If there is any messages in Deleted Items you wish to save, move them to a
local folder you create. Then:

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 WindowsXP, 2K & 3K, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) 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.

With OE closed, find the DBX file for the folder in question {Deleted
Items.dbx} and delete it. A new one will be created automatically when you
open OE.

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


"Allan T. Chou" <Gearbox@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:ec$OvCw6FHA.2600@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Using Outlook Express 6 in a Windows XP enviroment, POP 3 mail server.
> Was cleaning up my deleted messages folder and found that OE was freezing
> up (highlighted all messages and right click delete and also used the
> empty detleted files button from the drop dowm). Had to reboot each time.
> Found that some e-mails could not be deleted. This problem has now
> effected my inbox as well. Had recently installed Spyware Doctor but not
> sure if it has effected this function. Disable the program but stil will
> not delete. Any ideas? Thanks Allan
>