Backing up Outlook Express messages

Recently there have been threads describing the loss of Outlook Express email messages.
This is usually due to problems during the compacting of OE's message files.
I have found the following
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918069/en-us
After installation, all OE message files will be automatically backed up before compacting.
Unfortunately this is not a fix after the fact, but rather a preventative measure to install before compacting. (At least this is how I read it.)
I am surprised MS has not given more publicity to this Update. It was not offered by Windows/Microsoft Update to my knowledge.
P.S. I would also add to the above article that it may be a good idea to disconnect access to the Internet when manually compacting.

 

Welshjim--Thanks for the response.
Although I have installed every Major and Critical Update Microsoft Update has offered me for some time (except for those optional ones which clearly do not apply), I do not show 918766 in Add/Remove or in my Windows Update Installation History. And it is not offered to me now when I just ran Microsoft Update manually.
I also have never seen the .bak folders in my Recycle Bin.
I wonder if this has happened to others. Perhaps my post will prod others to check.

 

I got the KB918766 Hotfix for Windows XP on 7/27/2006, display version 2. It replaced directdb.dll, msoe.dll, and wab32.dll.

I do not have Outlook Express installed.

 

PeteC--No, I run IE6 SP1. FWIW--nothing in the link in my first post or the download link implies this Hotfix is for IE7. The Hotfix came out in the April-May 2006 time frame according to the MS KB documents.

 

PeteC...It probably is in there lurking but I have never started it up. I suppose MS sends updates for it in hopes I will come to my senses.