From my first reply:

<q>
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.
</q>

Apparently you didn't heed the warning to move messages out of default
folders and *then* compact.

Usually, the loss of messages is due to some action with the computer while
the compacting is in progress, such as shutting down the computer, a power
loss, or not working offline and receiving a message.

You know where the dbx files are located now. Check the size of the Inbox to
verify they still contain messages. If so, you may be able to recover them
with one of these tools.

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

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

Why Mail Disappears:
http://www.insideoe.com/problems/bugs.htm#mailgone

About File Corruption:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/...orruption.mspx

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


"Allan T. Chou" <Gearbox@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:uvRERix6FHA.2888@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Hi Bruce;
>
> Compacted as per instructions, seems that I have lost all my e-mails
> from 9/15/05 to present from my inbox. What did I do wrong and can I get
> them back? Thanks Allan
>
>
> "Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message
> news:uYWHLqw6FHA.632@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>> You're welcome. Thanks for posting back.
>> --
>> Bruce Hagen
>> MS MVP - Outlook Express
>> ~IB-CA~
>>
>> "Allan T. Chou" <Gearbox@comcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:etNM2nw6FHA.2036@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>>> Hi Bruce:
>>>
>>> THANK YOU, worked like a charm. Seems that it did the trick, able to
>>> delete from all folders now, Best Regards Allan
>>>
>>>
>>> "Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message
>>> news:uX73lIw6FHA.2012@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>>>> 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
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>