Try these things:
-The following site had some interesting information about lost inbox
files (which are generally named inbox.dbx in Outlook Express):
http://www.mindspring.com/~oe_oh/recovering_a_lost_message_store.htm
On the site, scroll down to 'Outlook Express Versions 5.0 and up' as
well as 'Total Loss of Messages'.
The author says the following regarding recovery of inbox files:
"There are two possibilities of where the messages are located (not
including a total wipeout of the message stores). One exists that OE,
during installation, creates a whole new Identity for use. Personally
I would like to know that in these situations, does the old Identity
exist in the registry. Something I have asked about but never received
any reply.
The second possibility of the old messages location is they are still
in the Inbox.dbx file (using this one file as an example) that may
create an Inbox(x).dbx where x is a number from one on up. It starts
with Inbox(1).dbx and if you look at the date on the file, it will be
the most recent one. People have lost the Inbox several times may find
an Inbox(5).dbx file and never knew what was going on, just shrugged
it off as lost messages."
You can find out where your messages are stored by going to:
Tools>Options>Maintenance>Store Folder
The file that actually contains your stored messages is named 'Inbox.dbx'.
If you do not find this file, do a search of your computer for
inbox.dbx or other .dbx files.
Once you find the inbox.dbx location, write it down. Next, go to
Outlook Express and do:
File>Import>Messages>Your version OE
"Press NEXT after you have made the selection.
On the next dialog box, select "Import message from an OE 5.x (5.5 or
6.0 store directory. Press the NEXT button and you will see a new
dialog box open with the Browse button. Here you can either copy and
paste the old message store folder or press Browse and navigate to the
old message store folder. Once there, click on it to highlight it, the
OK button will appear and then press it.
Now you can press the NEXT button and you will see a list of Mail
folders that exists for that old Identity. CTRL Click on the ones you
want or Select All (default option) to import all the folders.
Press NEXT and the import begins. Finish out the Import Wizard and you
should be back in business."
-If this does not work, you might want to see Microsoft's Outlook
Express help webpage, located at:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?xmlid=fh;en-us;oex
-I am not sure if your inbox may have been damaged or if files cannot
be read, but there is also an Inbox repair tool available at (although
I have not verified its effectiveness or cost):
http://www.oemailrecovery.com/faq-repair-outlook-express-inbox.html
-You should also create a backup folder of your email by taking the
following steps (from
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;270670&spid=2578&sid=78):
Copy Mail Files to a Backup Folder
To make a backup copy of your Outlook Express e-mail message files:
1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
2. On the Maintenance tab, click Store Folder.
3. Select the folder location, and then press CTRL+C to copy the location.
4. Click Cancel, and then click Cancel again to close the dialog box.
5. Click Start, and then click Run.
6. In the Open box, press CTRL+V, and then click OK.
7. On the Edit menu, click Select All.
8. On the Edit menu, click Copy, and then close the window.
9. Right-click any empty space on your desktop, click New, and then click Folder.
10. Type mail backup for the folder name, and then press ENTER.
11. Double-click the Mail Backup folder to open it.
12. On the Edit menu, click Paste.
13. Close the Mail Backup window.
I hope this helps you recover your files. Best of luck. |
