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#1
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Help! Need to reduce size of .bak file (2GB+!).
My inbox crashed. After reading several threads, I compacted all files, and
the inbox went to the Recycling Bin. I found the problem was the size of my inbox - 2+GB!. How/where can I restore it so that I can edit the file, splitting up what I need into smaller files and deleting the rest? I presume I can't open it without OE? How can I do that without crashing OE all over again? System: I have OE6 on XP SP3 DimitriR |
#2
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Help! Need to reduce size of .bak file (2GB+!).
Have you tried restoring the bak file? If you can, and then split it up,
that would be the easiest way. Otherwise, you will need an extraction tool. All e-mail items may be missing when you start Outlook Express 6 Service Pack 1: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918069 To restore a bak folder to the message store folder, first locate the Message Store in Windows Explorer. In OE: 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, the dbx files 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. In Windows Explorer, click on the dbx file for the missing, or empty, folder and drag it to the Desktop. It can be deleted later once you have successfully restored the bak file. Minimize the Message Store. Open OE and, if the folder is missing, create a folder with the *exact* same name as the bak file you want to restore but without the .bak. Eg: If the file is Saved.bak, the new folder should be named Saved. Open the new folder and then close OE. If the folder is there, but just empty, continue on to the next step. First, check if there is a bak file already in the message store. If there is, and you removed the dbx file, go ahead and rename it to dbx. If it isn't already in the message store, open the Recycle bin and right click on the bak file for the folder in question and click Restore. Open the message store back up and change the file extension from .bak to .dbx. Close the message store and open OE. The messages should now be back in the folder. If the messages are successfully restored, you can go ahead and delete the old dbx file that you moved to the Desktop. 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 "DimitriR" wrote in message ... My inbox crashed. After reading several threads, I compacted all files, and the inbox went to the Recycling Bin. I found the problem was the size of my inbox - 2+GB!. How/where can I restore it so that I can edit the file, splitting up what I need into smaller files and deleting the rest? I presume I can't open it without OE? How can I do that without crashing OE all over again? System: I have OE6 on XP SP3 DimitriR |
#3
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Help! Need to reduce size of .bak file (2GB+!).
I would NOT attempt to replace INBOX.DBX in your store with a renamed
INBOX.BAK that's +2GB! [I'm surprised that OE was even working with an inbox that size! One can only imagine the total size of your identity's store...] My recommendation is as follows: 1. Create a new desktop folder named RECOVER INBOX. 2. Move INBOX.BAK from the Recycle Bin to the desktop folder you created in #1 above and rename it to INBOXOLD.DBX. 3. Purchase, download & install DBXpress (faster, more powerful, with even greater functionality than DBXtract): http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/Default.aspx 4. Run DBXpress on INBOXOLD.DBX. Any messages recovered (don't set your hopes too high) can then be dragged to any open OE folder. = Avoiding Such Corruption in Futu - 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 shut down your machine while Windows is automatically compacting your message store. - Disable email scanning by your anti-virus application. It can cause corruption (i.e., loss of messages), it provides no additional protection, and even Symantec says it's not necessary: QP Disabling Email Scanning does not leave you unprotected against viruses that are distributed as email attachments. Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect scans incoming files as they are saved to your hard drive, including email and email attachments. Email Scanning is just another layer on top of this. To make sure that Auto-Protect is providing the maximum protection, keep Auto-Protect enabled and run LiveUpdate regularly to ensure that you have the most recent virus definitions. /QP http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...02111812533106 -- ~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/ DimitriR wrote: My inbox crashed. After reading several threads, I compacted all files, and the inbox went to the Recycling Bin. I found the problem was the size of my inbox - 2+GB!. How/where can I restore it so that I can edit the file, splitting up what I need into smaller files and deleting the rest? I presume I can't open it without OE? How can I do that without crashing OE all over again? System: I have OE6 on XP SP3 DimitriR |
#4
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Help! Need to reduce size of .bak file (2GB+!).
Thank you PA Bear for your thoughtful response - what's more, it worked!
DBXpress recovered 4,414 messages! I think only a very few failed (I remember the subject of those). Now I've put them into the local folders, as you suggested (I had assumed the Inbox & Sent folders acted in the same way, hence never bothered to compact, etc.) And I'll certainly follow your guidance for the future. Thanks very much, DimitriR "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote: I would NOT attempt to replace INBOX.DBX in your store with a renamed INBOX.BAK that's +2GB! [I'm surprised that OE was even working with an inbox that size! One can only imagine the total size of your identity's store...] My recommendation is as follows: 1. Create a new desktop folder named RECOVER INBOX. 2. Move INBOX.BAK from the Recycle Bin to the desktop folder you created in #1 above and rename it to INBOXOLD.DBX. 3. Purchase, download & install DBXpress (faster, more powerful, with even greater functionality than DBXtract): http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/Default.aspx 4. Run DBXpress on INBOXOLD.DBX. Any messages recovered (don't set your hopes too high) can then be dragged to any open OE folder. = Avoiding Such Corruption in Futu - 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 shut down your machine while Windows is automatically compacting your message store. - Disable email scanning by your anti-virus application. It can cause corruption (i.e., loss of messages), it provides no additional protection, and even Symantec says it's not necessary: QP Disabling Email Scanning does not leave you unprotected against viruses that are distributed as email attachments. Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect scans incoming files as they are saved to your hard drive, including email and email attachments. Email Scanning is just another layer on top of this. To make sure that Auto-Protect is providing the maximum protection, keep Auto-Protect enabled and run LiveUpdate regularly to ensure that you have the most recent virus definitions. /QP http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...02111812533106 -- ~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/ DimitriR wrote: My inbox crashed. After reading several threads, I compacted all files, and the inbox went to the Recycling Bin. I found the problem was the size of my inbox - 2+GB!. How/where can I restore it so that I can edit the file, splitting up what I need into smaller files and deleting the rest? I presume I can't open it without OE? How can I do that without crashing OE all over again? System: I have OE6 on XP SP3 DimitriR |
#5
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Help! Need to reduce size of .bak file (2GB+!).
You're welcome and thanks very much for your feedback, Dimitri.
DimitriR wrote: Thank you PA Bear for your thoughtful response - what's more, it worked! DBXpress recovered 4,414 messages! I think only a very few failed (I remember the subject of those). Now I've put them into the local folders, as you suggested (I had assumed the Inbox & Sent folders acted in the same way, hence never bothered to compact, etc.) And I'll certainly follow your guidance for the future. Thanks very much, DimitriR "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote: I would NOT attempt to replace INBOX.DBX in your store with a renamed INBOX.BAK that's +2GB! [I'm surprised that OE was even working with an inbox that size! One can only imagine the total size of your identity's store...] My recommendation is as follows: 1. Create a new desktop folder named RECOVER INBOX. 2. Move INBOX.BAK from the Recycle Bin to the desktop folder you created in #1 above and rename it to INBOXOLD.DBX. 3. Purchase, download & install DBXpress (faster, more powerful, with even greater functionality than DBXtract): http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/Default.aspx 4. Run DBXpress on INBOXOLD.DBX. Any messages recovered (don't set your hopes too high) can then be dragged to any open OE folder. = Avoiding Such Corruption in Futu - 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 shut down your machine while Windows is automatically compacting your message store. - Disable email scanning by your anti-virus application. It can cause corruption (i.e., loss of messages), it provides no additional protection, and even Symantec says it's not necessary: QP Disabling Email Scanning does not leave you unprotected against viruses that are distributed as email attachments. Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect scans incoming files as they are saved to your hard drive, including and email attachments. Email Scanning is just another layer on top of this. To make sure that Auto-Protect is providing the maximum protection, keep Auto-Protect enabled and run LiveUpdate regularly to ensure that you have the most recent virus definitions. /QP http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...02111812533106 -- ~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/ DimitriR wrote: My inbox crashed. After reading several threads, I compacted all files, and the inbox went to the Recycling Bin. I found the problem was the size of my inbox - 2+GB!. How/where can I restore it so that I can edit the file, splitting up what I need into smaller files and deleting the rest? I presume I can't open it without OE? How can I do that without crashing OE all over again? System: I have OE6 on XP SP3 DimitriR |
#6
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Help! Need to reduce size of .bak file (2GB+!).
"mmradio" schreef in bericht ... d sgshg hgh sghg h gshgdhg hff fghg hsghsg h I have read all of your responses and they are very helpful. The problem gfgsf gs sghgghgh that I have is that the inbox.bak file is not in the recycle bin. everything else is. I lost 11 months worth of emails from my inbox today when I compacted. Do you have any advise on why the inbox was not backed up or where it might be. Thanks, MM "Bruce Hagen" wrote: Have you tried restoring the bak file? If you can, and then split it up, that would be the easiest way. Otherwise, you will need an extraction tool. All e-mail items may be missing when you start Outlook Express 6 Service Pack 1: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918069 To restore a bak folder to the message store folder, first locate the Message Store in Windows Explorer. In OE: 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, the dbx files 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. In Windows Explorer, click on the dbx file for the missing, or empty, folder and drag it to the Desktop. It can be deleted later once you have successfully restored the bak file. Minimize the Message Store. Open OE and, if the folder is missing, create a folder with the *exact* same name as the bak file you want to restore but without the .bak. Eg: If the file is Saved.bak, the new folder should be named Saved. Open the new folder and then close OE. If the folder is there, but just empty, continue on to the next step. First, check if there is a bak file already in the message store. If there is, and you removed the dbx file, go ahead and rename it to dbx. If it isn't already in the message store, open the Recycle bin and right click on the bak file for the folder in question and click Restore. Open the message store back up and change the file extension from .bak to .dbx. Close the message store and open OE. The messages should now be back in the folder. If the messages are successfully restored, you can go ahead and delete the old dbx file that you moved to the Desktop. 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 "DimitriR" wrote in message ... My inbox crashed. After reading several threads, I compacted all files, and the inbox went to the Recycling Bin. I found the problem was the size of my inbox - 2+GB!. How/where can I restore it so that I can edit the file, splitting up what I need into smaller files and deleting the rest? I presume I can't open it without OE? How can I do that without crashing OE all over again? System: I have OE6 on XP SP3 DimitriR |
#7
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Help! Need to reduce size of .bak file (2GB+!).
Bruce,
I have read all of your responses and they are very helpful. The problem that I have is that the inbox.bak file is not in the recycle bin. everything else is. I lost 11 months worth of emails from my inbox today when I compacted. Do you have any advise on why the inbox was not backed up or where it might be. Thanks, MM "Bruce Hagen" wrote: Have you tried restoring the bak file? If you can, and then split it up, that would be the easiest way. Otherwise, you will need an extraction tool. All e-mail items may be missing when you start Outlook Express 6 Service Pack 1: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918069 To restore a bak folder to the message store folder, first locate the Message Store in Windows Explorer. In OE: 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, the dbx files 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. In Windows Explorer, click on the dbx file for the missing, or empty, folder and drag it to the Desktop. It can be deleted later once you have successfully restored the bak file. Minimize the Message Store. Open OE and, if the folder is missing, create a folder with the *exact* same name as the bak file you want to restore but without the .bak. Eg: If the file is Saved.bak, the new folder should be named Saved. Open the new folder and then close OE. If the folder is there, but just empty, continue on to the next step. First, check if there is a bak file already in the message store. If there is, and you removed the dbx file, go ahead and rename it to dbx. If it isn't already in the message store, open the Recycle bin and right click on the bak file for the folder in question and click Restore. Open the message store back up and change the file extension from .bak to .dbx. Close the message store and open OE. The messages should now be back in the folder. If the messages are successfully restored, you can go ahead and delete the old dbx file that you moved to the Desktop. 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 "DimitriR" wrote in message ... My inbox crashed. After reading several threads, I compacted all files, and the inbox went to the Recycling Bin. I found the problem was the size of my inbox - 2+GB!. How/where can I restore it so that I can edit the file, splitting up what I need into smaller files and deleting the rest? I presume I can't open it without OE? How can I do that without crashing OE all over again? System: I have OE6 on XP SP3 DimitriR |
#8
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Help! Need to reduce size of .bak file (2GB+!).
Please start your own new post on the future. I don't keep posts on my
newsreader for more than a few days and this dates back to October, 2008. Thank you. The two most common reasons for what you describe is disruption of the compacting process, (never touch anything until it's finished), or bloated folders. More on that below. Why does OE insist on compacting folders when I close it?: http://www.insideoe.com/faqs/why.htm#compact Why Mail Disappears: http://www.insideoe.com/problems/bugs.htm#mailgone About File Corruption: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/...orruption.mspx Recovery tools: If you are running XP/SP2, or SP3, and are fully patched, then you should have a backup of your dbx files in the Recycle Bin, (or possibly the message store), copied as bak files. To restore a bak folder to the message store folder, first find the location of the Message Store. 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, the .dbx files are by default marked as hidden. To view these files in Explorer, you must enable Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder Options | View. Close OE and then in Windows Explorer, click on the dbx file for the missing, or empty, folder and drag it to the Desktop. It can be deleted later once you have successfully restored the bak file. Minimize the Message Store. Open OE and, if the folder is missing, create a folder with the *exact* same name as the bak file you want to restore but without the .bak. Eg: If the file is Saved.bak, the new folder should be named Saved. Open the new folder and then close OE. If the folder is there, but just empty, continue on to the next step. First, check if there is a bak file already in the message store. If there is, and you removed the dbx file, go ahead and rename it to dbx. If it isn't already in the message store, open the Recycle bin and right click on the bak file for the folder in question and click Restore. Open the message store back up and change the file extension from .bak to .dbx. Close the message store and open OE. The messages should now be back in the folder. If the messages are successfully restored, you can go ahead and delete the old dbx file that you moved to the Desktop. If you do not have bak copies of your dbx files in the Recycle Bin, then: DBXpress run in Extract From Disk Mode is the best chance to recover messages: http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/Default.aspx And see: http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#4 A general warning to help avoid this in the futu Do not archive mail in default OE folders. They will eventually become corrupted. 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 300MB, and Default folders as empty as is feasible. Turn off e-mail scanning in your anti-virus program. It is a redundant layer of protection that eats up CPUs, slows down sending and receiving, and causes a multitude of problems such as time-outs, account setting changes and has even been responsible for lose of messages. Your up-to-date A/V program will continue to protect you sufficiently. For more, see: http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#3 And backup often. Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB Freeware) http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx -- Bruce Hagen MS-MVP [Mail] Imperial Beach, CA "mmradio" wrote in message ... Bruce, I have read all of your responses and they are very helpful. The problem that I have is that the inbox.bak file is not in the recycle bin. everything else is. I lost 11 months worth of emails from my inbox today when I compacted. Do you have any advise on why the inbox was not backed up or where it might be. Thanks, MM "Bruce Hagen" wrote: Have you tried restoring the bak file? If you can, and then split it up, that would be the easiest way. Otherwise, you will need an extraction tool. All e-mail items may be missing when you start Outlook Express 6 Service Pack 1: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918069 To restore a bak folder to the message store folder, first locate the Message Store in Windows Explorer. In OE: 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, the dbx files 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. In Windows Explorer, click on the dbx file for the missing, or empty, folder and drag it to the Desktop. It can be deleted later once you have successfully restored the bak file. Minimize the Message Store. Open OE and, if the folder is missing, create a folder with the *exact* same name as the bak file you want to restore but without the .bak. Eg: If the file is Saved.bak, the new folder should be named Saved. Open the new folder and then close OE. If the folder is there, but just empty, continue on to the next step. First, check if there is a bak file already in the message store. If there is, and you removed the dbx file, go ahead and rename it to dbx. If it isn't already in the message store, open the Recycle bin and right click on the bak file for the folder in question and click Restore. Open the message store back up and change the file extension from .bak to .dbx. Close the message store and open OE. The messages should now be back in the folder. If the messages are successfully restored, you can go ahead and delete the old dbx file that you moved to the Desktop. 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 "DimitriR" wrote in message ... My inbox crashed. After reading several threads, I compacted all files, and the inbox went to the Recycling Bin. I found the problem was the size of my inbox - 2+GB!. How/where can I restore it so that I can edit the file, splitting up what I need into smaller files and deleting the rest? I presume I can't open it without OE? How can I do that without crashing OE all over again? System: I have OE6 on XP SP3 DimitriR |
#9
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Help! Need to reduce size of .bak file (2GB+!).
If that is the case, then the only thing that is going to possibly help is
the run the extract from disk feature of DBXpress (www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/) .. Since the messages are no longer in the files, then the only thing that might recover them is to scan the entire hard drive for messages and recover what is there, which is what DBXpress will do. steve "mmradio" wrote in message ... Bruce, I have read all of your responses and they are very helpful. The problem that I have is that the inbox.bak file is not in the recycle bin. everything else is. I lost 11 months worth of emails from my inbox today when I compacted. Do you have any advise on why the inbox was not backed up or where it might be. Thanks, MM "Bruce Hagen" wrote: Have you tried restoring the bak file? If you can, and then split it up, that would be the easiest way. Otherwise, you will need an extraction tool. All e-mail items may be missing when you start Outlook Express 6 Service Pack 1: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918069 To restore a bak folder to the message store folder, first locate the Message Store in Windows Explorer. In OE: 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, the dbx files 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. In Windows Explorer, click on the dbx file for the missing, or empty, folder and drag it to the Desktop. It can be deleted later once you have successfully restored the bak file. Minimize the Message Store. Open OE and, if the folder is missing, create a folder with the *exact* same name as the bak file you want to restore but without the .bak. Eg: If the file is Saved.bak, the new folder should be named Saved. Open the new folder and then close OE. If the folder is there, but just empty, continue on to the next step. First, check if there is a bak file already in the message store. If there is, and you removed the dbx file, go ahead and rename it to dbx. If it isn't already in the message store, open the Recycle bin and right click on the bak file for the folder in question and click Restore. Open the message store back up and change the file extension from .bak to .dbx. Close the message store and open OE. The messages should now be back in the folder. If the messages are successfully restored, you can go ahead and delete the old dbx file that you moved to the Desktop. 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 "DimitriR" wrote in message ... My inbox crashed. After reading several threads, I compacted all files, and the inbox went to the Recycling Bin. I found the problem was the size of my inbox - 2+GB!. How/where can I restore it so that I can edit the file, splitting up what I need into smaller files and deleting the rest? I presume I can't open it without OE? How can I do that without crashing OE all over again? System: I have OE6 on XP SP3 DimitriR |
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