Mystery manifestation

Can U believe it....

I shut down last night and when I started up this morning I find that OE has completely changed to a Welcome to Outlook Express.
All my previous folders gone, no record now of any In, Sent, Deleted or other communication.
Strangely enough the address book seems to have remained intact but that's about all.
I have used Sys Restore but that has had no effect on OE.
I have also tried Import Messages etc. using the c:/ path for retrieval...no luck..but they must be residing somewhere.
There must be a way I can retrieve my previous folders but at this stage my attempts have failed.
Any assistance much appreciated.
Thank you
roy66

 

1st step .
Online Virus check ( free )
http://housecall.antivirus.com/
http://www.coledata.com/virusalert.htm
http://www.cybertechhelp.com/html/misc/av.php
http://www.pandasoftware.es/activescan/activescan-com.asp

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Try choice 2 .

http://www.windows-help.net/windows98/ie50-11.shtml
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q194177
W95 you have 3 choices . With W98 , if you have IE5.1 or higher & you
still have IE4 installed the following applies . No IE4 only 2 choices .
IE5.5 if over the top of 5.1 , offers 3 choices .

You can install IE5.1 straight over 4 . A big feature with IE5 is that
it can be repaired without uninstalling . Here is how to do it . Open
Control Panel , Add / Remove , click on Microsoft Internet Explorer ,
then click on add / remove down the bottom . This opens a window with
3 choices .

Choice 1. Add , insert your IE5 install program & you can find other
items you may not have installed 1st time .

Choice 2. Repair , fixes problems that may crop up with IE5 / Outlook

Choice 3. If unfixable , removes IE5 & goes back to IE4 , now if you
want to you can reinstall IE5 or a later version or another browser
altogether .

No Microsoft Internet Explorer in Control Panel !
http://www.windows-help.net/windows98/ie50-11.shtml
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q194177
Start > Run , key in msinfo32 and press Enter . Click on Tools > IE Repair Tool or Start >
Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information . Click on Tools > IE Repair Tool .

Internet Explorer Repair tool from a command prompt:
http://www.windows-help.net/windows98/ie50-11.shtml
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q194177
Click Start , and then click Run .
In the Open box, type the following command, and then click OK :
rundll32 setupwbv.dll,IE5Maintenance "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Setup\SETUP.EXE" /g "C:\WINDOWS\IE Uninstall Log.Txt"
NOTE : This command is case sensitive.

W2000 > Start > Run
then enter exactly (copy & paste)
rundll32.exe setupwbv.dll,IE5Maintenance
this will give you the IE Repair dialog... proceed to repair IE

Repair IE6
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q318378
http://www.3dspotlight.com/tweaks/ie6/index.shtml
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/442/

 

jmatt,

You sure have gone to a lot of trouble to help but I'm not sure it is relevant to my situation.

Whilst I did overlook to mention it was OE6 on XP..those particulars never the less are included as part of the signature on my postings.....
SORRY
roy66

 

Yes sir. I most certainly can

Ah Yes, ! The good ol' Windows XP. Stuff may actually be there but if XP does not think you need to see it you won't.

XP did roughly the same ( the making changes part anyway ) to me too and I ( SUPPOSEDLY ) had OE shutdown via the add/remove in Control panel just to find that XP had put it back.

The same was done with MSN Messenger. It was back sittin in the systray also.

But I would log off and back on as my user name and it would be gone.

Haven't had either one even on the machine for years in 95, 98 and 98SE. And I don't need them now either.

OE, MSN and XP left the machine that day.

BillyBob

 

Did you do a search for *.dbx files? [making sure you have set your folder option view settings to see all the system and hidden goodies and your search options are using advanced features, inbox is in hiddenfolder]. If multiple user accounts are being used your's will have it's own ID key. Once located [fingers crossed for ya'] they should be able to imported:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q313055

Did you logoff and log back on as what ever "user" you are?

Have you set up OE for different identities and are you using/logged in correct ID?

These are the basic checks when hoping for a simple slipup.

==================
For a couple of "ut oh', I sure hope it wasn't this'! "

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q321505

I hope this also wasn't an option setting that you may have overlooked. As I recall there are some switches that set an auto clean and deletion on a user set time schedule. Sorry for foggy answer here, but I'm just to lazy to open OE or Tweakui to see what's offered. It's past my bedtime and that's where I'm headed.....

Just found a site with what looks to be pertinent nfo at a quick glance so here it is. May be some useful info in here... and with that "good night ".....

http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/problems/bugs.htm#noswitch

Scroll back to the top of the page and make note of the first link. The "corrupted inbox" sure sounds like De'Javue huh? I think this isn't looking so good........ but can be recoverable.

=========
wow wee!!!,
I wasn't aware of All the ways OE mail can disappear on ya'! Haven't backed mine up in awhile. NOTE to self: back this stuff up A.S.A.P!

 

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q313055

goddez1,

U R a LIFESAVER.

Thanks a MILLION.......man do I mean that.

Thanks, thanks, thanks.

and to all the rest of you out there as well.

We all mess it up at times....is that O.K. (all) but this board is the oil of the PC.

thanks
roy66

 

Can you please post the procedure for the backing up.

Thanks.

 

http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/backup/index.htm

NOTE* The Utilitlity offer will do this but subhints for doing this in the simple to complex manner yourself is at the bottom via buttons.

Which is included in the link I had already supplied. You should take a peek at this one it has other links to utililities or tips and hints that may prove useful at some time.

Hmmm, I wonder if this subject has been posted before and is in the archives??

==========
Your welcome,
Thanks for the update and I'm so glad this had a happy ending.