Re: Sent Items still MIA, tried importing from .dbx
- From: "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 18:59:23 -0400
...If the Sent Items.dbx could still be
showing as 250 MB, though could theoretically be empty if I *hadn't*
compacted recently, knowing that I DID compact at some point, either before
or after the contents went MIA, why would it still show that size?
Sent Items.dbx (and/or possibly your identity) is corrupted.
...why does my Deleted Items.dbx show a comparably large size if,
after compacting, this space was supposed to be recovered?
Deleted Items.dbx (and/or possibly your identiy) is corrupted.
Well, not only is there NO corresponding dbx folder in my store for that
BlahBlahBlah Sent folder
BlahBlahBlah Sent.dbx (and/or possibly your identiy) is corrupted.
...now that I look at my current Message Rules, there
are red "x"'s next to those rules
The folders to which the Rules point (and/or possibly your identiy) are corrupted.
How does THIS fit into my troubles????
You hadn't been following the caveats we've posted in replies to this thread and tons of other threads in OE newsgroups.
--
~PA Bear
T wrote:
I had a long detailed response semi-composed to your last reply, but have
suspended posting it, at least for now, in the hopes of getting my issue
resolved sooner rather than later, as my ability to focus, concentrate and
understand is rapidly disappearing, and in addition, have more questions and
info regarding my present dilemma.
It does look like the suggested procedure will not work, as looking back it
does seem that I followed all the steps correctly, (though have not tried
again for several days)
My question here relates to the possible role - or not - that compacting may
have played in the loss or corruption. If the Sent Items.dbx could still be
showing as 250 MB, though could theoretically be empty if I *hadn't*
compacted recently, knowing that I DID compact at some point, either before
or after the contents went MIA, why would it still show that size? Even more
confusing, why does my Deleted Items.dbx show a comparably large size if,
after compacting, this space was supposed to be recovered? I certainly did
not delete nearly 300 MB since my last compact, and yet there are only 10 or
so e-mails in that folder.
Another question/concern, if making user-defined folders is supposed to
preserve and protect e-mails, and the folder's location is not important...I
know for a fact that I DID have one subfolder created UNDER my Sent Items -
as I wanted to keep e-mails sent from a particular account distinct and
separate from the main folder. Not only would I physically drag messages
into it, I had Rules set up to automatically filter for when e-mails were
sent from that account via OE (as opposed to via the external webmail when
not using my home computer). I had that rule in place for several years, and
actually, that was how I discovered my Sent Items contents were missing to
begin with - I was looking for a previously sent reply which would have been
in that subfolder, not even the main Sent Items.
Well, not only is there NO corresponding dbx folder in my store for that
BlahBlahBlah Sent folder, now that I look at my current Message Rules, there
are red "x"'s next to those rules, and while the Conditions I set still
exist, the Action is now in red as incomplete. Namely "Where the From line
is...." remains exactly as I had set up, but now says "Move it to the
specified folder", with the word "specified" - instead of BlahBlahBlah Sent
- in red, and clicking on it reveals the current folder list, revealing the
non-existence of my BlahBlahBlah Sent folder.
How does THIS fit into my troubles????
"Bruce Hagen" wrote:
No more inline. I will put the answers to your questions as best as I can
in order:
1: You can create a shortcut to open Windows Explorer and even to get to
the store folder, but without opening it. AKS, you would want to create the
shortcut from Microsoft, not Outlook Express. (The end of the path being
Microsoft\Outlook Express).
You have to drag the folder back from the Desktop to the Outlook Express
store folder. You can't drag it in if the dbx files are showing in the
right hand pane. You need the Desktop icons showing in the right hand pane
and drag the folder to the unopened Outlook Express store folder in the
left pane.
2: The newer versions of TrendMicro are moving that program up the list of
unfavorable AVs for OE. TM used to work well, perhaps they will change.
3: Norton, besides its incompatibility with OE, is a huge resource hog.
Same as HP printers vs Epson. A single update, or fix, from HP will likely
be larger than your entire Epson software installation.
4: Subfolders are user created folders. You can have a user created folder
out in the open by itself, or under another folder, default or user
created. It doesn't matter. OE doesn't care where it is in the folder tree
as long as you created it. Every folder has its own dbx file which is what
is important, not the folder's location. Don't let your user created
folders get much over 100MB. Remember, the size does not diminish until
you compact.
5: If you compacted either after the messages went missing, or that caused
it, there is no other program that will have a chance to recover them
except DBXpress. Unless you know someone in one of the alphabet agencies,
such as: CIA, FBI, DHS, etc.
6: OEQB will not help with your current problem, only future ones. I use it
to backup everything in OE. From messages to message rules and everything
in-between. I just had to reformat my computer, and with a current copy of
my OEQB folder saved to CD, I restored four identities, complete with
messages, rules and address book in a matter of minutes. Here it is again.
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
7: (And most important). PA Bear was not trying to be nasty. He was simply
giving you the facts. As I stated earlier, if my manual import instructions
do not work, then DBXpress is your last resort.
The most important thing you must realize is that no one here either works
for, nor are advocates for MS. We all have lives of our own and do this
strictly because we wish to. We are *volunteers*.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA
"T" <T@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:E041E5CD-E0CC-4B8F-B080-A0543D2E6AD4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ok, I know we're supposed to include the contents of the previous replies,
but it was getting a bit difficult to follow with all the >>>'s, so I hope
since I have just a few questions and comments, partial copy-n-pastes will
suffice.
Me:"Bruce Hagen" wrote:So, to be clear, even though I have now made
copies of the original Sent Items.dbx in my assorted attempts, for this
procedure, I am not copying, but actually moving *that* file to the
Desktop?
With OE closed, you want to drag the Sent Items.dbx to the Desktop. OE
will
create a new Sent Items when you open it, but not if one already resides
in
the message store.
Me:Then, closing OE, I open the Store, and drag SentDraggedToDesktop.dbx
back
into the store and click overwrite. Right?
Not yet. Open OE and create a folder with the same name as the new named
one
on the Desktop. Open this folder and then close OE. Now open Windows
Explorer back up and expand the path to the Outlook Express message
store.
Click on the Desktop at the top of the folder tree. Your Desktop items
are
in the right pane. Drag the folder to the message store folder and let it
go. Do you get the prompt? If not, you either did not access the new
folder
you just created in OE and then close OE, or this method will not work.
Sorry, I was short-cutting, but I know I need to create a new folder in
OE,
open it, close OE, go back to the store. Meanwhile, since I had been
attempting the various recovery procedures, I went ahead and made a
shortcut
to the store folder on my desktop, so not using Windows Explorer to return
to
it. Would this matter during the dragging process of the
SentDraggedToDesktop.dbx back to the store?
2: The worst AV program you can put on a machine wit OE is Norton, and
McAfee ranks a very close second. I suggest you get rid of both
completely.
wow. did not know that. Researched and finally opted for McAfee after
one-month trial
Should have researched in this newsgroup. You would have received
different
results. I have bought machines that came with a free trial of McAfee and
Norton. Always removed them before I even started to set up a profile.
Indeed. I was seriously considering AVG, and even looked into Trend Micro,
but I was coming up against the deadline of my Norton expiring, and knew
I'd
need a whole weekend to devote to the changeover (my home computer, no
time
for maintenance or problems during the week). But had I looked in here,
I'm
sure I would have gotten even more confused about what to do. Wouldn't
have
thought to explore the OE support forum in relation to AV programs. Now I
know better.
Well, fingers crossed I'm not totally screwed - yet - and now alerted and
You can get a better AV program for free, and I use it myself.
Avast:
http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html
During the installation, choose Custom Installation and under Resident
Protection, uncheck: Internet Mail and Outlook/Exchange.
Phooey, I *just* purchased McAfee.
Well, you could take a chance that you won't lose any messages, or have
other problems, or you could get Avast, or even AVG. I would chalk the
price
you paid for the program as a learning experience. Or maybe Buyer's
Remorse.
enlightened to these problems so hopefully able to head them off at the
pass.
So far, I'm in comparative Buyer's Heaven as everything else is running so
much faster and more smoothly since I got rid of Norton!
General precautions for Outlook Express:
Do not archive mail in default OE folders. They will eventually become
corrupt. Create your own user defined folders for storing mail and
move
your
mail to them. Empty Deleted Items folder regularly. Keep user created
folders under 100MB, and Default folders as empty as is feasible.
Every message you send goes to Sent Items. Every message you receive goes
to
the Inbox. These folders are more prone to corruption because they are
constantly accessed and you have only a certain amount of control over
what
goes into them.
Read your Inbox messages and when you're done, either move them, or
delete
them.
You can have as many subfolders as you want and they can be under any
folder. They will not affect the folder they are under.
Ok, so better to move as much as possible out of "Inbox" and "Sent Items"
into subfolders. Now, since you referred to these as "user-defined", not
"sub", does this mean that rather than have all these subfolders in my
Inbox,
I should instead have these folders set up differently - namely, I think,
creating the new folders "higher up" in the tree, not just under Inbox?
And
each of these folders should be kept under 100 MB?
Also note that the size a message takes up is not recovered until you
compact. So even a folder like yout Sent Items that shows 250MB could
actually be empty if it wasn't compacted recently.
Ok, this kinda scares me. But since I DID compact at some point in the
past
couple of weeks, before OR after the Sent Items contents went missing, the
e-mails might still be in there?
In terms of archiving, is archiving them in Outlook (I don't know
offhand
what year) a safe, or better option?
I have never used Outlook, but it is a stronger program. I would stick
with
OE myself. Just create enough folders and backup daily with OEQB or a
like
program.
I'm sure it is probably in one of the links you provided, but what does
OEQB
refer to? And if I get the sub/user-defined foldering correct(ed), that
should help protect?
Thank you so much for all your input!
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA
.
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