Outlook Express 6.0 DBX Files can't read??

[wooza]

I was compacting my folders and it completed fine. I closed the application and when I reopened it, all my folders and mail messages were not there. I looked in the document admin/ local settings / key name/microsoft outlook directory and I see them there but outlook is not READING them.

I created a new folder called TEST and its creating it in the proper directory where all my DBX files are stored but somehow express is not reading any of the 50 other DBX files..
Any help would be appreciated..

 

[satrow]

Have you tried importing them?

Andy.

 

[wooza]

Andy

I've tried renaming my folder inbox to old and restarting express.. Same issue.. I tried to import and I receive the specified message store could not be opened. It maybe in use by outlook express..No messages can be found in this folder or another app is running that has the required files open. Please select another folder or try closing applications that may have it open. I'm in outlook express doing this..

I can see my DBX files, not read only and they just won't appear any more on my folders list. I noticed there are other folders that never existed before like calendar, contacts, journal, notes and tasks. They were not there before... Any help.. thanks

 

[satrow]

Are you sure that you are not opening Outlook instead of Outlook Express?

Andy.

 

[DoctorDitmco]

Wooza, If you can see the .dbx files just click >open with> and navigate to your outlook express folder and click on msimn.exe. You can also go to windows explorer folder options and add the .dbx folders to the view menu with the msimn.exe specified as the program to open these files. If you have other .dbx files not associated with OE you might want to rethink making the permanent change. The import option works great with OE, you just have to select import from a store and point to the location of your .dbx files.
Ron

 

[wooza]

Hi .. I've used the tool and they are all corrupt.. I did find a backup of the files which were read only and they were able to import correctly.. Although the backup was 2 years ago, i guess i've lost 2 years worth of emails. Any case thanks for the reply or if there is a better tool to recover files I would appreciate it..

 

[NEM068]

Wooza. If you have not already solved your problem here is a solution that has worked for me.

1. Locate the folder containing the .dbx files used by OE.
2. Shutdown OE.
3. Find the file Folder.dbx and rename that file Folder.old.
4. Shutdown file explorer.
5. Restart OE. OE will automatically create the new folder directories and import your saved messages.