contaminated delete file

I am unable to open or delete mail from my delete file. Also, neither
the delete key nor the delete X works to delete mail in other folders.
If I try to open the delete file or use any means to delete other mail
I get the message 'program not responding' and the computer freezes
up. I have tried Start/explore/programs files/outlook express and
deleted the file there but when I restart I do not have a delete file
listed there.

You deleted the Deleted Items.dbx file from the message store? Was OE closed
when you did? It won't work if OE is open.
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA


"javapoppa" wrote in message
...
I am unable to open or delete mail from my delete file. Also, neither
the delete key nor the delete X works to delete mail in other folders.
If I try to open the delete file or use any means to delete other mail
I get the message 'program not responding' and the computer freezes
up. I have tried Start/explore/programs files/outlook express and
deleted the file there but when I restart I do not have a delete file
listed there.

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 Client - since 2002

javapoppa wrote:
I am unable to open or delete mail from my delete file. Also, neither
the delete key nor the delete X works to delete mail in other folders.
If I try to open the delete file or use any means to delete other mail
I get the message 'program not responding' and the computer freezes
up. I have tried Start/explore/programs files/outlook express and
deleted the file there but when I restart I do not have a delete file
listed there.

You want to delete the deleted items.dbx file. Those files are hidden so
you have to enable showing hidden files and folders under Tools | Folder
Options | View in Windows Explorer. Then you can go to Tools | Options |
Maintenance | Advanced | Store folder and copy the path and then paste that
into a Windows Explorer address bar and the deleted items.dbx file should
show there. Then delete it with OE closed and OE will create a new one.

You can also go to File | Identities and set up a new Identity and then
import from the older Identity.

If you need the messages in the deleted items folder, then rename it instead
of deleting it and you can then try extracting from the folder (see
www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#4).

steve

"javapoppa" wrote in message
...
I am unable to open or delete mail from my delete file. Also, neither
the delete key nor the delete X works to delete mail in other folders.
If I try to open the delete file or use any means to delete other mail
I get the message 'program not responding' and the computer freezes
up. I have tried Start/explore/programs files/outlook express and
deleted the file there but when I restart I do not have a delete file
listed there.