My computer crashed as OE was compacting files.

I lost a number of email messages to the trash which I had already
downloaded.

I didn't run the backup with OE backup express yet, and there were a
few messages I wanted.

I restored certain message folders from the trash. But I can't access
my main storage directory.

The directory in home XP is \Local Settings\Application Data\Identities
\{DFF16927-88E6-4EAA-A097-460B7E65289B}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Is this correct? I get an error message saying, this directory is in
use and cannot be accessed.

Suggestions?
Thanks.
Bruce

Close OE and try.

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, and are fully patched, then you should have a
backup of your dbx files in the Recycle Bin, copied as bak files.

To restore a bak folder to the message store folder, first close OE and
locate the Message Store in Windows Explorer.

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 Explorer, you must enable Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start
| Control Panel | 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.

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 100MB, 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.

Backup and Resto

http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/backup/

http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx

And this good one click backup program.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB):

http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA

"brucegooglegroups" wrote in message
oups.com...
My computer crashed as OE was compacting files.

I lost a number of email messages to the trash which I had already
downloaded.

I didn't run the backup with OE backup express yet, and there were a
few messages I wanted.

I restored certain message folders from the trash. But I can't access
my main storage directory.

The directory in home XP is \Local Settings\Application Data\Identities
\{DFF16927-88E6-4EAA-A097-460B7E65289B}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Is this correct? I get an error message saying, this directory is in
use and cannot be accessed.

Suggestions?
Thanks.
Bruce

On Jun 7, 10:48 am, "Bruce Hagen" wrote:
Close OE and try.

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/...filecorruption....

Recovery tools:

If you are running XP/SP2, and are fully patched, then you should have a
backup of your dbx files in the Recycle Bin, copied as bak files.

To restore a bak folder to the message store folder, first close OE and
locate the Message Store in Windows Explorer.

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 Explorer, you must enable Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start
| Control Panel | 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.

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 100MB, 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.

Backup and Resto

http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/backup/

http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx

And this good one click backup program.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB):

http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA

"brucegooglegroups" wrote in message

oups.com...

My computer crashed as OE was compacting files.

I lost a number of email messages to the trash which I had already
downloaded.

I didn't run the backup with OE backup express yet, and there were a
few messages I wanted.

I restored certain message folders from the trash. But I can't access
my main storage directory.

The directory in home XP is \Local Settings\Application Data\Identities
\{DFF16927-88E6-4EAA-A097-460B7E65289B}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Is this correct? I get an error message saying, this directory is in
use and cannot be accessed.

Suggestions?
Thanks.
Bruce

Bruce,
Thanks for your reply. I still have the same problem- I cannot access
my main store directory, and for some reason, now, I can't access my
OE quick backup express folder. I receive the message" The specific
message store could not be opened. It may be in use by Outlook
Express."
Suggestions?
Bruce

"brucegooglegroups" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Jun 7, 10:48 am, "Bruce Hagen" wrote:
Close OE and try.

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/...filecorruption....

Recovery tools:

If you are running XP/SP2, and are fully patched, then you should have a
backup of your dbx files in the Recycle Bin, copied as bak files.

To restore a bak folder to the message store folder, first close OE and
locate the Message Store in Windows Explorer.

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 Explorer, you must enable Show Hidden Files and Folders under
Start
| Control Panel | 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.

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 100MB, 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.

Backup and Resto

http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/backup/

http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx

And this good one click backup program.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB):

http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA

"brucegooglegroups" wrote in message

oups.com...

My computer crashed as OE was compacting files.

I lost a number of email messages to the trash which I had already
downloaded.

I didn't run the backup with OE backup express yet, and there were a
few messages I wanted.

I restored certain message folders from the trash. But I can't access
my main storage directory.

The directory in home XP is \Local Settings\Application Data\Identities
\{DFF16927-88E6-4EAA-A097-460B7E65289B}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Is this correct? I get an error message saying, this directory is in
use and cannot be accessed.

Suggestions?
Thanks.
Bruce

Bruce,
Thanks for your reply. I still have the same problem- I cannot access
my main store directory, and for some reason, now, I can't access my
OE quick backup express folder. I receive the message" The specific
message store could not be opened. It may be in use by Outlook
Express."
Suggestions?
Bruce


You may have a damaged identity especially if it is the default Main
Identity. File | Identity | Add New Identity. Create a new one and test it.
If all is well, you can import your messages and Address Book from the old
identity and delete it.

How to Create and Use Identities in Outlook Express
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=209169

See if you can access this store folder.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA

"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
"brucegooglegroups" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Jun 7, 10:48 am, "Bruce Hagen" wrote:
Close OE and try.

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/...filecorruption....

Recovery tools:

If you are running XP/SP2, and are fully patched, then you should have a
backup of your dbx files in the Recycle Bin, copied as bak files.

To restore a bak folder to the message store folder, first close OE and
locate the Message Store in Windows Explorer.

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 Explorer, you must enable Show Hidden Files and Folders under
Start
| Control Panel | 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.

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 100MB, 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.

Backup and Resto

http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/backup/

http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx

And this good one click backup program.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB):

http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA

"brucegooglegroups" wrote in message

oups.com...

My computer crashed as OE was compacting files.

I lost a number of email messages to the trash which I had already
downloaded.

I didn't run the backup with OE backup express yet, and there were a
few messages I wanted.

I restored certain message folders from the trash. But I can't access
my main storage directory.

The directory in home XP is \Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities
\{DFF16927-88E6-4EAA-A097-460B7E65289B}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Is this correct? I get an error message saying, this directory is in
use and cannot be accessed.

Suggestions?
Thanks.
Bruce

Bruce,
Thanks for your reply. I still have the same problem- I cannot access
my main store directory, and for some reason, now, I can't access my
OE quick backup express folder. I receive the message" The specific
message store could not be opened. It may be in use by Outlook
Express."
Suggestions?
Bruce


You may have a damaged identity especially if it is the default Main
Identity. File | Identity | Add New Identity. Create a new one and test
it. If all is well, you can import your messages and Address Book from the
old identity and delete it.

How to Create and Use Identities in Outlook Express
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=209169

See if you can access this store folder.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA

Another thing you can try. Go to Start | Run and type in

msconfig

OK and under the startup tab, uncheck everything. Reboot and try to get in
the store folder before you open OE.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA

On Jun 7, 4:45 pm, "Bruce Hagen" wrote:
"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message

...



"brucegooglegroups" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Jun 7, 10:48 am, "Bruce Hagen" wrote:
Close OE and try.

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/...filecorruption....

Recovery tools:

If you are running XP/SP2, and are fully patched, then you should have a
backup of your dbx files in the Recycle Bin, copied as bak files.

To restore a bak folder to the message store folder, first close OE and
locate the Message Store in Windows Explorer.

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 Explorer, you must enable Show Hidden Files and Folders under
Start
| Control Panel | 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.

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 100MB, 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.

Backup and Resto

http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/backup/

http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx

And this good one click backup program.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB):

http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA

"brucegooglegroups" wrote in message

egroups.com...

My computer crashed as OE was compacting files.

I lost a number of email messages to the trash which I had already
downloaded.

I didn't run the backup with OE backup express yet, and there were a
few messages I wanted.

I restored certain message folders from the trash. But I can't access
my main storage directory.

The directory in home XP is \Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities
\{DFF16927-88E6-4EAA-A097-460B7E65289B}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Is this correct? I get an error message saying, this directory is in
use and cannot be accessed.

Suggestions?
Thanks.
Bruce

Bruce,
Thanks for your reply. I still have the same problem- I cannot access
my main store directory, and for some reason, now, I can't access my
OE quick backup express folder. I receive the message" The specific
message store could not be opened. It may be in use by Outlook
Express."
Suggestions?
Bruce

You may have a damaged identity especially if it is the default Main
Identity. File | Identity | Add New Identity. Create a new one and test
it. If all is well, you can import your messages and Address Book from the
old identity and delete it.

How to Create and Use Identities in Outlook Express
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=209169

See if you can access this store folder.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA

Another thing you can try. Go to Start | Run and type in

msconfig

OK and under the startup tab, uncheck everything. Reboot and try to get in
the store folder before you open OE.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA

Hi Bruce,
Fortunately, I have OE Express installed and I can import from there.
I tried the new identity and could import messages into the new
identity.

It's odd but I can import messages from the old identity to the new
one, but I can't import messages from either identity into itself.

Suggestions? It could be a corruption issue.

Also, I was fooling around previously, and made the OEexpress the main
identity and then switched back.

I can access- that is I can view the dbx files in the OE store folder,
but I can't import them.

I also noticed that there is no "main identity" folder only \Local
Settings\Application Data\Identities\{DFF16927-88E6-4EAA-
A097-460B7E65289B}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Thanks.
Bruce