First:
It isn't messages being deleted that's the problem. It is the data
getting corrupted (during the compaction process, and at other times) -
that is the problem. One of the reasons I believe that it hasn't
happened to me for so long is that I keep all of my OE folder files AT
THE SAME LEVEL AS THE INBOX. before, when I had a loss of data, I was
able to restore it (the second time it happened) but I think I made sure
on that occasion that all of my folders would all just be subfolders of
the local folder.
What i will say is that, when you start being successful with the
correct renaming of one folder, you'll know how to rename the others in
similar suit. It may not take much more than half-an-hour, or the best
part of an hour.
What Mike advised is for the prevention in future of loss of Outlook
Express data. that's fine. If however you want to recover your currently
lost data, then the procedures I outlined etc are what to pursue.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gerald Levy" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, December 01, 2014 8:08 PM
Subject: Re: [JAWS-Users] Recovering Lost Outlook Express Messages
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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