Bruce,

want to "double check" sent messages occasionally

Or, I guess as already indicated, copy them (import) to another identity.


Jack
------------------------



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
That is not the intent of OEQB. It is backup *insurance* in case of a
massive loss of messages. You are concerned about OE losing a message
occasionally here and there. I did say it was possible, but if you adhere to
the precautions I posted in my first reply, it is unlikely.

If you just want to "double check" sent messages occasionally, I would
/copy/ each sent message to a user created folder, leaving it in Sent Items
as well. Every few days you can delete messages older than 30 days from Sent
Items but leaving the copy in the other folder.

There are no specific programs made to help with memory. I would keep OE
backed up regardless.
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Bruce,

So, if you ever want to double check whether a single message supposedly
sent two weeks ago has been "dropped" by OE, does OEQB (if used for
back-up
a week ago) allow you to that without messing up (over writing) the
current
folders? Or is that only possible with DBXtract?


Jack
---------------------------------




"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
Copy/Paste will not work. Cut/Paste, or dragging the dbx file will work.
That said, if you move a single folder to a location on your HDD, you will
need to bring it back into OE to read the messages. You can't just open a
dbx file and read it.

How to restore individual dbx files:
http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx#imp1

To avoid that hassle, if you want to remove the Sent 2009 folder from your
current identity, importing it into another identity is the simplest way,
at
least in my opinion.

You can save the messages to a readable CD, but that has its downfalls.

Create a folder on your Desktop, then in Outlook Express open the folder
with the messages you want to save. Highlight one message, then Ctrl+A
will
highlight them all, (or hold the Ctrl button down while you select only
the
messages you want), Now, drag and drop them to the folder on your Desktop.
(Easiest if the folder shortcut is on the Taskbar).

Now you can copy that folder to a CD and you will be able to read the
messages on the CD by double-clicking on them.

The downside of this is that messages that have the same subject will be
overwritten. To avoid this, purchase:

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

All the above not withstanding, if you just want to backup the folder in
case of loss and not actually remove it from your current identity, then
just use a backup program.

This freeware tool backs up everything in OE in seconds. Disregard what is
written in red. That is referring to a different program.

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

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Bruce,

Any particular reason?

Just as part of a backup, I include a copy/paste of Documents and
Settings
(most of it) into an external HD.
So, if I want to see if a SENT message (actually kept in Sent 2009.dbx)
in
the backup file, are you saying I should create another identity and
import
the Sent 2009.dbx?

Jack
------------------------------------



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
You want to move all your current dbx files to another location as an
archive? Any particular reason? If you do, you would have to bring them
back
into OE to read them. Not always a simple thing to do.

If you want folders with messages out of your current folder tree, the
easiest way around this is to create another identity and import the
folders
you want to archive to it. This way you can just switch identities to
read
them if need be.

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

I would still get OEQB. It will back up all identities at the same time.
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Bruce,

There's the rub -- I am not absolutely positive I sent the message.

Well, anyway, I will now be a little more attentive all the way around,
including compacting, size, etc.

Question: If I backup (via Explore using copy/paste to another folder
on
the HD) the dbx files and later want to open one without disturbing the
current same dbx file, what's the best way to do that?


Jack



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
There are recovery tools, but if you are not even sure you actually sent
the
message do you want to go that route? You /may/ find the message with
one
of
these tools. Note that only DBXpress has a chance if the folders have
been
compacted.

Macallan Outlook Express Extraction:
http://www.insideoe.com/resources/tools.htm#macallan

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

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

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Bruce,

You move messages out of Sent Items

Yes -- I try not to accumulate more than 100 messages there.

compact often?

Approx once/wk.

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Yes to all above. No .dbx file is 300 mb at present.



"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
It is possible. You move messages out of Sent Items which is good. Do
you
compact often? Do you do all of the following?

General precautions for Outlook Express:

Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user
defined
folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted
Items
folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I
recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.

Information about the maximum file size of the .dbx files that are used
by
Outlook Express:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=903095

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.

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

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA


"Jack B" wrote in message
...
Is it possible for OE to lose some messages I sent. I was checking
SENT
for
a sent message and couldn't find it (actually, I move messages out of
SENT
after a while and put them into SAVED). I'd swear I sent it, but now
I'm
wondering.

Jack