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Hello folks, I am using Windows XP Pro with SP2 and Outlook Express. I have used OE for years. I have created several folders and rules to move messages into these folders. I ran a chkdsk the other day and rebooted, now I have just one folder that all the messages are missing in. Wouldn't be a big deal, but we're talking about several thousand important business messages.
What should I do?
Verify that OE is pointing to the correct storage location. If yes then the files are corrupt. There are third-party tools that may or may not be able to repair the files. If not, restore from the backup... you do have a backup for those important messages, right????:devil:
Usually when you run a chkdsk and things go haywire that is an indication that the drive may be failing.
Along with what CeeBee has suggested you may be able to find an archived file which you can retrieve from.
With that many emails do you have any backups?
Yes, I have a backup, but its not that recent....
Strange thing is - the outbox.dbx file is very large. Shouldn't it be a small file?
I am sorry I realized later that it was outlook express and not outlook.
First you need to set the system to "Show All Files"
This is where the folders are
C:\Documents and Settings\Your name\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{C81EB24B-8657-4F26-9421-A6215E8E07EE}\Microsoft\Outlook Express
Yes, I am aware of where the DBX files are located.
I have nothing in my Outbox, so why should it be a huge file?
It shouldnt be any larger than maybe 10kb or so. Why not try this: download a demo of OE Mail Recovery and run the demo on your outbox.dbx. It will list all files that it finds..at least that way you may find where they are. If you want to recover them, you have to buy the program..but it will save all of the items in an *.eml format
OE will try to compact every so often. When it does, it sends copies of all of your folders to the Recycle Bin. You might see if those are still there.
Good Luck!
There may also be this possibility:
http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/...-and-scandisk/
What is strange is there is no CHK file. Its like the DBX file just disappeared.
You could try ntfsundelete;
http://majorgeeks.com/NTFS_Undelete_d5532.html