OE6 will not send mail

I've used OE to send and receive mail on my POP3 account(s) for
approximately 10 years.

Most times it works fine but occasionally, after having already
successfully sent and received mail, new outgoing messages will just sit in
the Out Box and will not leave until I reboot the machine.

In these circumstances, when I re-boot an Outlook Express message box pops
up that says "Do you want to abort the current download? Y/N"

However, I'm not downloading anything. I have Windows Automatic Update set
to prompt me before installing anything and AFAIK the only other app that
downloads stuff silently is my AV/firewall s/w (NIS2005) which downloads
virus definitions on a regular basis.

Can anyone offer a cause and hopefully a solution for this problem?

Thanks

Garry

XP Pro SP2
IE6.00.2900
OE6.00.2900

Create a new Outbox, and Sent Items folder.

Do the following for the Outbox, and Sent Items after you move any messages
you wish to save to a local folder you create.

Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the location of
your Outlook Express files. Write the location down and navigate to it in
Windows Explorer or, copy and paste it into Start | Run.

In WinXP, Win2K & Win2K3, 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 Outbox.dbx and Sent Items.dbx file and delete them.
New files will be created automatically when you open OE.

To help prevent this in the futu

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 or SP3}.
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA


"Garry Douglas" wrote in message
et...
I've used OE to send and receive mail on my POP3 account(s) for
approximately 10 years.

Most times it works fine but occasionally, after having already
successfully sent and received mail, new outgoing messages will just sit
in the Out Box and will not leave until I reboot the machine.

In these circumstances, when I re-boot an Outlook Express message box pops
up that says "Do you want to abort the current download? Y/N"

However, I'm not downloading anything. I have Windows Automatic Update set
to prompt me before installing anything and AFAIK the only other app that
downloads stuff silently is my AV/firewall s/w (NIS2005) which downloads
virus definitions on a regular basis.

Can anyone offer a cause and hopefully a solution for this problem?

Thanks

Garry

XP Pro SP2
IE6.00.2900
OE6.00.2900

[My version]

1a. Move any messages that you want to keep out of Sent Items and Deleted
Items folders and into other local OE folders you've created for archiving
(saving) such messages.

1b. Move 99% of your messages in your Inbox folder to other local OE
folders, too.

2. Write down the location of your identity's store
(http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#storemain).

3. Close OE.

4. In Windows Explorer, navigate to your store folder, find & delete the
files Outbox.dbx, Sent Items.dbx, and Deleted Items.dbx.

To avoid such problems in the future, adhere to the following 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.

- Frequently perform a manual compact of all OE folders while "working
offline". More at http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm

- Do not cancel Automatic Compacting, should it occur, and do not attempt to
close OE via Task Manager or shutdown your machine if Automatic Compacting
is taking place.

- Disable email scanning by your anti-virus application. It can cause
corruption (i.e., loss of messages) and provides no additional protection:

Why you don't need your anti-virus to scan your email
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tuto...ning/index.htm
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Garry Douglas wrote:
I've used OE to send and receive mail on my POP3 account(s) for
approximately 10 years.

Most times it works fine but occasionally, after having already
successfully sent and received mail, new outgoing messages will just sit
in
the Out Box and will not leave until I reboot the machine.

In these circumstances, when I re-boot an Outlook Express message box pops
up that says "Do you want to abort the current download? Y/N"

However, I'm not downloading anything. I have Windows Automatic Update set
to prompt me before installing anything and AFAIK the only other app that
downloads stuff silently is my AV/firewall s/w (NIS2005) which downloads
virus definitions on a regular basis.

Can anyone offer a cause and hopefully a solution for this problem?

Thanks

Garry

XP Pro SP2
IE6.00.2900
OE6.00.2900

"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
Create a new Outbox, and Sent Items folder.

Do the following for the Outbox, and Sent Items after you move any
messages you wish to save to a local folder you create.

Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the location of
your Outlook Express files. Write the location down and navigate to it in
Windows Explorer or, copy and paste it into Start | Run.

In WinXP, Win2K & Win2K3, 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 Outbox.dbx and Sent Items.dbx file and delete
them. New files will be created automatically when you open OE.

To help prevent this in the futu

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 or SP3}.

Bruce

I already do all but one of the things you suggest i.e. not archiving mail
in default folders, emptying the deleted items on exit etc. The thing I
haven't kept an eye on is the size of the user created folders.

I followed the steps above to the letter. I also checked the file sizes for
the 3 folders that were over 100MB, ran compact all folders as instructed
and then checked the folder sizes again after exiting OE6 and they had not
changed. I then manually deleted selected old items in these large folders
and checked file sizes again but they were still unchanged. However, the
Deleted Items folder was now over 280MB even though the folder was empty
when viewed in OE6. When I tried to delete more old archived mail the
Delete button had no effect so I assume the Deleted Items folder was either
too large or had become corrupted..

I tried to move the Deleted Items folder to another directory so that it
would be re-created the next time I started OE6 but couldn't move the folder
because it was in use by OE6 or another application. OE6 was not running at
this time so I re-booted the machine and was then able to move the folder,
went back in to OE6 and it re-created as expected but when I exited again
and checked in Explorer, the 3 large folders were still the same size.

At this time I went back to working online and an incoming message was
received. I immediately tried to send a reply but the same problem recurred
and the message just sat in the Out Box until I re-booted the machine and,
naturally enough, it was sent.

Is there any thing else I can do?

Thanks

Garry

"Garry Douglas" wrote in message
et...

"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
Create a new Outbox, and Sent Items folder.

Do the following for the Outbox, and Sent Items after you move any
messages you wish to save to a local folder you create.

Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the location of
your Outlook Express files. Write the location down and navigate to it in
Windows Explorer or, copy and paste it into Start | Run.

In WinXP, Win2K & Win2K3, 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 Outbox.dbx and Sent Items.dbx file and delete
them. New files will be created automatically when you open OE.

To help prevent this in the futu

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 or SP3}.

Bruce

I already do all but one of the things you suggest i.e. not archiving
mail in default folders, emptying the deleted items on exit etc. The thing
I haven't kept an eye on is the size of the user created folders.

I followed the steps above to the letter. I also checked the file sizes
for the 3 folders that were over 100MB, ran compact all folders as
instructed and then checked the folder sizes again after exiting OE6 and
they had not changed. I then manually deleted selected old items in these
large folders and checked file sizes again but they were still unchanged.
However, the Deleted Items folder was now over 280MB even though the
folder was empty when viewed in OE6. When I tried to delete more old
archived mail the Delete button had no effect so I assume the Deleted
Items folder was either too large or had become corrupted..

I tried to move the Deleted Items folder to another directory so that it
would be re-created the next time I started OE6 but couldn't move the
folder because it was in use by OE6 or another application. OE6 was not
running at this time so I re-booted the machine and was then able to move
the folder, went back in to OE6 and it re-created as expected but when I
exited again and checked in Explorer, the 3 large folders were still the
same size.

At this time I went back to working online and an incoming message was
received. I immediately tried to send a reply but the same problem
recurred and the message just sat in the Out Box until I re-booted the
machine and, naturally enough, it was sent.

Is there any thing else I can do?

Thanks

Garry


Did you compact *after* moving and deleting messages? The dbx file size will
not change until you do.

If that does not help, can you create folders for messages you want to keep
and move or copy the messages to these folders?

If you are successful doing that, create a new identity and only import the
user created files with your messages.

How to Create and Use Identities in Outlook Express
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=209169

For your messages:

In the new identity: File | Import | Messages. Select Microsoft Outlook
Express 6 and Import from the old identity. Your default folders in the new
identity are fresh and empty, so choose to import only selected folders, and
import those you created for saving your messages.

For your Address Book:

Open the Address Book in the old identity and File | Export | Address Book
(wab) to any place on your HDD that is easy for you. My Documents is fine.
Then, open the Address Book in the new identity and File | Import | Address
Book (wab) and point to where you saved it.

For Newsgroups:

In the old identity, Tools | Accounts | News | Export. Send it to anyplace
on your HDD and then in the new identity, go there and Import.

These will only set up your news accounts. The specific newsgroups will have
to be subscribed to again.
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA

"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...

"Garry Douglas" wrote in message
et...

"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
Create a new Outbox, and Sent Items folder.

Do the following for the Outbox, and Sent Items after you move any
messages you wish to save to a local folder you create.

Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the location of
your Outlook Express files. Write the location down and navigate to it
in Windows Explorer or, copy and paste it into Start | Run.

In WinXP, Win2K & Win2K3, 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 Outbox.dbx and Sent Items.dbx file and delete
them. New files will be created automatically when you open OE.

To help prevent this in the futu

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 or SP3}.

Bruce

I already do all but one of the things you suggest i.e. not archiving
mail in default folders, emptying the deleted items on exit etc. The
thing I haven't kept an eye on is the size of the user created folders.

I followed the steps above to the letter. I also checked the file sizes
for the 3 folders that were over 100MB, ran compact all folders as
instructed and then checked the folder sizes again after exiting OE6 and
they had not changed. I then manually deleted selected old items in these
large folders and checked file sizes again but they were still unchanged.
However, the Deleted Items folder was now over 280MB even though the
folder was empty when viewed in OE6. When I tried to delete more old
archived mail the Delete button had no effect so I assume the Deleted
Items folder was either too large or had become corrupted..

I tried to move the Deleted Items folder to another directory so that it
would be re-created the next time I started OE6 but couldn't move the
folder because it was in use by OE6 or another application. OE6 was not
running at this time so I re-booted the machine and was then able to move
the folder, went back in to OE6 and it re-created as expected but when I
exited again and checked in Explorer, the 3 large folders were still the
same size.

At this time I went back to working online and an incoming message was
received. I immediately tried to send a reply but the same problem
recurred and the message just sat in the Out Box until I re-booted the
machine and, naturally enough, it was sent.

Is there any thing else I can do?

Thanks

Garry


Did you compact *after* moving and deleting messages? The dbx file size
will not change until you do.

If that does not help, can you create folders for messages you want to
keep and move or copy the messages to these folders?

If you are successful doing that, create a new identity and only import
the user created files with your messages.

Thanks Bruce

I didn't compact the folders after deleting the messages but I have done so
now and the largest folders are reduced in size.

However, the Deleted Items folder appears to corrupt when deleting en masse
so I have to continually quit OE, delete the Deleted Items folder (but only
after re-booting the machine because the files is still in use, although it
isn't!), then go back in to OE to delete/compact some more items until I
finally get all the user folders down well below 100MB.

This message also stayed frozen in the Out Box so it doesn't seem as if I
have fixed the problem yet. When all the folders are below 100MB I will
experiment with creating a new identity as suggested.

Garry

"Garry Douglas" wrote in message
et...
"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...

"Garry Douglas" wrote in message
et...

"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
Create a new Outbox, and Sent Items folder.

Do the following for the Outbox, and Sent Items after you move any
messages you wish to save to a local folder you create.

Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the location
of
your Outlook Express files. Write the location down and navigate to it
in Windows Explorer or, copy and paste it into Start | Run.

In WinXP, Win2K & Win2K3, 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 Outbox.dbx and Sent Items.dbx file and delete
them. New files will be created automatically when you open OE.

To help prevent this in the futu

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 or SP3}.

Bruce

I already do all but one of the things you suggest i.e. not archiving
mail in default folders, emptying the deleted items on exit etc. The
thing I haven't kept an eye on is the size of the user created folders.

I followed the steps above to the letter. I also checked the file sizes
for the 3 folders that were over 100MB, ran compact all folders as
instructed and then checked the folder sizes again after exiting OE6 and
they had not changed. I then manually deleted selected old items in
these
large folders and checked file sizes again but they were still
unchanged.
However, the Deleted Items folder was now over 280MB even though the
folder was empty when viewed in OE6. When I tried to delete more old
archived mail the Delete button had no effect so I assume the Deleted
Items folder was either too large or had become corrupted..

I tried to move the Deleted Items folder to another directory so that it
would be re-created the next time I started OE6 but couldn't move the
folder because it was in use by OE6 or another application. OE6 was not
running at this time so I re-booted the machine and was then able to
move
the folder, went back in to OE6 and it re-created as expected but when I
exited again and checked in Explorer, the 3 large folders were still the
same size.

At this time I went back to working online and an incoming message was
received. I immediately tried to send a reply but the same problem
recurred and the message just sat in the Out Box until I re-booted the
machine and, naturally enough, it was sent.

Is there any thing else I can do?

Thanks

Garry


Did you compact *after* moving and deleting messages? The dbx file size
will not change until you do.

If that does not help, can you create folders for messages you want to
keep and move or copy the messages to these folders?

If you are successful doing that, create a new identity and only import
the user created files with your messages.

Thanks Bruce

I didn't compact the folders after deleting the messages but I have done
so
now and the largest folders are reduced in size.

However, the Deleted Items folder appears to corrupt when deleting en
masse
so I have to continually quit OE, delete the Deleted Items folder (but
only
after re-booting the machine because the files is still in use, although
it
isn't!), then go back in to OE to delete/compact some more items until I
finally get all the user folders down well below 100MB.

This message also stayed frozen in the Out Box so it doesn't seem as if I
have fixed the problem yet. When all the folders are below 100MB I will
experiment with creating a new identity as suggested.

Garry



You have deleted the dbx files in the message store for the Outbox, Sent
Items and Deleted Items, while OE was *closed* and you still have problems?
Create a new identity.
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA