I'm not able to delete read messages

For some reason, OE won't allow me to delete any read messages.
Never had this problem before and I haven't made any changes to OE.
I have compacted all folders and still can't delete read messages.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
*Anna*

Deleted Items is probably corrupt. Move any messages you wish to save,
(there shouldn't be), out of Deleted Items to a local folder you create.
Then:

Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the location of
your Outlook Express files. Press the Tab key to highlight the folder
location, then Ctrl+C. Close OE, then Start | Run | Ctrl+V will put the
location in the box - Click OK and you'll see the OE files. Otherwise, write
the location down and navigate to it in Windows Explorer.

In WinXP, Win2K & Win2K03, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default
marked as hidden. To view these files in Windows Explorer, you must enable
Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder Options
Icon | View, or in Windows Explorer | Tools | Folder Options | View.

With OE closed, find the DBX file for the folder in question {Deleted
Items.dbx} and delete it. A new one will be created automatically when you
open OE.

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}.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"*Anna*" wrote in message
...
For some reason, OE won't allow me to delete any read messages.
Never had this problem before and I haven't made any changes to OE.
I have compacted all folders and still can't delete read messages.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
*Anna*

Are you referring to email messages or news posts?

News posts are not deleted...they are marked as 'read'. You can set your
newsreader to not display posts that you have already read. I believe
read posts effectively disappear when you compact your folders.

---
Ted Zieglar
"Backup is a computer user's best friend."

*Anna* wrote:
For some reason, OE won't allow me to delete any read messages.
Never had this problem before and I haven't made any changes to OE.
I have compacted all folders and still can't delete read messages.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
*Anna*

Hi Bruce! I C&P'd your help below and printed it out. I followed your
instructions and VOILA...it's fixed! Thank you so very much for your kind
help Bruce! You are truly appreciated! Have a great day and thanks again!!
*Anna*

"Bruce Hagen" wrote:

Deleted Items is probably corrupt. Move any messages you wish to save,
(there shouldn't be), out of Deleted Items to a local folder you create.
Then:

Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the location of
your Outlook Express files. Press the Tab key to highlight the folder
location, then Ctrl+C. Close OE, then Start | Run | Ctrl+V will put the
location in the box - Click OK and you'll see the OE files. Otherwise, write
the location down and navigate to it in Windows Explorer.

In WinXP, Win2K & Win2K03, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default
marked as hidden. To view these files in Windows Explorer, you must enable
Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder Options
Icon | View, or in Windows Explorer | Tools | Folder Options | View.

With OE closed, find the DBX file for the folder in question {Deleted
Items.dbx} and delete it. A new one will be created automatically when you
open OE.

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}.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"*Anna*" wrote in message
...
For some reason, OE won't allow me to delete any read messages.
Never had this problem before and I haven't made any changes to OE.
I have compacted all folders and still can't delete read messages.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
*Anna*

You're welcome, Anna. Glad it's fixed & thanks for posting back.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"*Anna*" wrote in message
...
Hi Bruce! I C&P'd your help below and printed it out. I followed your
instructions and VOILA...it's fixed! Thank you so very much for your kind
help Bruce! You are truly appreciated! Have a great day and thanks
again!!
*Anna*

"Bruce Hagen" wrote:

Deleted Items is probably corrupt. Move any messages you wish to save,
(there shouldn't be), out of Deleted Items to a local folder you create.
Then:

Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the location of
your Outlook Express files. Press the Tab key to highlight the folder
location, then Ctrl+C. Close OE, then Start | Run | Ctrl+V will put the
location in the box - Click OK and you'll see the OE files. Otherwise,
write
the location down and navigate to it in Windows Explorer.

In WinXP, Win2K & Win2K03, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default
marked as hidden. To view these files in Windows Explorer, you must
enable
Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder
Options
Icon | View, or in Windows Explorer | Tools | Folder Options | View.

With OE closed, find the DBX file for the folder in question {Deleted
Items.dbx} and delete it. A new one will be created automatically when
you
open OE.

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}.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"*Anna*" wrote in message
...
For some reason, OE won't allow me to delete any read messages.
Never had this problem before and I haven't made any changes to OE.
I have compacted all folders and still can't delete read messages.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
*Anna*