All of the inbox messages disappeared from my wife's computer. The
Inbox.dbx file is there but it is about 2GB. I think this is the reason OE
won't it. I don't think she has deleted anything in 4 years! Is there any
way to open this file?

Too large is an understatement.

First, backup the messages.

Backup & Resto
http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/backup/

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

Once you have the messages backed up, compact the folders.

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.

If it still won't open, close OE and rename the dbx file to Inboxold.dbx and
open OE. You will have a new empty Inbox, but will need a tool to retrieve
the messages from the old Inbox.

DBXtract:
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtract/Default.aspx

DBXpress: {much faster for large files}
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/Default.aspx

I would go with the later. Even with this program it will take some time.

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}.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"catsailr" wrote in message
news:jKn2i.2900$t7.2047@bigfe9...
All of the inbox messages disappeared from my wife's computer. The
Inbox.dbx file is there but it is about 2GB. I think this is the reason OE
won't it. I don't think she has deleted anything in 4 years! Is there any
way to open this file?

DBXpress will extract the contents of the file. Move it to another
directory so OE will start and make a new inbox. Then get DBXpress
(www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/) and run it on the file to get the messages out of
it.

steve

"catsailr" wrote in message
news:jKn2i.2900$t7.2047@bigfe9...
All of the inbox messages disappeared from my wife's computer. The
Inbox.dbx file is there but it is about 2GB. I think this is the reason OE
won't it. I don't think she has deleted anything in 4 years! Is there any
way to open this file?

"catsailr" дÈëÏûÏ¢ÐÂÎÅ:jKn2i.2900$t7.2047@bigfe9...
All of the inbox messages disappeared from my wife's computer. The
Inbox.dbx file is there but it is about 2GB. I think this is the reason OE
won't it. I don't think she has deleted anything in 4 years! Is there any
way to open this file?