Bruce Hagen wrote:
Head this and it should reduce the chance of a reoccurrence.

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

"Bill Bradshaw" wrote in message
...
I built a new identity and it finally compacted after stopping a
couple of times. Hopefully maybe it will now start workingr
reliably.

I follow all the suggestions at 903095 already. I do not keep anything in
my inbox, send, delete, etc. I do a manual compact everday while offline
and the only thing compacted are the news groups and I only keep 12 days
worth of message in those folders (the largest newsgroup file is 700 kB).
One dbx file in my email section is 57 mB. So it is not file size. This is
really strange. Fortunately my saved emails are not affected and it just
means I have to re-download 12 days of the messages in the newgroup(s) that
are impacted by the compacting problem. I also keep my messages in a
subdirectory on partition E so they are not mixed in with alot of other
stuff.
--
Bill

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.

Bruce Hagen wrote:
Head this and it should reduce the chance of a reoccurrence.

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

"Bill Bradshaw" wrote in message
...
I built a new identity and it finally compacted after stopping a
couple of times. Hopefully maybe it will now start workingr
reliably.

I follow all the suggestions at 903095 already. I do not keep anything in
my inbox, send, delete, etc. I do a manual compact everday while offline
and the only thing compacted are the news groups and I only keep 12 days
worth of message in those folders (the largest newsgroup file is 700 kB).
One dbx file in my email section is 57 mB. So it is not file size. This is
really strange. Fortunately my saved emails are not affected and it just
means I have to re-download 12 days of the messages in the newgroup(s) that
are impacted by the compacting problem. I also keep my messages in a
subdirectory on partition E so they are not mixed in with alot of other
stuff.
--
Bill

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.

Are we top posting, or bottom posting?

QP
I do a manual compact everday while offline and the only thing compacted are
the news groups
/QP

Huh? You are not compacting your local folders?

P.S. Head should have been Heed, but "reduce the chance of a reoccurrence"
are the operative words here. OE is a very fragile and fickle program so
backing up is a must.
--

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


"Bill Bradshaw" wrote in message
...
Bruce Hagen wrote:
Head this and it should reduce the chance of a reoccurrence.

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

"Bill Bradshaw" wrote in message
...
I built a new identity and it finally compacted after stopping a
couple of times. Hopefully maybe it will now start workingr
reliably.

I follow all the suggestions at 903095 already. I do not keep anything in
my inbox, send, delete, etc. I do a manual compact everday while offline
and the only thing compacted are the news groups and I only keep 12 days
worth of message in those folders (the largest newsgroup file is 700 kB).
One dbx file in my email section is 57 mB. So it is not file size. This
is really strange. Fortunately my saved emails are not affected and it
just means I have to re-download 12 days of the messages in the
newgroup(s) that are impacted by the compacting problem. I also keep my
messages in a subdirectory on partition E so they are not mixed in with
alot of other stuff.
--
Bill

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.

Are we top posting, or bottom posting?

QP
I do a manual compact everday while offline and the only thing compacted are
the news groups
/QP

Huh? You are not compacting your local folders?

P.S. Head should have been Heed, but "reduce the chance of a reoccurrence"
are the operative words here. OE is a very fragile and fickle program so
backing up is a must.
--

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


"Bill Bradshaw" wrote in message
...
Bruce Hagen wrote:
Head this and it should reduce the chance of a reoccurrence.

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

"Bill Bradshaw" wrote in message
...
I built a new identity and it finally compacted after stopping a
couple of times. Hopefully maybe it will now start workingr
reliably.

I follow all the suggestions at 903095 already. I do not keep anything in
my inbox, send, delete, etc. I do a manual compact everday while offline
and the only thing compacted are the news groups and I only keep 12 days
worth of message in those folders (the largest newsgroup file is 700 kB).
One dbx file in my email section is 57 mB. So it is not file size. This
is really strange. Fortunately my saved emails are not affected and it
just means I have to re-download 12 days of the messages in the
newgroup(s) that are impacted by the compacting problem. I also keep my
messages in a subdirectory on partition E so they are not mixed in with
alot of other stuff.
--
Bill

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.

Look at the time stamp. I was up early to go fishing. w
--

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


"Ron Sommer" wrote in message
...
Well, your spell checker works, but I think you meant heed. :-)
--
Ron Sommer

"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
Head this and it should reduce the chance of a reoccurrence.

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


"Bill Bradshaw" wrote in message
...
I built a new identity and it finally compacted after stopping a couple
of times. Hopefully maybe it will now start workingr reliably.

--
Bill

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.

Bruce Hagen wrote:
Start here.

When OE crashes or won't start:
http://www.insideoe.com/problems/errors.htm#crash

"Bill Bradshaw" wrote in message
...
Yes OE was closed.

Message:

Outlook Express has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are
sorry for the inconvenience.

If you were in the middle of something, the information you were
working on might be lost.

For more information about this error, click here.

Click Here Message:

Error signature

AppName: msimn.exe AppVer: 6.0.2900.5512 ModName: directdb.dll
ModVer: 6.0.2900.5512 Offset: 00007641

To view technical information about the error report, click here.

I have not setup a new identity and imported.
--
Bill

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.

"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
I'd like to blame Norton, but I don't /think/ it is the reason this
time. Was OE closed when you deleted Folders.dbx? It must be. What
is the exact error message?

If you create a new identity and import all your messages, does
compacting work there?
--

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


"Bill Bradshaw" wrote in message
...
Running WinXP Pro SP3. Using OE 6. I am having a problem manually
compacting my dbx files. I keep getting an error in the
directdb.dll file. I do not leave any messages in the inbox.
Everything that is saved is moved to a folder. I have tried
deleting and rebuilding the folders dbx file. What happens when
its stops compacting a file is the file is deleted and a backup
file is created. This does happen on any particular dbx file. I
have tried searching the internet but have not found an answer
that works. They only new software I have installed is Norton
AntiVirus 2009 so I guess I am suspicious. Anybody have any
suggestions? --
Bill

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.

Bill

If only newsgroups are compacted it would seem you are selecting Tools,
Options, Maintenance. CleanUp Now, Compact. That is not what Bruce was
recommending.


--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Bill Bradshaw wrote:
Bruce Hagen wrote:
Head this and it should reduce the chance of a reoccurrence.

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

"Bill Bradshaw" wrote in message
...
I built a new identity and it finally compacted after stopping a
couple of times. Hopefully maybe it will now start workingr
reliably.

I follow all the suggestions at 903095 already. I do not keep
anything in my inbox, send, delete, etc. I do a manual compact
everday while offline and the only thing compacted are the news
groups and I only keep 12 days worth of message in those folders (the
largest newsgroup file is 700 kB). One dbx file in my email section
is 57 mB. So it is not file size. This is really strange.
Fortunately my saved emails are not affected and it just means I have
to re-download 12 days of the messages in the newgroup(s) that are
impacted by the compacting problem. I also keep my messages in a
subdirectory on partition E so they are not mixed in with alot of
other stuff.

Bill

If only newsgroups are compacted it would seem you are selecting Tools,
Options, Maintenance. CleanUp Now, Compact. That is not what Bruce was
recommending.


--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Bill Bradshaw wrote:
Bruce Hagen wrote:
Head this and it should reduce the chance of a reoccurrence.

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

"Bill Bradshaw" wrote in message
...
I built a new identity and it finally compacted after stopping a
couple of times. Hopefully maybe it will now start workingr
reliably.

I follow all the suggestions at 903095 already. I do not keep
anything in my inbox, send, delete, etc. I do a manual compact
everday while offline and the only thing compacted are the news
groups and I only keep 12 days worth of message in those folders (the
largest newsgroup file is 700 kB). One dbx file in my email section
is 57 mB. So it is not file size. This is really strange.
Fortunately my saved emails are not affected and it just means I have
to re-download 12 days of the messages in the newgroup(s) that are
impacted by the compacting problem. I also keep my messages in a
subdirectory on partition E so they are not mixed in with alot of
other stuff.

Uh-huh...or you never went to hic bed!

Bruce Hagen wrote:
Look at the time stamp. I was up early to go fishing. w

"Ron Sommer" wrote in message
...
Well, your spell checker works, but I think you meant heed. :-)
--
Ron Sommer

"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
Head this and it should reduce the chance of a reoccurrence.

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


"Bill Bradshaw" wrote in message
...
I built a new identity and it finally compacted after stopping a couple
of times. Hopefully maybe it will now start workingr reliably.

--
Bill

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.

Bruce Hagen wrote:
Start here.

When OE crashes or won't start:
http://www.insideoe.com/problems/errors.htm#crash

"Bill Bradshaw" wrote in message
...
Yes OE was closed.

Message:

Outlook Express has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are
sorry for the inconvenience.

If you were in the middle of something, the information you were
working on might be lost.

For more information about this error, click here.

Click Here Message:

Error signature

AppName: msimn.exe AppVer: 6.0.2900.5512 ModName: directdb.dll
ModVer: 6.0.2900.5512 Offset: 00007641

To view technical information about the error report, click here.

I have not setup a new identity and imported.
--
Bill

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.

"Bruce Hagen" wrote in message
...
I'd like to blame Norton, but I don't /think/ it is the reason this
time. Was OE closed when you deleted Folders.dbx? It must be. What
is the exact error message?

If you create a new identity and import all your messages, does
compacting work there?
--

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


"Bill Bradshaw" wrote in message
...
Running WinXP Pro SP3. Using OE 6. I am having a problem manually
compacting my dbx files. I keep getting an error in the
directdb.dll file. I do not leave any messages in the inbox.
Everything that is saved is moved to a folder. I have tried
deleting and rebuilding the folders dbx file. What happens when
its stops compacting a file is the file is deleted and a backup
file is created. This does happen on any particular dbx file. I
have tried searching the internet but have not found an answer
that works. They only new software I have installed is Norton
AntiVirus 2009 so I guess I am suspicious. Anybody have any
suggestions? --
Bill

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.

I did try his offline, File-Folder-Compact All Folders and what happened
is it started messing up my email folders and I can not have that.
Fortunately I keep a backup so I was able restore the folders that were
damaged. That is why I am only doing newsgroups. I am going to set through
each folder, both email and news groups, and compact them individually and
see if this helps.
--
Bill

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.

"Gerry" wrote in message
...
Bill

If only newsgroups are compacted it would seem you are selecting Tools,
Options, Maintenance. CleanUp Now, Compact. That is not what Bruce was
recommending.
--
Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bill Bradshaw wrote:
Bruce Hagen wrote:
Head this and it should reduce the chance of a reoccurrence.

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

"Bill Bradshaw" wrote in message
...
I built a new identity and it finally compacted after stopping a
couple of times. Hopefully maybe it will now start workingr
reliably.

I follow all the suggestions at 903095 already. I do not keep
anything in my inbox, send, delete, etc. I do a manual compact
everday while offline and the only thing compacted are the news
groups and I only keep 12 days worth of message in those folders (the
largest newsgroup file is 700 kB). One dbx file in my email section
is 57 mB. So it is not file size. This is really strange. Fortunately
my saved emails are not affected and it just means I have
to re-download 12 days of the messages in the newgroup(s) that are
impacted by the compacting problem. I also keep my messages in a
subdirectory on partition E so they are not mixed in with alot of
other stuff.

I did try his offline, File-Folder-Compact All Folders and what happened
is it started messing up my email folders and I can not have that.
Fortunately I keep a backup so I was able restore the folders that were
damaged. That is why I am only doing newsgroups. I am going to set through
each folder, both email and news groups, and compact them individually and
see if this helps.
--
Bill

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska.

"Gerry" wrote in message
...
Bill

If only newsgroups are compacted it would seem you are selecting Tools,
Options, Maintenance. CleanUp Now, Compact. That is not what Bruce was
recommending.
--
Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bill Bradshaw wrote:
Bruce Hagen wrote:
Head this and it should reduce the chance of a reoccurrence.

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

"Bill Bradshaw" wrote in message
...
I built a new identity and it finally compacted after stopping a
couple of times. Hopefully maybe it will now start workingr
reliably.

I follow all the suggestions at 903095 already. I do not keep
anything in my inbox, send, delete, etc. I do a manual compact
everday while offline and the only thing compacted are the news
groups and I only keep 12 days worth of message in those folders (the
largest newsgroup file is 700 kB). One dbx file in my email section
is 57 mB. So it is not file size. This is really strange. Fortunately
my saved emails are not affected and it just means I have
to re-download 12 days of the messages in the newgroup(s) that are
impacted by the compacting problem. I also keep my messages in a
subdirectory on partition E so they are not mixed in with alot of
other stuff.