Thanks so much for setting me on the right path. I googled "restoring .bak
files to .dbx in outlook express" and found a web site that provided
step-by-step instructions for recovering the lost email messages.
Fortunately, all the .bak files were still in my recycle bin, and following
the instructions, I was able to locate the main folder containing all the
corresponding .dbx files. But, as you say, the whole procedure is quite
complicated and involves a lot of file renaming. I had no idea that
compacting all folders could result in messages inadvertently being deleted.
So I'm wondering. Is there any way to prevent email messages from
inadvertently being deleted by performing a compact all procedure? I know
that OE automatically prompts you periodically to perform a compact all
procedure, but is it safe to continue doing so?
Gerald
----- Original Message -----
From: "Flor Lynch" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, December 01, 2014 9:42 AM
Subject: Re: [JAWS-Users] Recovering Lost Outlook Express Messages
Gerald,
I'll give a sketch or summary here.
The .bak files (in your Recycle Bin, if you didn't already empty it) are
the backup copies of your Outlook Express folders. If you could google
.bak to .dbx or similar, it may become quite clear what you need to do to
restore them. It's complicated to explain it (and I'm running out of time,
and haven't had to do this for thirteen years).
It's quite well-known that mailbox folders are more likely to become
corrupted during compaction than at almost any other time, which is why
Microsoft introduced the backup feature whereby past copies of OE folders
are sent to the Recycle Bin as .bak files during compaction. Using Windows
Explorer, you could then copy (or cut and paste) one of these .babk files
to a location perhaps an empty spot on your desktop or one on your hard
drive that you can identify. There, in windows Explorer, you can rename it
with .dbx as the suffix instead of .bak, F2 key then edit. enter when
done. Copy (or cut) the file, for pasting.
If you don't know the file path where the OE folder was originally stored,
you may find this out using the Store Folder... button in the Maintenance
Options therein.
that done, stay out of Outlook Express, and locate the corrupted OE folder
or file with windows Explorer or the Run dialogue: Delete (from the file
or list view) the corrupted folder; and paste the copied content of your
copied OE file/folder there.
Now, reopen Outlook Express, and check if it took. There is no guarantee
that it will work, and it is not the only way that might work. However,
googling will show you that this problem has been the bugbear of many OE
users in the past.
Some other points:
I would put all folders at the same level as the Inbox, so that the Inbox
does not have subfolders.
Another way to repair the missing .dbx files, is: Empty your Inbox of
existing messages and transfer them to some other folder you will create
or have created in outlook Express. Rename the .dbx file whose messages
you want to restore, OUTSIDE CLOSED Outlook Express, to Inbox.dbx. Now,
reopen Outlook Express. With luck, your new Inbox will have the missing
messages restored. Now, in outlook Express, you can move those messages
from your Inbox to another folder you will make or have made for the
purpose.
Repeat this process as often as necessary.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gerald Levy" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, December 01, 2014 12:11 PM
Subject: [JAWS-Users] Recovering Lost Outlook Express Messages
This is certainly a strange one. Yesterday, as I always do at the end of
the month, I performed a compact all folders procedure in Outlook Express
on my XP system. I have 82 folders in various categories which hold all
the messages I have decided to save. But for some reason, all the
messages in the last 12 folders on the list were somehow permanently
deleted, because they were all there before I performed the compact all
procedure. The first 67 folders appear to be intact, and I did not lose
any messages from them. Is there any way to recover the lost messages
from the last 12 folders? Or are they gone forever? I already tried a
system restore to no avail. Thanks.
Gerald
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