Outlook Express 5.5 - old dbx files

I have on my box some *.dbx files left over from when the grandkids used hotmail on a visit here I want to know if I can safely deleted them. They are located in the following dir.:

C:\Windows\Application Date\MSN6\UserData\####\Hotmail\*.dbx where #### is a long alpha-numeric number.

The /UserData/ directory was hidden and checked properties as 'system'.

I have removed all other references to MSN, Hotmail etc. using Add/Remove and any uninstall utilities. Would also like to get rid of these files.

 

Hi JohnB
How about if you stuck them in your recycle bin for a week or so, just incase you need to restore them? They sound safe enough to delete, but I'd hate to be the one to lead you astray.

Daizy

 

Yes I will try that and see what happens. Thanks. John.

 

JohnB

You can safely delete the .dbx files. The files will rebuild on restart but will be smaller. In fact it may be a good idea to delete some of them on a regular basis. For example deleted items.dbx will save a copy of deleted mail even after using the empty trash option. This file can become rather large, wasting space, and slow performance by keeping a copy of things you did not want but only thought they were gone. While you're in the folder you might also want to open the .log files for clean up, pop3 and smtp, and delete the text since these files will also grow. One look at the content of the .log files and it might be easy to see how much you actually need this content.

 

Thanks guy's, I have moved the MSN6\*\etc directory to the recylce bin, also a MSN6 directory found under \windows\all users\etc. so far no adverse effects. Also found on a registry search several entries (MSN6) linked to the above so I have left them there for now. If no adverse effects in a week or so from moving the directories and files I will delete from R/C bin and see if a registry cleaner removes the entries.