wrote in message >>>> news:eGJ5QW$jIHA.4120@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >>>>> Larry wrote: >>>>>> Strange things going on (see below), but I think the problem may be >>>>>> solvable. >>>>>> >>>>>> 1. The Inbox, prior to the problem, would have been around 80 or 90 >>>>>> MB. As I said, my procedure is to let it build up for a few weeks >>>>>> and then move a lot of it into a custom folder. But after the >>>>>> problem occurred, the Inbox was 130 KB. After I received e-mails >>>>>> since this morning, it went up to about 400 KB. >>>>>> >>>>>> 2. But here's the strange thing: just now I looked again, and the >>>>>> only Inbox.dbx in the OE folder has 1.24 MB!!! So somehow it's >>>>>> returned. >>>>> >>>>> I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did >>>>> you >>>>> determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? >>>>> ________________ >>>>> >>>>>> 3. Yet the Inbox in the OE application is still just the e-mails >>>>>> received since this morning. >>>>> >>>>> Because it is screwed up. That is, whatever methodology used to >>>>> determine messages start/end and/or count is wrong. Like a file that >>>>> has its EOF in the wrong place/ >>>>> __________________ >>>>> >>>>> This is what I'd do... >>>>> >>>>> 1. Save a copy of Inbox.dbx somewhere >>>>> >>>>> 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files >>>>> and >>>>> run it >>>>> >>>>> 3. If it is successful in getting your messages, save them as MAIL ( >>>>> i.e., *.eml - separate, discrete messages) in a folder on your >>>>> desktop. >>>>> >>>>> If not successful, forget what follows. >>>>> >>>>> 4. Delete Inbox.dbx using Explorer >>>>> >>>>> 5. Open OE and display its Inbox - which should now be empty >>>>> >>>>> 6. Select all the recovered email messages in your temporary desktop >>>>> folder and drag them to the OE pane where they would normally be >>>>> displayed. >>>>> >>>>> 7. Close OE >>>>> >>>>> dadiOH
Guest Bill in Co. Posted March 30, 2008 Posted March 30, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished And you pretty much HAVE to remember to do it, if you don't have that background compacting option turned on (and ever since the autocompacting feature was removed - at least in WinXP SP2). I just do it daily. PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote: > Sooner or later, file corruption will hit every OE user. It only makes > sense to do what you can to avoid it. > > The Other E-Mail Threat: File Corruption in Outlook Express: > http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx > >> ...I have an extremely active e-mail correspondence, >> and that's just not realistic for me. > > I send well over 100 messages a day using OE, just about every day of the > week. If I can remember to take 2 minutes at the end of every day to > empty > Sent Items & Deleted Items folders and then compact all folders > (ALT+F+F+F), > you can, too. > > If you don't value your message store, keep doing what you've been > doing...and don't bother backing-up your message store either. <wink> > -- > ~PA Bear > > Larry wrote: >> Thank you everyone. >> >> I just dragged the file, XXX.dbx, back into the OE folder, launched OE, >> did >> a file compact on the folder XXX, and it went down from 1.24 MB to 58 KB. >> So that settles that. >> >> As far as OE's vulnerabilty to this kind of disaster is concerned, I've >> been >> using the same OE program for over nine years and never lost the contents >> of >> a folder and never heard of that happening. About a year ago, I began to >> have computer freeze-ups when doing send-receive, and that's when PA Baer >> (I >> think it was) gave me the instructions of OE maintenance, which I've >> followed pretty regularly since then. But not 100 percent! Not keeping >> the >> Inbox completely empty! I have an extremely active e-mail >> correspondence, >> and that's just not realistic for me. >> >> "Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message >> news:uGu5ekakIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... >>> That reinforces what I thought. That is the file is empty, and the size >>> would not reflect that there is mail in it as the size is not reduced >>> until >>> you compact. >>> -- >>> Bruce Hagen >>> MS-MVP Outlook Express >>> Imperial Beach, CA >>> >>> >>> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message >>> news:%235VtCHXkIHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>>> Hi, sorry I didn't get back sooner. >>>> >>>> I downloaded OE Reader as recommended, browsed to the Inbox.dbx file >>>> (which >>>> I had renamed XXX.dbx and placed on the Desktop), and opened it. >> Message >>>> said: >>>> >>>> "File does not contain any message." >>>> >>>> Yet the file's size is 1.24 MB. >>>> >>>> Go figure. >>>> >>>> Larry >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> "bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message >>>> news:uyN57AIkIHA.4664@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>>>> Try this. It's the successor to MiTec OE view. I use it and it works >>>>> fine for me. >>>>> >>>>> http://www.snapfiles.com/get/dbxviewer.html >>>>> >>>>> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message >>>>> news:erUy0yAkIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>>>>> I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did >>>>>> you >>>>> determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? >>>>> >>>>> By seeing the size of the Inbox.dbx file in Windows Explorer. >>>>> >>>>>> > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx >> files >>>> and >>>>> run >>>>>> it >>>>> >>>>> I did try OE Extract and it doesn't do anything and provides no >>>>> instructions, so I guess one of the nonfreeware apps is next. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> "dadiOH" <someone@fuggetit.com> wrote in message >>>>> news:eGJ5QW$jIHA.4120@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >>>>>> Larry wrote: >>>>>>> Strange things going on (see below), but I think the problem may be >>>>>>> solvable. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> 1. The Inbox, prior to the problem, would have been around 80 or 90 >>>>>>> MB. As I said, my procedure is to let it build up for a few weeks >>>>>>> and then move a lot of it into a custom folder. But after the >>>>>>> problem occurred, the Inbox was 130 KB. After I received e-mails >>>>>>> since this morning, it went up to about 400 KB. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> 2. But here's the strange thing: just now I looked again, and the >>>>>>> only Inbox.dbx in the OE folder has 1.24 MB!!! So somehow it's >>>>>>> returned. >>>>>> >>>>>> I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did >>>>>> you >>>>>> determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? >>>>>> ________________ >>>>>> >>>>>>> 3. Yet the Inbox in the OE application is still just the e-mails >>>>>>> received since this morning. >>>>>> >>>>>> Because it is screwed up. That is, whatever methodology used to >>>>>> determine messages start/end and/or count is wrong. Like a file that >>>>>> has its EOF in the wrong place/ >>>>>> __________________ >>>>>> >>>>>> This is what I'd do... >>>>>> >>>>>> 1. Save a copy of Inbox.dbx somewhere >>>>>> >>>>>> 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files >>>>>> and >>>>>> run it >>>>>> >>>>>> 3. If it is successful in getting your messages, save them as MAIL ( >>>>>> i.e., *.eml - separate, discrete messages) in a folder on your >>>>>> desktop. >>>>>> >>>>>> If not successful, forget what follows. >>>>>> >>>>>> 4. Delete Inbox.dbx using Explorer >>>>>> >>>>>> 5. Open OE and display its Inbox - which should now be empty >>>>>> >>>>>> 6. Select all the recovered email messages in your temporary desktop >>>>>> folder and drag them to the OE pane where they would normally be >>>>>> displayed. >>>>>> >>>>>> 7. Close OE >>>>>> >>>>>> dadiOH
Guest Larry Posted March 30, 2008 Posted March 30, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished > I just do it daily. Wow. I just never thought of OE as being so vulnerable that this kind of continual attention and maintenance was required to avoid disasters. I'll certainly have to do that OE backup regularly. Someone in this thread mentioned how to do that but I don't see it anymore. "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message news:eDF3HCgkIHA.5956@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > And you pretty much HAVE to remember to do it, if you don't have that > background compacting option turned on (and ever since the autocompacting > feature was removed - at least in WinXP SP2). > > I just do it daily. > > PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote: > > Sooner or later, file corruption will hit every OE user. It only makes > > sense to do what you can to avoid it. > > > > The Other E-Mail Threat: File Corruption in Outlook Express: > > http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx > > > >> ...I have an extremely active e-mail correspondence, > >> and that's just not realistic for me. > > > > I send well over 100 messages a day using OE, just about every day of the > > week. If I can remember to take 2 minutes at the end of every day to > > empty > > Sent Items & Deleted Items folders and then compact all folders > > (ALT+F+F+F), > > you can, too. > > > > If you don't value your message store, keep doing what you've been > > doing...and don't bother backing-up your message store either. <wink> > > -- > > ~PA Bear > > > > Larry wrote: > >> Thank you everyone. > >> > >> I just dragged the file, XXX.dbx, back into the OE folder, launched OE, > >> did > >> a file compact on the folder XXX, and it went down from 1.24 MB to 58 KB. > >> So that settles that. > >> > >> As far as OE's vulnerabilty to this kind of disaster is concerned, I've > >> been > >> using the same OE program for over nine years and never lost the contents > >> of > >> a folder and never heard of that happening. About a year ago, I began to > >> have computer freeze-ups when doing send-receive, and that's when PA Baer > >> (I > >> think it was) gave me the instructions of OE maintenance, which I've > >> followed pretty regularly since then. But not 100 percent! Not keeping > >> the > >> Inbox completely empty! I have an extremely active e-mail > >> correspondence, > >> and that's just not realistic for me. > >> > >> "Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message > >> news:uGu5ekakIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > >>> That reinforces what I thought. That is the file is empty, and the size > >>> would not reflect that there is mail in it as the size is not reduced > >>> until > >>> you compact. > >>> -- > >>> Bruce Hagen > >>> MS-MVP Outlook Express > >>> Imperial Beach, CA > >>> > >>> > >>> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message > >>> news:%235VtCHXkIHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > >>>> Hi, sorry I didn't get back sooner. > >>>> > >>>> I downloaded OE Reader as recommended, browsed to the Inbox.dbx file > >>>> (which > >>>> I had renamed XXX.dbx and placed on the Desktop), and opened it. > >> Message > >>>> said: > >>>> > >>>> "File does not contain any message." > >>>> > >>>> Yet the file's size is 1.24 MB. > >>>> > >>>> Go figure. > >>>> > >>>> Larry > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> "bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message > >>>> news:uyN57AIkIHA.4664@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > >>>>> Try this. It's the successor to MiTec OE view. I use it and it works > >>>>> fine for me. > >>>>> > >>>>> http://www.snapfiles.com/get/dbxviewer.html > >>>>> > >>>>> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message > >>>>> news:erUy0yAkIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > >>>>>> I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did > >>>>>> you > >>>>> determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? > >>>>> > >>>>> By seeing the size of the Inbox.dbx file in Windows Explorer. > >>>>> > >>>>>> > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx > >> files > >>>> and > >>>>> run > >>>>>> it > >>>>> > >>>>> I did try OE Extract and it doesn't do anything and provides no > >>>>> instructions, so I guess one of the nonfreeware apps is next. > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> "dadiOH" <someone@fuggetit.com> wrote in message > >>>>> news:eGJ5QW$jIHA.4120@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... > >>>>>> Larry wrote: > >>>>>>> Strange things going on (see below), but I think the problem may be > >>>>>>> solvable. > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> 1. The Inbox, prior to the problem, would have been around 80 or 90 > >>>>>>> MB. As I said, my procedure is to let it build up for a few weeks > >>>>>>> and then move a lot of it into a custom folder. But after the > >>>>>>> problem occurred, the Inbox was 130 KB. After I received e-mails > >>>>>>> since this morning, it went up to about 400 KB. > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> 2. But here's the strange thing: just now I looked again, and the > >>>>>>> only Inbox.dbx in the OE folder has 1.24 MB!!! So somehow it's > >>>>>>> returned. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did > >>>>>> you > >>>>>> determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 MB? > >>>>>> ________________ > >>>>>> > >>>>>>> 3. Yet the Inbox in the OE application is still just the e-mails > >>>>>>> received since this morning. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Because it is screwed up. That is, whatever methodology used to > >>>>>> determine messages start/end and/or count is wrong. Like a file that > >>>>>> has its EOF in the wrong place/ > >>>>>> __________________ > >>>>>> > >>>>>> This is what I'd do... > >>>>>> > >>>>>> 1. Save a copy of Inbox.dbx somewhere > >>>>>> > >>>>>> 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files > >>>>>> and > >>>>>> run it > >>>>>> > >>>>>> 3. If it is successful in getting your messages, save them as MAIL ( > >>>>>> i.e., *.eml - separate, discrete messages) in a folder on your > >>>>>> desktop. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> If not successful, forget what follows. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> 4. Delete Inbox.dbx using Explorer > >>>>>> > >>>>>> 5. Open OE and display its Inbox - which should now be empty > >>>>>> > >>>>>> 6. Select all the recovered email messages in your temporary desktop > >>>>>> folder and drag them to the OE pane where they would normally be > >>>>>> displayed. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> 7. Close OE > >>>>>> > >>>>>> dadiOH > >
Guest Bill in Co. Posted March 30, 2008 Posted March 30, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished It's not "so vulnerable" that that is required. I just do it daily as a matter of routine, (and because I use OE quite a lot). You certainly don't need to do it so religiously. Larry wrote: >> I just do it daily. > > Wow. I just never thought of OE as being so vulnerable that this kind of > continual attention and maintenance was required to avoid disasters. > > I'll certainly have to do that OE backup regularly. Someone in this > thread > mentioned how to do that but I don't see it anymore. > > > > "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message > news:eDF3HCgkIHA.5956@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> And you pretty much HAVE to remember to do it, if you don't have that >> background compacting option turned on (and ever since the autocompacting >> feature was removed - at least in WinXP SP2). >> >> I just do it daily. >> >> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote: >>> Sooner or later, file corruption will hit every OE user. It only makes >>> sense to do what you can to avoid it. >>> >>> The Other E-Mail Threat: File Corruption in Outlook Express: >>> > http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx >>> >>>> ...I have an extremely active e-mail correspondence, >>>> and that's just not realistic for me. >>> >>> I send well over 100 messages a day using OE, just about every day of >>> the >>> week. If I can remember to take 2 minutes at the end of every day to >>> empty >>> Sent Items & Deleted Items folders and then compact all folders >>> (ALT+F+F+F), >>> you can, too. >>> >>> If you don't value your message store, keep doing what you've been >>> doing...and don't bother backing-up your message store either. <wink> >>> -- >>> ~PA Bear >>> >>> Larry wrote: >>>> Thank you everyone. >>>> >>>> I just dragged the file, XXX.dbx, back into the OE folder, launched OE, >>>> did >>>> a file compact on the folder XXX, and it went down from 1.24 MB to 58 >>>> KB. >>>> So that settles that. >>>> >>>> As far as OE's vulnerabilty to this kind of disaster is concerned, I've >>>> been >>>> using the same OE program for over nine years and never lost the >>>> contents >>>> of >>>> a folder and never heard of that happening. About a year ago, I began >>>> to >>>> have computer freeze-ups when doing send-receive, and that's when PA >>>> Baer >>>> (I >>>> think it was) gave me the instructions of OE maintenance, which I've >>>> followed pretty regularly since then. But not 100 percent! Not >>>> keeping >>>> the >>>> Inbox completely empty! I have an extremely active e-mail >>>> correspondence, >>>> and that's just not realistic for me. >>>> >>>> "Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message >>>> news:uGu5ekakIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... >>>>> That reinforces what I thought. That is the file is empty, and the >>>>> size >>>>> would not reflect that there is mail in it as the size is not reduced >>>>> until >>>>> you compact. >>>>> -- >>>>> Bruce Hagen >>>>> MS-MVP Outlook Express >>>>> Imperial Beach, CA >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message >>>>> news:%235VtCHXkIHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>>>>> Hi, sorry I didn't get back sooner. >>>>>> >>>>>> I downloaded OE Reader as recommended, browsed to the Inbox.dbx file >>>>>> (which >>>>>> I had renamed XXX.dbx and placed on the Desktop), and opened it. >>>>>> Message >>>>>> said: >>>>>> >>>>>> "File does not contain any message." >>>>>> >>>>>> Yet the file's size is 1.24 MB. >>>>>> >>>>>> Go figure. >>>>>> >>>>>> Larry >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> "bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message >>>>>> news:uyN57AIkIHA.4664@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>>>>>> Try this. It's the successor to MiTec OE view. I use it and it >>>>>>> works >>>>>>> fine for me. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> http://www.snapfiles.com/get/dbxviewer.html >>>>>>> >>>>>>> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message >>>>>>> news:erUy0yAkIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >>>>>>>> I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How >>>>>>>> did >>>>>>>> you >>>>>>> determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 >>>>>>> MB? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> By seeing the size of the Inbox.dbx file in Windows Explorer. >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx >>>> files >>>>>> and >>>>>>> run >>>>>>>> it >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I did try OE Extract and it doesn't do anything and provides no >>>>>>> instructions, so I guess one of the nonfreeware apps is next. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> "dadiOH" <someone@fuggetit.com> wrote in message >>>>>>> news:eGJ5QW$jIHA.4120@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >>>>>>>> Larry wrote: >>>>>>>>> Strange things going on (see below), but I think the problem may >>>>>>>>> be >>>>>>>>> solvable. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> 1. The Inbox, prior to the problem, would have been around 80 or >>>>>>>>> 90 >>>>>>>>> MB. As I said, my procedure is to let it build up for a few weeks >>>>>>>>> and then move a lot of it into a custom folder. But after the >>>>>>>>> problem occurred, the Inbox was 130 KB. After I received e-mails >>>>>>>>> since this morning, it went up to about 400 KB. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> 2. But here's the strange thing: just now I looked again, and >>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>> only Inbox.dbx in the OE folder has 1.24 MB!!! So somehow it's >>>>>>>>> returned. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How did >>>>>>>> you >>>>>>>> determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 >>>>>>>> MB? >>>>>>>> ________________ >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> 3. Yet the Inbox in the OE application is still just the e-mails >>>>>>>>> received since this morning. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Because it is screwed up. That is, whatever methodology used to >>>>>>>> determine messages start/end and/or count is wrong. Like a file >>>>>>>> that >>>>>>>> has its EOF in the wrong place/ >>>>>>>> __________________ >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> This is what I'd do... >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> 1. Save a copy of Inbox.dbx somewhere >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx files >>>>>>>> and >>>>>>>> run it >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> 3. If it is successful in getting your messages, save them as MAIL >>>>>>>> ( >>>>>>>> i.e., *.eml - separate, discrete messages) in a folder on your >>>>>>>> desktop. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> If not successful, forget what follows. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> 4. Delete Inbox.dbx using Explorer >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> 5. Open OE and display its Inbox - which should now be empty >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> 6. Select all the recovered email messages in your temporary >>>>>>>> desktop >>>>>>>> folder and drag them to the OE pane where they would normally be >>>>>>>> displayed. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> 7. Close OE >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> dadiOH
Guest Bill in Co. Posted March 30, 2008 Posted March 30, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished Franc Zabkar wrote: > On Sun, 30 Mar 2008 01:51:43 -0400, "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> > put finger to keyboard and composed: > >>> I just do it daily. No, actually I wrote the statement above (attributions apparently snipped) But it is certainly not necessary to do that! (as I pointed out in my response). >> Wow. I just never thought of OE as being so vulnerable that this kind of >> continual attention and maintenance was required to avoid disasters. It's not "so vulnerable" as you seem to be implying. It's just good practice. >> I'll certainly have to do that OE backup regularly. > > Why don't you just set up a bunch of filters so that incoming messages > are automatically sorted as to author or type and redirected into > their own respective mailboxes, eg Family / Friends / Forums / > Publications / Your_ISP / Junk / Spam? > > Is this even possible in OE? But I thought we were talking about periodically compacting the message store, in which case that won't help much in that regard.
Guest Franc Zabkar Posted March 30, 2008 Posted March 30, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished On Sun, 30 Mar 2008 01:51:43 -0400, "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> put finger to keyboard and composed: >> I just do it daily. > >Wow. I just never thought of OE as being so vulnerable that this kind of >continual attention and maintenance was required to avoid disasters. > >I'll certainly have to do that OE backup regularly. Why don't you just set up a bunch of filters so that incoming messages are automatically sorted as to author or type and redirected into their own respective mailboxes, eg Family / Friends / Forums / Publications / Your_ISP / Junk / Spam? Is this even possible in OE? - Franc Zabkar -- Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.
Guest Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM Posted March 30, 2008 Posted March 30, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished "Franc Zabkar" <fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote in message news:pokuu39s0ck4g9l18v5fj0c39ocbdcd206@4ax.com... > On Sun, 30 Mar 2008 01:51:43 -0400, "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> > put finger to keyboard and composed: > >>> I just do it daily. >> >>Wow. I just never thought of OE as being so vulnerable that this kind of >>continual attention and maintenance was required to avoid disasters. >> >>I'll certainly have to do that OE backup regularly. > > Why don't you just set up a bunch of filters so that incoming messages > are automatically sorted as to author or type and redirected into > their own respective mailboxes, eg Family / Friends / Forums / > Publications / Your_ISP / Junk / Spam? > > Is this even possible in OE? Yes. -- Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM http://www.fjsmjs.com Do not reply with email
Guest Bruce Hagen Posted March 30, 2008 Posted March 30, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished This freeware tool backs up everything in OE in seconds. Disregard what is written in red. That is referring to a different program. Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB): http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx -- Bruce Hagen MS-MVP Outlook Express Imperial Beach, CA "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message news:OVa3WpikIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... >> I just do it daily. > > Wow. I just never thought of OE as being so vulnerable that this kind of > continual attention and maintenance was required to avoid disasters. > > I'll certainly have to do that OE backup regularly. Someone in this > thread > mentioned how to do that but I don't see it anymore. > > > > "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message > news:eDF3HCgkIHA.5956@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> And you pretty much HAVE to remember to do it, if you don't have that >> background compacting option turned on (and ever since the autocompacting >> feature was removed - at least in WinXP SP2). >> >> I just do it daily. >> >> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote: >> > Sooner or later, file corruption will hit every OE user. It only makes >> > sense to do what you can to avoid it. >> > >> > The Other E-Mail Threat: File Corruption in Outlook Express: >> > > http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx >> > >> >> ...I have an extremely active e-mail correspondence, >> >> and that's just not realistic for me. >> > >> > I send well over 100 messages a day using OE, just about every day of > the >> > week. If I can remember to take 2 minutes at the end of every day to >> > empty >> > Sent Items & Deleted Items folders and then compact all folders >> > (ALT+F+F+F), >> > you can, too. >> > >> > If you don't value your message store, keep doing what you've been >> > doing...and don't bother backing-up your message store either. <wink> >> > -- >> > ~PA Bear >> > >> > Larry wrote: >> >> Thank you everyone. >> >> >> >> I just dragged the file, XXX.dbx, back into the OE folder, launched >> >> OE, >> >> did >> >> a file compact on the folder XXX, and it went down from 1.24 MB to 58 > KB. >> >> So that settles that. >> >> >> >> As far as OE's vulnerabilty to this kind of disaster is concerned, >> >> I've >> >> been >> >> using the same OE program for over nine years and never lost the > contents >> >> of >> >> a folder and never heard of that happening. About a year ago, I began > to >> >> have computer freeze-ups when doing send-receive, and that's when PA > Baer >> >> (I >> >> think it was) gave me the instructions of OE maintenance, which I've >> >> followed pretty regularly since then. But not 100 percent! Not > keeping >> >> the >> >> Inbox completely empty! I have an extremely active e-mail >> >> correspondence, >> >> and that's just not realistic for me. >> >> >> >> "Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message >> >> news:uGu5ekakIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... >> >>> That reinforces what I thought. That is the file is empty, and the > size >> >>> would not reflect that there is mail in it as the size is not reduced >> >>> until >> >>> you compact. >> >>> -- >> >>> Bruce Hagen >> >>> MS-MVP Outlook Express >> >>> Imperial Beach, CA >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message >> >>> news:%235VtCHXkIHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >> >>>> Hi, sorry I didn't get back sooner. >> >>>> >> >>>> I downloaded OE Reader as recommended, browsed to the Inbox.dbx file >> >>>> (which >> >>>> I had renamed XXX.dbx and placed on the Desktop), and opened it. >> >> Message >> >>>> said: >> >>>> >> >>>> "File does not contain any message." >> >>>> >> >>>> Yet the file's size is 1.24 MB. >> >>>> >> >>>> Go figure. >> >>>> >> >>>> Larry >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> "bobster" <fauxie@bogus.net> wrote in message >> >>>> news:uyN57AIkIHA.4664@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> >>>>> Try this. It's the successor to MiTec OE view. I use it and it > works >> >>>>> fine for me. >> >>>>> >> >>>>> http://www.snapfiles.com/get/dbxviewer.html >> >>>>> >> >>>>> "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> wrote in message >> >>>>> news:erUy0yAkIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> >>>>>> I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How > did >> >>>>>> you >> >>>>> determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 > MB? >> >>>>> >> >>>>> By seeing the size of the Inbox.dbx file in Windows Explorer. >> >>>>> >> >>>>>> > 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx >> >> files >> >>>> and >> >>>>> run >> >>>>>> it >> >>>>> >> >>>>> I did try OE Extract and it doesn't do anything and provides no >> >>>>> instructions, so I guess one of the nonfreeware apps is next. >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> "dadiOH" <someone@fuggetit.com> wrote in message >> >>>>> news:eGJ5QW$jIHA.4120@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >> >>>>>> Larry wrote: >> >>>>>>> Strange things going on (see below), but I think the problem may > be >> >>>>>>> solvable. >> >>>>>>> >> >>>>>>> 1. The Inbox, prior to the problem, would have been around 80 or > 90 >> >>>>>>> MB. As I said, my procedure is to let it build up for a few >> >>>>>>> weeks >> >>>>>>> and then move a lot of it into a custom folder. But after the >> >>>>>>> problem occurred, the Inbox was 130 KB. After I received e-mails >> >>>>>>> since this morning, it went up to about 400 KB. >> >>>>>>> >> >>>>>>> 2. But here's the strange thing: just now I looked again, and > the >> >>>>>>> only Inbox.dbx in the OE folder has 1.24 MB!!! So somehow it's >> >>>>>>> returned. >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> I haven't been following this thread but this confuses me. How >> >>>>>> did >> >>>>>> you >> >>>>>> determine the size of it when it was 400KB? And when it was 1.24 > MB? >> >>>>>> ________________ >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>>> 3. Yet the Inbox in the OE application is still just the e-mails >> >>>>>>> received since this morning. >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> Because it is screwed up. That is, whatever methodology used to >> >>>>>> determine messages start/end and/or count is wrong. Like a file > that >> >>>>>> has its EOF in the wrong place/ >> >>>>>> __________________ >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> This is what I'd do... >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> 1. Save a copy of Inbox.dbx somewhere >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> 2. Get any of the many programs to extract messages from .dbx >> >>>>>> files >> >>>>>> and >> >>>>>> run it >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> 3. If it is successful in getting your messages, save them as >> >>>>>> MAIL > ( >> >>>>>> i.e., *.eml - separate, discrete messages) in a folder on your >> >>>>>> desktop. >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> If not successful, forget what follows. >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> 4. Delete Inbox.dbx using Explorer >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> 5. Open OE and display its Inbox - which should now be empty >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> 6. Select all the recovered email messages in your temporary > desktop >> >>>>>> folder and drag them to the OE pane where they would normally be >> >>>>>> displayed. >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> 7. Close OE >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> dadiOH >> >> >
Guest PA Bear [MS MVP] Posted March 30, 2008 Posted March 30, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished [i note that Bill is running WinXP SP2 now, not Win98.] While "Automatically compact messages in the background" is removed in a fully updated OE6 running in WinXP SP2 (only), Windows will automatically compact all OE folders every 100 times you close OE *if* you haven't done a manual compact in the meantime. [The CompactCount in the Registry is automatically reset to 0 (zero) when you compact manually.] That being said: 1. IMHO, compacting every 100 closings is not frequent enough for heavy users of OE. Such users are putting their message store at risk if and when Automatic Compacting takes place. 2. Answering No at the Automatic Compacting prompt does *not* cancel the operation! It only means that Window will not notify you that Automatic Compacting is about to take place every time after that. Never try to shut down your machine or close OE via Task Manager when an automatic or manual compacting is taking place. 3. Despite repeated requests from MVPs, there still is no MS documentation whatsoever of the Automatic Compacting functionality. -- ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002 AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net DTS-L http://dts-l.net/ Bill in Co. wrote: > And you pretty much HAVE to remember to do it, if you don't have that > background compacting option turned on (and ever since the autocompacting > feature was removed - at least in WinXP SP2). <snip>
Guest Gary S. Terhune Posted March 30, 2008 Posted March 30, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished Yes, it's possible. I prefer to read email in the Inbox and then sort rather than presort (which means you potentially have to deal with several folders just to read the email that came in.) -- Gary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User http://www.grystmill.com "Franc Zabkar" <fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote in message news:pokuu39s0ck4g9l18v5fj0c39ocbdcd206@4ax.com... > On Sun, 30 Mar 2008 01:51:43 -0400, "Larry" <larry328NOSPAM@att.net> > put finger to keyboard and composed: > >>> I just do it daily. >> >>Wow. I just never thought of OE as being so vulnerable that this kind of >>continual attention and maintenance was required to avoid disasters. >> >>I'll certainly have to do that OE backup regularly. > > Why don't you just set up a bunch of filters so that incoming messages > are automatically sorted as to author or type and redirected into > their own respective mailboxes, eg Family / Friends / Forums / > Publications / Your_ISP / Junk / Spam? > > Is this even possible in OE? > > - Franc Zabkar > -- > Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.
Guest Bill in Co. Posted March 30, 2008 Posted March 30, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote: > [i note that Bill is running WinXP SP2 now, not Win98.] Mostly now, but I still have my Win98SE up and running. More below. > While "Automatically compact messages in the background" is removed in a > fully updated OE6 running in WinXP SP2 (only), Windows will automatically > compact all OE folders every 100 times you close OE *if* you haven't done > a > manual compact in the meantime. [The CompactCount in the Registry is > automatically reset to 0 (zero) when you compact manually.] > > That being said: > > 1. IMHO, compacting every 100 closings is not frequent enough for heavy > users of OE. Such users are putting their message store at risk if and > when > Automatic Compacting takes place. > > 2. Answering No at the Automatic Compacting prompt does *not* cancel the > operation! It only means that Window will not notify you that Automatic > Compacting is about to take place every time after that. Never try to > shut > down your machine or close OE via Task Manager when an automatic or manual > compacting is taking place. > > 3. Despite repeated requests from MVPs, there still is no MS documentation > whatsoever of the Automatic Compacting functionality. > -- I'm not sure what you mean by that. It just automatically compacts the dbx database store (a few seconds after opening OE) and significantly reduces its size; that's its functionality, isn't it? The automatic feature is nice in that you don't have to think about it. The disavantage is, as has been mentioned: if the computer crashes or hangs up while the compaction is running (much more likely if you're multitasking and doing other things, and not waiting for the compaction to run), it can corrupt the database file. With the automatic feature engaged, there are more chances for that happening. > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) > MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002 > AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net > DTS-L http://dts-l.net/ > > > Bill in Co. wrote: >> And you pretty much HAVE to remember to do it, if you don't have that >> background compacting option turned on (and ever since the autocompacting >> feature was removed - at least in WinXP SP2). > <snip>
Guest PA Bear [MS MVP] Posted March 30, 2008 Posted March 30, 2008 Re: Inbox contents simply vanished >> 3. Despite repeated requests from MVPs, there still is no MS >> documentation >> whatsoever of the Automatic Compacting functionality. > > I'm not sure what you mean by that See if you can find any reference to Automatic Compacting in OE on any microsoft.com page (e.g., KB article; OE-specific page). Bill in Co. wrote: > PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote: >> [i note that Bill is running WinXP SP2 now, not Win98.] > > Mostly now, but I still have my Win98SE up and running. More below. > >> While "Automatically compact messages in the background" is removed in a >> fully updated OE6 running in WinXP SP2 (only), Windows will automatically >> compact all OE folders every 100 times you close OE *if* you haven't done >> a >> manual compact in the meantime. [The CompactCount in the Registry is >> automatically reset to 0 (zero) when you compact manually.] >> >> That being said: >> >> 1. IMHO, compacting every 100 closings is not frequent enough for heavy >> users of OE. Such users are putting their message store at risk if and >> when >> Automatic Compacting takes place. >> >> 2. Answering No at the Automatic Compacting prompt does *not* cancel the >> operation! It only means that Window will not notify you that Automatic >> Compacting is about to take place every time after that. Never try to >> shut >> down your machine or close OE via Task Manager when an automatic or >> manual >> compacting is taking place. >> >> 3. Despite repeated requests from MVPs, there still is no MS >> documentation >> whatsoever of the Automatic Compacting functionality. >> -- > > I'm not sure what you mean by that. It just automatically compacts the > dbx database store (a few seconds after opening OE) and significantly > reduces its size; that's its functionality, isn't it? The automatic > feature is nice in that you don't have to think about it. The > disavantage > is, as has been mentioned: if the computer crashes or hangs up while the > compaction is running (much more likely if you're multitasking and doing > other things, and not waiting for the compaction to run), it can corrupt > the > database file. With the automatic feature engaged, there are more > chances > for that happening. > > >> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) >> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002 >> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net >> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/ >> >> >> Bill in Co. wrote: >>> And you pretty much HAVE to remember to do it, if you don't have that >>> background compacting option turned on (and ever since the >>> autocompacting >>> feature was removed - at least in WinXP SP2). >> <snip>
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