Eliminating dead files in Outlook Express

I am trying to tidy up and reduce in size my email folder in My Documents,
and have noticed that there are some files with a name related to folders I
deleted months or even years ago. I can of course just delete them, and it
seems to do no harm, but why are they still there, and are there other more
hidden bits and pieces that OE does not automatically clear out? By the
way, all my emails have already been compressed, and the Delete folder is
empty, so neither of these cures the issue.

If you have any dbx files for folders you no longer use, delete them with OE
closed. Old files sometimes linger around which can be a good thing if you
accidentally delete a folder.

It sounds like you may do this already, but here it is anyway.

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.insideoe.com/backup/

This is a great two click program:

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB)
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA


"Brian H" wrote in message
...
I am trying to tidy up and reduce in size my email folder in My Documents,
and have noticed that there are some files with a name related to folders
I
deleted months or even years ago. I can of course just delete them, and
it
seems to do no harm, but why are they still there, and are there other
more
hidden bits and pieces that OE does not automatically clear out? By the
way, all my emails have already been compressed, and the Delete folder is
empty, so neither of these cures the issue.

If you must make identical posts to multiple newsgroups, please cross-post
one (1) message to all of them. Thank you.

Multiposting vs Crossposting:
http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.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/

Brian H wrote:
I am trying to tidy up and reduce in size my email folder in My Documents,
and have noticed that there are some files with a name related to folders
I
deleted months or even years ago. I can of course just delete them, and
it
seems to do no harm, but why are they still there, and are there other
more
hidden bits and pieces that OE does not automatically clear out? By the
way, all my emails have already been compressed, and the Delete folder is
empty, so neither of these cures the issue.