HELP! - Outlook Express

[Marknz]

All,

For the first time in it's six years in my hands, Outlook Express just dropped all of the emails I've been storing over all those years. And as per usual, a lot of it is very important 'stuff'.

Any ideas on how to get it all back, or am I fooked?

Cheers
Mark

[slofox]

All,

For the first time in it's six years in my hands, Outlook Express just dropped all of the emails I've been storing over all those years. And as per usual, a lot of it is very important 'stuff'.

Any ideas on how to get it all back, or am I fooked?

Cheers
Mark

Talk to mister.koz on here.....

[Pussy]

All,

For the first time in it's six years in my hands, Outlook Express just dropped all of the emails I've been storing over all those years. And as per usual, a lot of it is very important 'stuff'.

Any ideas on how to get it all back, or am I fooked?

Cheers
Mark

My puter did that yesterday... about 4 months worth of "saved" emails. Pissed me off.

[MattRSK]

Hey have they been lost out of folders or inbox?

[MattRSK]

I can only find programs on the net that cost money to recover emails sorry.

[sinfull]

All,

For the first time in it's six years in my hands, Outlook Express just dropped all of the emails I've been storing over all those years. And as per usual, a lot of it is very important 'stuff'.

Any ideas on how to get it all back, or am I fooked?

Cheers
MarkSystem restore is all i can think that might save ya ! My computer, control panel, performance and maintanence, system restore, ! (dont hit set a restore point or it's gone !)
go back to a date (restore point) where ya know ya had the emails !

[Winston001]

Search your pc for .dbx files - they are Outlook Express format. Its unlikely they are gone completely. I had this happen but will have to think about how I recovered them.

Sounds like you had too much mail stored up. OE doesn't like that. I create subfolders to store stuff and have moved .dbx files elsewhere on the pc to keep OE slimish.

[Pussy]

Mine just disappeared from the inbox.
All told, there were about 1300 messages in the inbox before they went.
They are only recent ones that have gone.
Did it once last year,too, when there were about 1800 messages in the inbox.
What's an easy way for puter dummies like me to find them?

[Winston001]

Ok - what I did was install Thunderbird and then imported all Outlook Express mail. That recovered everything I'd lost. I never did find out what the problem was but think I uninstalled OE, then reinstalled. For various reasons I prefer OE even though Thunderbird is very popular.

I'd find all the .dbx files you can and copy them to My Docs or a CD before doing anything more.

The other place to go is Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/oerepair.mspx

[Winston001]

Mine just disappeared from the inbox.
All told, there were about 1300 messages in the inbox before they went.
They are only recent ones that have gone.
Did it once last year,too, when there were about 1800 messages in the inbox.
What's an easy way for puter dummies like me to find them?

You can instruct your mail provider to hold email on their server instead of deleting it. Look in Accounts - Properties - Advanced - tick Leave A Copy On Server. That's the lesson I learned. :D Just clean out spam etc from time to time or you'll hit the storage limits.

[sinfull]

Mine just disappeared from the inbox.
All told, there were about 1300 messages in the inbox before they went.
They are only recent ones that have gone.
Did it once last year,too, when there were about 1800 messages in the inbox.
What's an easy way for puter dummies like me to find them?from one dummy to another ! Go --- my computor c/ drive then open every folder and sub folder for the next 8 hours and ya might find them hehehe have fun !


Awww prior to that open my computor, then tools, options, view, show all folders !
Dont delete anything hahaha

[hospitalfood]

i can send you an invite to gmail if you want.

gives you masses of space
web based so they back it up for you, also means that you can get all your mail from any computer at any time, also means if your drive dies you don't lose a thing.

it has a heap of good fucntions as well

[Fred Dagg]

Umm, dare I suggest that 1300-1800 messages is a little excessive for a computer to deal with, and that occasionally deleting or saving them to a different folder (if you really need to keep them) would help. Of course, it is not your fault you are so popular - do a disk cleanup and defrag also helps! One other option is to do a back up or get an external hard drive....:whistle:

[sinfull]

Umm, dare I suggest that 1300-1800 messages is a little excessive for a computer to deal with, and that occasionally deleting or saving them to a different folder (if you really need to keep them) would help. Of course, it is not your fault you are so popular - do a disk cleanup and defrag also helps! One other option is to do a back up or get an external hard drive....:whistle:
Truth be know i'm betting it was a disc cleanup that had them dissapear ! Or an outlook can compress these files !!!

Just been to a mates place who was complaining his pc was saying not enough disc space !!! ummmm Hello 5 gig total mem. Gave him a gig to run on but not alot ya can do in them situations !
Imagine if he was using outlook !

[Gremlin]

Right... first of all, Outlook Express stores its data in a hidden folder, this webpage will detail location: http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/files/store.htm The GUID entry is a random string of numbers and letters, basically the profile name (you can have multiple entries)

A .dbx file is kept for each folder (and/or any sub folders you have created). Find these files and take a copy of them. They should be proportionately large based on how many emails you had in the folder.

Now you can work with it. I would suggest trying to re-import the emails into your profile, but it depends on how large the .dbx files appear to be (ie, have the files themselves got screwed, or just Outlook Express).

[Gremlin]

Oh, and could people recommending Gmail etc please think about it....

The email account has got nothing to do with the email client. You could have a Gmail account set up inside Outlook Express, and it lose its information.

Yes, asking the server to keep a copy is a viable solution, but you must then manage your emails in two locations. If this was going to be done, sometimes using IMAP is a better alternative.

Also, having had a client get locked out of his own personal gmail account for 2 weeks... Gmail is not the infallible magic non-breakable email account people seem to think it is.

[The Stranger]

All,

For the first time in it's six years in my hands, Outlook Express just dropped all of the emails I've been storing over all those years. And as per usual, a lot of it is very important 'stuff'.

Any ideas on how to get it all back, or am I fooked?

Cheers
Mark

First rule of lost data, if you REALLY REALLY want it back. Turn your computer off at the wall and get it to someone who KNOWS what they are doing.
Sure Fred (name changed) may have got it back before - and may well again, but frequently it not the same fault Fred had, but for some strange reason Fred will assume it is and advise you how he got it back - which may get the data back - or may just fuck it up completely. Roll the dice.

I would like to think I fall into the category of knowing what I am doing, and would offer to help, but I'm not in your garage.

[Gremlin]

I would like to think I fall into the category of knowing what I am doing, and would offer to help, but I'm not in your garage.
Oh come now... isn't it always much more exciting to try and figure out the problem AND whats been done afterwards, thereby deciphering the whole chain, to get the data back?

Mark... Stranger is basically asking for your location... just so ya know :laugh:

[Marknz]

well I've found all the *.dbx files, and Outlook Express is still working well enough. I just don't have any of the folders and sub-folders I previously had off my Inbox with any of the emails in them.

I've tried importing the files, but it won't let me get to the directory that the .dbx's are in... I guess that is 'cause it's hidden?

Sounding like a 'know-nothing' now aren't I?

I wonder if this is a job for Geeks on Wheels next week?

Do I need to stop using Outlook in the meantime?

Oh, and Stranger... I'm in Wgtn

[Winston001]

Ok Mark, do not compact folders or defrag or anything of that nature. In other words try not to disturb your hard drive. :D If you continue to use OE, do not delete anything. Leave it as untouched as possible.

I'm sure we could figure it out for you - Gremlin for one - but if you are willing to get the Geeks in, then do so.

[scracha]

Oh, and Stranger... I'm in Wgtn

Doesnie matter. Have you got broadband? Plenty folks on here who can sort you out via remote access (if the appropriate dbf files still exist...which they almost certainly will).

I won't lecture you about IMAP, backing up or ticking the little box that stops the emails being erased on the server.

[hospitalfood]

Oh, and could people recommending Gmail etc please think about it....

The email account has got nothing to do with the email client. You could have a Gmail account set up inside Outlook Express, and it lose its information.

Yes, asking the server to keep a copy is a viable solution, but you must then manage your emails in two locations. If this was going to be done, sometimes using IMAP is a better alternative.

Also, having had a client get locked out of his own personal gmail account for 2 weeks... Gmail is not the infallible magic non-breakable email account people seem to think it is.

i don't think you know gmail well, you don't access it through a piece of email software. you just log on to the site, its all there.
sure it could crash like anything, but i have never been locked out. and in my opinion i would rather be using the resources of google to take care of my emails than the resources of one man ( me )

it is far superior to having emails on your computer, the only other thing i know of that comes close is a service Mac provides which is very similar in the way it works. perhaps you should look into it further

[Winston001]

it is far superior to having emails on your computer, the only other thing i know of that comes close is a service Mac provides which is very similar in the way it works. perhaps you should look into it further

Each to their own. Personally I would not want availability of emails to be at the mercy of an internet connection - or the goodwill of a server.

I often look at email offline. There are places I go, such as my mothers home, where there is no connection, but it doesn't matter. Just open an email and show her photos.

Doesn't mean you are wrong - Gremlin and I just have a different approach.

[hospitalfood]

Each to their own. Personally I would not want availability of emails to be at the mercy of an internet connection - or the goodwill of a server.

I often look at email offline. There are places I go, such as my mothers home, where there is no connection, but it doesn't matter. Just open an email and show her photos.

Doesn't mean you are wrong - Gremlin and I just have a different approach.

fair call, and you are right that there are some advantages to having them downloaded, i prefer the advantage of being able to access them all from any computer which is the default setting on gmail

[Winston001]

fair call, and you are right that there are some advantages to having them downloaded, i prefer the advantage of being able to access them all from any computer which is the default setting on gmail

Yes I should have said I do the same thing but its really just a backup in case my lappie goes down.

Anyway - for OE repair apparently this is the business - http://www.oemailrecovery.com/outlook-express-recovery.html US$27.

See discussion here - http://pressf1.pcworld.co.nz/showthread.php?t=102685

[boomer]

i don't think you know gmail well, you don't access it through a piece of email software.

I'm sure he knows exactly what Gmail is and the different mechanisms to access it and your emails... some chose to have email clients manage all there accounts, including Gmail; which doesn't require the use of a web browser..


remember young padawan, there are many ways to skin a dog !

[Gremlin]

i don't think you know gmail well, you don't access it through a piece of email software. you just log on to the site, its all there.
No, you're right. I know absolutely nothing about it. I don't have 2 gmail accounts (and haven't for years) nor do I access both mainly through my phone, as IMAP accounts (which reduces bandwidth). I also don't know that you can't email them directly or ring them, if there is a problem with your account.

:girlfight: Back on topic :Playnice:

Mark. First make a copy of your dbx files, and store them elsewhere. Ideally the whole folder. There are some other items you should backup (just as complete insurance) and this is from within Outlook (easiest way, without sending you through the computer to find them). Under File > Import / Export, Export your address book. This is all your contacts. Sorry these instructions are a bit general, but I don't have a working copy to work off at the moment, and the last time I worked with OE was about a month ago.

Also, go to Tools > Accounts, and you should be able to export your email account settings into a single file (that you can re-import if things went really wrong). Store all of this away from the computer.

Next thing. Ideally... if the dbx files for your subfolders are in the folder, then OE *should* see them, but there could be other issues at play.

The reason you can't see them when trying to import them, is because the previously provided directory structure is hidden. Since you're using Outlook Express, I'm assuming you're using Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Open any folder on your computer and click on Tools (or go to your Control Panel) and choose folder options.

Under the 2nd tab, View, will be an option "Show hidden files and folders". Checking this would allow the folders to be seen. If you're know what you're doing, when browsing to the directory, typing the folder name into the file name box would work as well (but few understand this). Anyhoo, with that option checked, browsing to the directory should be possible. I'd suggest turning that option off afterwards, to be safe.

I would imagine you would need to re-create the folder in OE, then import the emails into the folder...

Ideally, yeah, let someone who knows what they are doing sort it out. However, as Devil could testify, we had a part time client who did just that, took it to some fella, who made it far worse. We couldn't even fix the problem, but we think he somehow layered 3 operating systems on top of each other. :weird:

[Gremlin]

lastly... as people say, if you have a working internet connection, then its possible anyone of us knowing what to do could assist, with the likes of Teamviewer etc.

[Spuds1234]

Get a Gmail account, set it to forward emails to a your current email address and leave a copy of the email still in your gmail account.

Problem solved. You'll never run out of space with Gmail, and will have a copy of every email if Outlook goes pear shapped again.

Its what I do and works fine, hell I havnt even visited Gmail in ages. No doubt I have like a 1000 unread messages but that doesnt matter.

[Virago]

Ummm, just thinking through the obvious stuff...

You've mentioned both Outlook and Outlook Express. You have both on your machine?

When installing Automatic Updates, Windows often changes the default mail to Outlook, so that when you open Outlook Express there's no stored mail there. Changing your default to Outlook Express will reinstall the files.

[Pixie]

Oh, and could people recommending Gmail etc please think about it....

The email account has got nothing to do with the email client. You could have a Gmail account set up inside Outlook Express, and it lose its information.

Yes, asking the server to keep a copy is a viable solution, but you must then manage your emails in two locations. If this was going to be done, sometimes using IMAP is a better alternative.

Also, having had a client get locked out of his own personal gmail account for 2 weeks... Gmail is not the infallible magic non-breakable email account people seem to think it is.
I forward all important emails to my Gmail account.
Regularly backup Opera Mail.
Use MozBackup on Thunderbird.
Avoid Microsoft apps where ever possible.

[Marknz]

Thanks for all the advice folks! I've copied all the *.dbx files I can find into another folder in My Documents.

Have been speaking with Geeks on Wheels, and they're coming round Tuesday avo to sort it. They've recommended I don't use Outlook Express at all in the meantime, and just use my webmail interface instead. I'm sure I'll get to ask the dude who's coming around lots of interesting q's and I'll make his day.

Cheers
Mark

[Marknz]

Sorted! T'was a faulty Folder.dbx file apparently.

Thumbs up for Geeks on Wheels

[mister.koz]

Glad you got it sorted, i would suggest getting thunderbird and/or using gmail. i've got about 9gb space on my gmail and i am using 2gb and thats emails from the last 8 years. My thunderbird (and outlook) uses gmail as its primary storage so i have the convenience of a mail program and the big ass backup of an online storage engine.

Outlook and outlook express use database files but do not perform maintenance or integrity checks so those files get corrupt, then in a typical microsoft fashion they ignore damage rather than alerting you or helping you fix it.

Thunderbird uses mbox format which is similar to the dbx format that outlook uses but it checks the data file regularly and compacts and repairs the information which keeps the file contiguous.

So without geek-speak:
Microsoft applications often work well but they are prone to crapping in their pants and hiding it till it reeks out the whole house. You are better to backup regularly AND use non-microsoft technologies to look after your important stuff.

Thunderbird is allot like outlook express but better in my books and it does allot of things that protects your data from exactly this problem.

There are two types of people in the computer world: people who backup their information and people who have never lost a thing.

PS: cheers for the rec slowfox :)

[dangerous]

Right... computer no hoper here, now if this has been covered already (havent reed any posts bar the 1st) then refer me to the post, other wise...

my Outlook express stoped automaticaly down loading or down loading full stop my emails from hotmail and clear a week ago, the following is the message I get in the pop up indo that usually tells me all done with a green tick.

Anyone able to help me here? :niceone:



Unable to poll for new messages on your HTTP server. Account: 'Hotmail', Server: 'http://services.msn.com/svcs/hotmail/httpmail.asp', Protocol: HTTPMail, Server Response: 'Forbidden', Port: 0, Secure(SSL): No, Server Error: 998, Socket Error: 87, Error Number: 0x800CCC33

Header download for the 'Inbox' folder did not complete. Account: 'Hotmail', Server: 'http://services.msn.com/svcs/hotmail/httpmail.asp', Protocol: HTTPMail, Server Response: 'Forbidden', Port: 0, Secure(SSL): No, Server Error: 998, Socket Error: 87, Error Number: 0x800CCC33

Outlook Express could not download the requested message. It is likely that the message was removed or expired from the server. Subject 'Reply to thread 'First aid kits?'', Account: 'Hotmail', Server: 'http://services.msn.com/svcs/hotmail/httpmail.asp', Protocol: HTTPMail, Server Response: 'Forbidden', Port: 0, Secure(SSL): No, Server Error: 998, Socket Error: 87, Error Number: 0x800CCC33

[scracha]

http://v3.izymail.com/gmailconfig.aspx
&
http://lifehacker.com/241120/how-to-read-your-hotmail-from-gmail

Get Gmail to pull in your hotmail. Set your email client up with IMAP and viola.

Recommend switching to Thunderbird as the email client. It'll transfer your email from OE very easily and basically just works.

[phred]

Can also try recuva to locate missing and/or deleted files. also is right price - free.
The never use outlook express again. dodgy program from dodgy company. suggest pine , elm or mutt

[dangerous]

shit guys... all i want is my OE to work again, all that info is one big sycababble to me.

cheers Ill get some one that can desifer that lingo into english, or dangereses for me.

[scracha]

Can you open your webbybrowser and check if you can get your email at http://www.hotmail.com/

(think it diverts to windoze live these days) ??

[scracha]

Turns out dangerous is know fule. Micro$haft effectively hobbled Hotmail on September the 1st by killing off DAV.

http://windowslivewire.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!2F7EB29B42641D59!40879.entry


Solution is here. Probably just as easy to switch to Windows Live mail.

http://windowslivehelp.com/solutions/settings/archive/2009/02/18/how-to-add-your-e-mail-account-to-microsoft-outlook-express.aspx

[dangerous]

yeah... thanks for the help man, duno what ya did but thanks.

kinda creapy watching ya comp being controled from another island aye, 2nd nature to you but for me it would be like building you a house from here... yeah weird shit aye ;)

Right of to sus a new email account as hotmail can take a running jump... :wacko:

[Argyle]

Your internet provider might store them on their server?