Along with what Frank said.

In general:

Have all rules that divert mail to folders first.

Delete it from server next.

All others last.

Make sure that every rule, except diverting rules, also have Stop processing
more rules checked, unless that option is grayed out.

How to set up OE Message Rules:
http://www.oeupdates.com/outlook-exp...lock-spam.html

http://www.timeatlas.com/mos/Email/O...tlook_Express/

http://www.jackieswebworks.com/outlo...ss%20notes.htm

Some Message Rule Ideas:
http://www.mindspring.com/~majik/messagerules.htm

Some tips:
http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/tips/rules.htm

Message Rules not working?:
http://www.tomsterdam.com/insideoe/faqs/why.htm#rules

General precautions for Outlook Express:

Do not archive mail in default OE folders. They will eventually become
corrupt. Create your own user defined folders for storing mail and move your
mail to them. Empty Deleted Items folder regularly. Keep user created
folders under 100MB, and Default folders as empty as is feasible.

After you are done, follow up by compacting your folders manually while
working *offline* and do it often.

Click on Outlook Express at the top of the folder tree so no folders are
open. Then: File | Work Offline (or double click Working Online in the
Status Bar). File | Folder | Compact all folders. Don't touch anything until
the compacting is completed.

Turn off e-mail scanning in your anti-virus program. It is a redundant layer
of protection that eats up CPUs and causes a multitude of problems such as
time-outs and account setting changes. Your up-to-date A/V program will
continue to protect you sufficiently. For more, see:
http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#3

In Tools | Options | Maintenance: Uncheck Compact messages in background and
leave it unchecked. {N/A if running XP/SP2}.

And backup often.

Backup & Resto
http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/backup/
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"up for the game" wrote in message
...
Hi
Kind of unclear as how to present this, but....
I have a couple of dozen or so OE rules, most of which I have had for
a number of years and they have worked well.
Thankfully, one of them--the first one--copies ALL email to another
folder and then the successive ones work with individual folders. So,
I have a copy of all the email, which is needed now as OE seems to
periodically either 'drop' messages from files, or decides to just go
back a few weeks and not show the recent emails. Usually a restart of
the application 'brings the recently dropped messages' back to where
they belong.

Once or twice, the messages did not return and I needed to purchase
recovery software to do so as one time it was the 'Sent' box that was
not recovered....and, since I do a lot of my business via emailed
estimates, problems were sure to happen.

I believe OE application/data is corrupt and, yes, I have backup, but
even if it is a few days old, it will be problems. As mentioned, I
have a copy of all the incoming messages, so things are not so bad.

However, I believe it is time to try to nail down the culprit and I
think a good place to start would be the rules...all of which have the
stop processing more rules entry.

I have also thought a lot about moving to Pegasus or Mozilla mail,
but, as explained in earlier posts, I am concerned about maximum
mailbox folders/sizes.

I would appreciate any ideas on any of the above topics.

Thanks In Advance
Joe

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com