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Inbox contents dissappeared

Discussion in 'Microsoft Mail (Outlook / OE / Windows Mail)' started by demon, 2007/01/29.

  1. 2007/01/29
    demon

    demon Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hi, Hope you can help me . When I switched my PC on today I found that all the inbox files (49) have gone , last night it came up that "outlook can compact the messages" & I hit yes , I have done that before and I didn't notice anything different,
    Could that have caused them to dissappear?, Can I find them some where ?.
    I need some info from one of them ,
    Thanks Des.:confused:
     
    demon,
    #1
  2. 2007/01/29
    demon

    demon Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hi, Me again , I have found the missing files, but they are a " dbx" file apparently they were saved when I switched on today??? , I have had some more mail and that is in the " Inbox" OK ??? but I can't find anything to open them with. Any ideas? Thanks Des.:(
     
    demon,
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  4. 2007/01/29
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    After installing Cumulative Security Update for Outlook Express the *.dbx files are automatically backed up prior to compacting the folders. The backups end up in the Recycle Bin and have the same name but a different extension (*.bak).

    If you have installed KB923694, find the files in the Recycle Bin. With Outlook Express CLOSED, highlight them and restore to the original location. Find them again in the original location. Prior to changing the extension from *.bak to *.dbx, you have to change the extension of the existing *.dbx files to something else, e.g. *.xyz.

    Now when you open OE, your E-mail folders should be back to the state prior to compacting. If so, delete the *.xyz files.

    (... :confused: ... I have no idea why the backups are automatically moved to the Recycle Bin. ... :confused: ... The user might empty the Recycle Bin before noticing that he/she needs the backups. Maybe, if left there, they can't be overwritten the next time backups are created during compacting. The only solution is to immediately reopen OE and verify that everything is OK prior to emptying the Recycle Bin!)

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  5. 2007/01/29
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    I would actually copy the *.bak files to a different location, such as My Documents, prior to renaming them and reopening OE. If OE itself is corrupted, it may damage the files again and with no *.bak files, you're out of options.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  6. 2007/01/29
    RexB Lifetime Subscription

    RexB groundskeeper

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    demon, that problem is popping up more and more. Check this short thread for where the original files may be, hopefully undamaged or uncorrupted.
    http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=60675

    I started making more backups.

    Here, the first time that OE compacted and sent its backup folders to the Recycle Bin a month ago, my OE folders were still good. The second time OE compacted a week ago, it wrote a fresh set of backups to the Recycle Bin while the first set of backups were still there. Since my OE files & folders were still good, I emptied the Recycle Bin which was getting quite large.
     
    Last edited: 2007/01/29
    RexB,
    #5
  7. 2007/01/29
    Whiskeyman Lifetime Subscription

    Whiskeyman Inactive Alumni

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    To prevent this from happening create sub folders instead of storing your emails in the Inbox. Any important emails should be sent to a folder located outside of OE such as My Documents.
     
    Whiskeyman,
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  8. 2007/01/29
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    I don't think that the backups are written directly to the Recycle Bin since ther is a path to the original location which is the "E-mail folder ". I think that the backups get deleted when OE believes that the compacting procedure went well.

    Yes, the Recycle Bin can handle several files with the same name but a normal folder can not. Maybe that's why they move it to the Recycle Bin and hope that we do not empty it.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  9. 2007/01/30
    demon

    demon Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hi All Thanks for the reply's , I have found the files and I downloaded " DBXtract" ( found in an old reply to much the same problem). and you can open any of your dbx. files , I them saved the ones I need to another file.
    Will it keep doing this all the time or will it ask me first?
    I guess I had better double check the recycle bin before emptying each time.
    Is it better to delete KB923694 and carry on as I always have?.
    Thanks again Cheers Des.:confused:
     
    demon,
    #8
  10. 2007/01/30
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    KB923694 is a security update and should not be deleted.

    You should be prompted to confirm when OE suggests to compact the messages and you should be able to deny.

    In which location did you find the files?

    Were no files in the intended storage location?

    Have you moved the storage location from the default

    C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{7B19276B-CBAC-4630-845B-807C503E1904}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

    to a different location, e.g. on a different partition?

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #9
  11. 2007/01/30
    demon

    demon Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks Christer, I won't delete it then .
    When I opened DBXtract it came up with all the dbx. files listed, you just select the one you want and it extracts them and saves them in C:\ Documents & Setting \ Des, then I picked the ones I wanted and just sent them to My Documents, It looks as if you can select any folder to save then in that you want, it has a browse button.
    They were in C:\Documents and Settings\Des\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{680286C3-2A65-4612-A8BA-0323194C2497}\Microsoft\Outlook Express\.
    I originally did a search and found them but DBXtract just listed them all by itself.
    Thanks for your help Regards Des.
     
    demon,
    #10

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