Outlook Express E-mails Missing

While using Outlook Express to send E-mails, a dialogue window popped up with
the message, "An error has occurred, and windows need to close."
Outlook Express shut down, but my computer did not shut down.
I re-opened Outlook Express Inbox and everything appeared normal,
but when I opened my "sent" E-mail folder,
all of my E-mails sent during the last 2 weeks were missing.
And I cannot find them. All of my E-mails sent before the last 2 weeks are
still accessible -- but all of the E-mails sent during the last 2 weeks are
missing.
Two Questions:
1. Why did this happen?
2. How can I retrieve my missing E-mails?
Please help.
--
Thank You,
Ray10X10

A1. General OE Caveats:

- Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
folders created for this purpose.

- Empty Deleted Items folder daily.

- Disable Background Compacting [N/A in SP2] and frequently perform a manual
compact of all OE folders while "working offline". More at
http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm

- WinXP SP2 only: Do not attempt to close OE via Task Manager or shutdown
your machine if Automatic Compacting is taking place.

- WinXP SP2 only: If your machine is fully up-to-date at Windows Update,
installing the following patch (KB918766) will help to avoid such data loss
in the futu
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...2-98af2256ccc3

This patch will be included in the next Cumulative Update for Outlook
Express/WinXP SP2.

- Your anti-virus application's email scanning feature can also cause
corruption. Disable it. It provides no additional protection.

A2. If you've not already compacted all folders, move Sent Items.dbx out of
your message store (http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#storemain) and
into another Windows folder. Then see http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#4
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)

Ray10X10 wrote:
While using Outlook Express to send E-mails, a dialogue window popped up
with the message, "An error has occurred, and windows need to close."
Outlook Express shut down, but my computer did not shut down.
I re-opened Outlook Express Inbox and everything appeared normal,
but when I opened my "sent" E-mail folder,
all of my E-mails sent during the last 2 weeks were missing.
And I cannot find them. All of my E-mails sent before the last 2 weeks are
still accessible -- but all of the E-mails sent during the last 2 weeks
are
missing.
Two Questions:
1. Why did this happen?
2. How can I retrieve my missing E-mails?
Please help.

OE is very susceptible to message store corruption. See here for message
recovery techniques: www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#4 and check points 2 and 3
for the future.

steve

"Ray10X10" vacantlot.com wrote in message
...
While using Outlook Express to send E-mails, a dialogue window popped up
with
the message, "An error has occurred, and windows need to close."
Outlook Express shut down, but my computer did not shut down.
I re-opened Outlook Express Inbox and everything appeared normal,
but when I opened my "sent" E-mail folder,
all of my E-mails sent during the last 2 weeks were missing.
And I cannot find them. All of my E-mails sent before the last 2 weeks are
still accessible -- but all of the E-mails sent during the last 2 weeks
are
missing.
Two Questions:
1. Why did this happen?
2. How can I retrieve my missing E-mails?
Please help.
--
Thank You,
Ray10X10