Can't delete messages

On my wife's XP machine, with OE, there are some messages that she can't
delete. This is a relatively new characteristic. I don't know when it
started but it has not always been that way. Some messages are ok (normal),
but many are not.

If she focuses (highlights) on a message, she can't click the DEL key, the
red X, right-click/delete or any other method of getting rid of the message.
She also cannot DRAG it to any other folder or COPY/PASTE. When she tired
that she gets an error dialogue box that says "The selected message(s) could
not be moved. An error has occured."

But, if she does a Shift/Del, it does permanently get rid of the message.
That is not always suitable as she might like to Undelete some messages in
the future. She has XP SP2 and OE Version 6.00.2900.2180

Any help will be appreciated.

Tom

If you have any messages in Deleted Items you want to save, move them to
another folder and then delete Deleted Items.dbx.

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 & 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 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}.

And backup often.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB):
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"Tom Brown" wrote in message
...
On my wife's XP machine, with OE, there are some messages that she can't
delete. This is a relatively new characteristic. I don't know when it
started but it has not always been that way. Some messages are ok
(normal), but many are not.

If she focuses (highlights) on a message, she can't click the DEL key, the
red X, right-click/delete or any other method of getting rid of the
message. She also cannot DRAG it to any other folder or COPY/PASTE. When
she tired that she gets an error dialogue box that says "The selected
message(s) could not be moved. An error has occured."

But, if she does a Shift/Del, it does permanently get rid of the message.
That is not always suitable as she might like to Undelete some messages in
the future. She has XP SP2 and OE Version 6.00.2900.2180

Any help will be appreciated.

Tom

Bruce,

The problem is that she can't get them into the Deleted Items folder in the
first place. They are STUCK in her Inbox and do not resond to normal delete
commands except Shift-Del.

Thanks,

Tom


"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
If you have any messages in Deleted Items you want to save, move them to
another folder and then delete Deleted Items.dbx.

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 & 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 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}.

And backup often.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB):
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"Tom Brown" wrote in message
...
On my wife's XP machine, with OE, there are some messages that she can't
delete. This is a relatively new characteristic. I don't know when it
started but it has not always been that way. Some messages are ok
(normal), but many are not.

If she focuses (highlights) on a message, she can't click the DEL key,
the red X, right-click/delete or any other method of getting rid of the
message. She also cannot DRAG it to any other folder or COPY/PASTE. When
she tired that she gets an error dialogue box that says "The selected
message(s) could not be moved. An error has occured."

But, if she does a Shift/Del, it does permanently get rid of the message.
That is not always suitable as she might like to Undelete some messages
in the future. She has XP SP2 and OE Version 6.00.2900.2180

Any help will be appreciated.

Tom

And I believe Deleted Items is corrupt. I want you to delete the dbx file
for Deleted Items in the message store with OE closed and then see if the
messages will delete.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"Tom Brown" wrote in message
...
Bruce,

The problem is that she can't get them into the Deleted Items folder in
the first place. They are STUCK in her Inbox and do not resond to normal
delete commands except Shift-Del.

Thanks,

Tom


"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
If you have any messages in Deleted Items you want to save, move them to
another folder and then delete Deleted Items.dbx.

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 & 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 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}.

And backup often.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB):
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"Tom Brown" wrote in message
...
On my wife's XP machine, with OE, there are some messages that she can't
delete. This is a relatively new characteristic. I don't know when it
started but it has not always been that way. Some messages are ok
(normal), but many are not.

If she focuses (highlights) on a message, she can't click the DEL key,
the red X, right-click/delete or any other method of getting rid of the
message. She also cannot DRAG it to any other folder or COPY/PASTE. When
she tired that she gets an error dialogue box that says "The selected
message(s) could not be moved. An error has occured."

But, if she does a Shift/Del, it does permanently get rid of the
message. That is not always suitable as she might like to Undelete some
messages in the future. She has XP SP2 and OE Version 6.00.2900.2180

Any help will be appreciated.

Tom

Can she delete the messages if she disables View Layout Preview pane?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org

Tom Brown wrote:
On my wife's XP machine, with OE, there are some messages that she can't
delete. This is a relatively new characteristic. I don't know when it
started but it has not always been that way. Some messages are ok
(normal),
but many are not.

If she focuses (highlights) on a message, she can't click the DEL key, the
red X, right-click/delete or any other method of getting rid of the
message.
She also cannot DRAG it to any other folder or COPY/PASTE. When she tired
that she gets an error dialogue box that says "The selected message(s)
could
not be moved. An error has occured."

But, if she does a Shift/Del, it does permanently get rid of the message.
That is not always suitable as she might like to Undelete some messages in
the future. She has XP SP2 and OE Version 6.00.2900.2180

Any help will be appreciated.

Tom

If you turn off the Preview Pane (View, Layout) in Outlook Express you
can select and delete a message without OE trying to open it. For OE5+
you can add a button to the Tool Bar to toggle the Preview Pane off and
on.

--

Mike - http://pages.prodigy.net/michael_santovec/techhelp.htm


"Tom Brown" wrote in message
...
On my wife's XP machine, with OE, there are some messages that she
can't delete. This is a relatively new characteristic. I don't know
when it started but it has not always been that way. Some messages
are ok (normal), but many are not.

If she focuses (highlights) on a message, she can't click the DEL key,
the red X, right-click/delete or any other method of getting rid of
the message. She also cannot DRAG it to any other folder or
COPY/PASTE. When she tired that she gets an error dialogue box that
says "The selected message(s) could not be moved. An error has
occured."

But, if she does a Shift/Del, it does permanently get rid of the
message. That is not always suitable as she might like to Undelete
some messages in the future. She has XP SP2 and OE Version
6.00.2900.2180

Any help will be appreciated.

Tom

Bruce,

Sorry to be so long in getting back to let you know your 'removing the
Deleted Items folder' did the trick. I didn't understand where you were
headed at first. But, as usual, you were SPOT ON and a real magician!

Thanks,

Tom


"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
And I believe Deleted Items is corrupt. I want you to delete the dbx file
for Deleted Items in the message store with OE closed and then see if the
messages will delete.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"Tom Brown" wrote in message
...
Bruce,

The problem is that she can't get them into the Deleted Items folder in
the first place. They are STUCK in her Inbox and do not resond to normal
delete commands except Shift-Del.

Thanks,

Tom


"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
If you have any messages in Deleted Items you want to save, move them to
another folder and then delete Deleted Items.dbx.

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 & 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 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}.

And backup often.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB):
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"Tom Brown" wrote in message
...
On my wife's XP machine, with OE, there are some messages that she
can't delete. This is a relatively new characteristic. I don't know
when it started but it has not always been that way. Some messages are
ok (normal), but many are not.

If she focuses (highlights) on a message, she can't click the DEL key,
the red X, right-click/delete or any other method of getting rid of the
message. She also cannot DRAG it to any other folder or COPY/PASTE.
When she tired that she gets an error dialogue box that says "The
selected message(s) could not be moved. An error has occured."

But, if she does a Shift/Del, it does permanently get rid of the
message. That is not always suitable as she might like to Undelete some
messages in the future. She has XP SP2 and OE Version 6.00.2900.2180

Any help will be appreciated.

Tom

I dunno. Too late. The Deleted Items folder was apparently corrupted and
Bruce's trick of removing it and letting OE rebuild it solved the problem.

I wish all problems were that easy to fix.

I will note that I tried two times to Compact All folders and got a couple
of "beeps" about a folder being in use. I guess that particular folder is
also corrupted.

Thanks Bear,

Tom

"PA Bear" wrote in message
...
Can she delete the messages if she disables View Layout Preview pane?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org

Tom Brown wrote:
On my wife's XP machine, with OE, there are some messages that she can't
delete. This is a relatively new characteristic. I don't know when it
started but it has not always been that way. Some messages are ok
(normal),
but many are not.

If she focuses (highlights) on a message, she can't click the DEL key,
the
red X, right-click/delete or any other method of getting rid of the
message.
She also cannot DRAG it to any other folder or COPY/PASTE. When she tired
that she gets an error dialogue box that says "The selected message(s)
could
not be moved. An error has occured."

But, if she does a Shift/Del, it does permanently get rid of the message.
That is not always suitable as she might like to Undelete some messages
in
the future. She has XP SP2 and OE Version 6.00.2900.2180

Any help will be appreciated.

Tom

Thanks Michael. I'll remember that if the problem comes back.

Tom


"Michael Santovec" wrote in message
...
If you turn off the Preview Pane (View, Layout) in Outlook Express you can
select and delete a message without OE trying to open it. For OE5+ you
can add a button to the Tool Bar to toggle the Preview Pane off and on.

--

Mike - http://pages.prodigy.net/michael_santovec/techhelp.htm


"Tom Brown" wrote in message
...
On my wife's XP machine, with OE, there are some messages that she can't
delete. This is a relatively new characteristic. I don't know when it
started but it has not always been that way. Some messages are ok
(normal), but many are not.

If she focuses (highlights) on a message, she can't click the DEL key,
the red X, right-click/delete or any other method of getting rid of the
message. She also cannot DRAG it to any other folder or COPY/PASTE. When
she tired that she gets an error dialogue box that says "The selected
message(s) could not be moved. An error has occured."

But, if she does a Shift/Del, it does permanently get rid of the message.
That is not always suitable as she might like to Undelete some messages
in the future. She has XP SP2 and OE Version 6.00.2900.2180

Any help will be appreciated.

Tom

The trick works if the message you are trying to delete has something in
it that causes OE to hang.

If the problem is a corrupted Deleted Items folder, as Bruce surmised,
then you need to use his fix.

--

Mike - http://pages.prodigy.net/michael_santovec/techhelp.htm


"Tom Brown" wrote in message
...
Thanks Michael. I'll remember that if the problem comes back.

Tom


"Michael Santovec" wrote in message
...
If you turn off the Preview Pane (View, Layout) in Outlook Express
you can select and delete a message without OE trying to open it.
For OE5+ you can add a button to the Tool Bar to toggle the Preview
Pane off and on.

--

Mike - http://pages.prodigy.net/michael_santovec/techhelp.htm


"Tom Brown" wrote in message
...
On my wife's XP machine, with OE, there are some messages that she
can't delete. This is a relatively new characteristic. I don't
know when it started but it has not always been that way. Some
messages are ok (normal), but many are not.

If she focuses (highlights) on a message, she can't click the DEL
key, the red X, right-click/delete or any other method of getting
rid of the message. She also cannot DRAG it to any other folder or
COPY/PASTE. When she tired that she gets an error dialogue box that
says "The selected message(s) could not be moved. An error has
occured."

But, if she does a Shift/Del, it does permanently get rid of the
message. That is not always suitable as she might like to Undelete
some messages in the future. She has XP SP2 and OE Version
6.00.2900.2180

Any help will be appreciated.

Tom