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Windows Forum / Outlook Express / General Topics / May 2008lost OE files
I did something recently that lost all but a few of my OE files in one folder. I had backed up all of OE with OEQB, so I followed the direction that I think I got here--but something didn't work. In OE, I clicked on File | Import | Messages. I selected Microsoft Outlook Express 6 and Import from an OE6 Store Directory. I pointed to the QEQB folder, selected the folder containing the backup I wanted, clicked Next, and picked the folder I wanted. The import seemed to work. I saw the full number of files showing up as the program imported them. BUT when I go to the folder in OE, all that's there are the few files I hadn't lost. What do I do now? I tried exiting OE and starting it again, but the files aren't there. Thank you! Jo-Anne Just after I posted below, I found the restored folder in OE--but it was at the bottom of the folder "tree" and at a different level than the original folder. Thus I now have two folders with the same name at different levels. I can easily move the files into my old folder, but I wonder if this is what normally happens with a partial restore. Was there something I should have done differently? Thank you! Jo-Anne >I did something recently that lost all but a few of my OE files in one >folder. I had backed up all of OE with OEQB, so I followed the direction [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Jo-Anne If you don't want to be mystified by backup software behavior, then do the backup yourself: http://www.insideoe.com/backup/clone.htm Your reasons for doing the optional, but highly recommended Preparation steps 1 through 5 would be how much you depend on OE to be good. > Just after I posted below, I found the restored folder in OE--but it was at > the bottom of the folder "tree" and at a different level than the original [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] >> >> Jo-Anne Thank you for the info, Michael. I'll print it off to keep. However, I used OEQB because I really don't want to mess with the registry on my own. I'm not a programmer and figure I could screw it up badly enough that I don't even want to try. Maybe when a computer friend gets here in August, we'll do it together, so I'll be more comfortable with the whole idea. Jo-Anne > If you don't want to be mystified by backup software behavior, > then do the backup yourself: http://www.insideoe.com/backup/clone.htm [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] >>> >>> Jo-Anne It looks daunting, but once you've moved the message store from OE's default location to one that makes more sense (prep step 1), you may find yourself motivated to do the rest - it's not actually that hard to do. If you've got a non-system partition, it's best if the store is placed there. I've used OEQB. I decided that Tom Koch's procedure was better. > Thank you for the info, Michael. I'll print it off to keep. However, I used > OEQB because I really don't want to mess with the registry on my own. I'm not [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] >>>> >>>> Jo-Anne Thank you again, Michael. I need to gear myself up to do it. Jo-Anne > It looks daunting, but once you've moved the message store from OE's > default location to one that makes more sense (prep step 1), you may [quoted text clipped - 48 lines] >>>>> >>>>> Jo-Anne [We've got to stop seeing each other like this!] What you describe suggests that FOLDERS.DBX might be or have been corrupted, Jo-Anne. General OE Caveats to avoid such corruption: - Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local folders created for this purpose. - Empty Deleted Items folder daily. - Frequently perform a manual compact of all OE folders while "working offline". More at http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm NB: ALWAYS take care of all the above, including compacting all folders, before backing up! - WinXP SP2 only: Do not cancel Automatic Compacting, should it occur, and do not attempt to close OE via Task Manager or shutdown your machine if Automatic Compacting is taking place. - Disable email scanning by your anti-virus application. It can cause corruption (i.e., loss of messages), it provides no additional protection, and even Symantec says it's not necessary: <QP> Disabling Email Scanning does not leave you unprotected against viruses that are distributed as email attachments. Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect scans incoming files as they are saved to your hard drive, including email and email attachments. Email Scanning is just another layer on top of this. To make sure that Auto-Protect is providing the maximum protection, keep Auto-Protect enabled and run LiveUpdate regularly to ensure that you have the most recent virus definitions. </QP> http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav.nsf/docid/2002111812533106  Signature~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002 AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net DTS-L http://dts-l.net/ > Just after I posted below, I found the restored folder in OE--but it was > at [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] >> >> Jo-Anne [You're right! Seems like we're seeing each other everywhere...] Before I respond to your notes below, I have a couple new questions about OEQB backups: 1. If I leave the overwrite box checked, will files that were in the old backup but aren't in the new one still be there? Or will each newly backed-up folder simply get rid of the old folder and whatever's in it? (I'm guessing the old stuff will disappear.) 2. If I uncheck the overwrite box, will OEQB itself create new folders for the new backup or perhaps rename the old ones? (The first-level folder right now is OE Backup Folder, and the subfolder under it is Main Identity.) Or will I need to create a new backup folder and rename the old one so OEQB won't look there? The main thing is that I want to keep my last backup intact, in case I've lost more messages than I think I did. 3. You mention below that messages shouldn't be stored in the Inbox and Sent Items folders. What about subfolders to the Inbox? That's where I initially filter my incoming messages, and they might stay there a few days or even longer. If that's a bad idea, I'll create another folder for filtering incoming messages. Re the corruption, I think I interrupted some compacting that I hadn't intended to start, so that could very well be the problem. So far, it looks like it hit only the one folder, but I won't know for sure unless I need something that isn't there. I do empty the Deleted Items folder daily, and I compact it when I empty it. I AM guilty, though, of not compacting all the folders, so I've started doing that (offline, as you noted--which I had not done before). Makes perfect sense to do all the housekeeping before backing up. Re Norton, it has both outgoing and incoming email scanning. Should I turn off just the incoming? Norton does its LiveUpdate every day when I turn on the computer, and it does a Quick Scan of the important files after LiveUpdate. No wonder it takes so long for the Norton icon to appear in the system tray. I leave AutoProtect on at all times--unless I'm installing software. When I installed the latest WordPerfect a week or so ago, I turned off my modem, then turned off AutoProtect til I was done. I didn't turn off AutoProtect yesterday, however, when Microsoft was downloading and installing updates. I suppose I should have... As always, thank you for everything! You've been incredibly helpful in getting me to do the right things--and to start thinking about them as well. Jo-Anne > [We've got to stop seeing each other like this!] > [quoted text clipped - 72 lines] >>> >>> Jo-Anne I'll leave A1 and A2 for Bruce as I don't use OE-QB (and its author isn't seen in the newsgroups much anymore). A3. Keep Inbox as "lean & mean" as possible and frequently compact all folders manually (once-a-day IMHO, if you use OE heavily). Never EVER interrupt the compacting process, be it manual or automatic! Once compacting has started, do not TOUCH the machine or keyboard until it finishes. (And if you compact manually often enough, you should never encounter automatic compacting.) IN RE NAV Email Protection: Disable inbound /and/ outbound scanning and leave it permanently disabled, period. Otherwise, carry on as you've been doing. PS: Disabling AutoProtect might not be enough when installing software or updates. See http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleI d=9088598 and http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33522 ============================ OT: I'd get rid of NIS 2008 ASAP if I were you, hang the cost: 1. After making certain you have a copy of your Product Key (in the unlikely event that you'd want to reinstall NIS), uninstall all Norton software (including LiveUpdate) via Add/Remove Programs. 2. Enable the Windows Firewall. NB: You're "working without a net" now: Don't to ANYTHING else online (e.g., browsing; reading email; chatting) except #3 thru #5 below until your new anti-virus application has been installed and fully updated! 3. Run this removal tool: http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039 4. Reboot and /immediately/ install Avira AntiVir* (free): http://www.free-av.com 5. Manually update your new anti-virus application then run a full system scan. Tell me the machine doesn't run much better now!! NOTE: Should you ever want/need to remove AntiVir (e.g., before reinstalling NIS), first use Add/Remove Programs then download/run this cleaner: http://dl.antivir.de/down/windows/registrycleaner.zip Signature~Robear > [You're right! Seems like we're seeing each other everywhere...] > [quoted text clipped - 142 lines] >>>> >>>> Jo-Anne Thank you for the great advice! I'm definitely doing things differently with OE now. I don't know if I'll get up the nerve to uninstall Norton anytime soon--as long as it doesn't screw things up in any way I can detect--but I've copied your post to my antivirus folder for reference. I've heard it's extremely hard to completely uninstall Norton products, even with the Norton uninstaller (which I believe is on my computer right now because it was used by the Norton tech to uninstall Antivirus 2007 before installing NIS 2008). I'm hoping my SP3 and Norton don't suddenly take a dislike to each other. Perhaps since they haven't in the last two weeks, they won't? Thank you again! Jo-Anne > I'll leave A1 and A2 for Bruce as I don't use OE-QB (and its author isn't > seen in the newsgroups much anymore). [quoted text clipped - 197 lines] >>>>> >>>>> Jo-Anne A1: With the box checked, you get a backup of all your dbx files as they currently appear. With it unchecked, you select the dbx files that you want to replace individually. The second option never made any sense to my. Why would you want to backup messages you already deleted? I may not have the whole story on that. A2: It won't create new folders. There is a way to have more than one backup folder, but I don't know how, or if, you can do it automatically. I have two folders created in My Documents. OEQB1 and OEQB2. When I run OEQB, the files are sent to OEQB1, I then copy these to OEQB2. The next time I backup, OEQB1 will be the newest backup and OEQB2 will have the previous backup. This is all done with the Overwrite box checked always. SignatureBruce Hagen MS-MVP Outlook Express Imperial Beach, CA > [You're right! Seems like we're seeing each other everywhere...] > [quoted text clipped - 127 lines] >>>> >>>> Jo-Anne Ooo! I just remembered that I'd saved... MVP "Majik", author of OE Freebie Backup, writes: <paste> Backup and archiving are two separate things that people sometimes confuse each other with. What it sounds like you are wanting to do is archive the old message stores for possible later retrieval. Usually archiving is a way to store the old messages, clear them from the current setup and basically start over with empty files. Should you have a need to restore those files, you can simply import them into OE. Backup is done in case you have a problem and need to restore the data as it was. Backing up files should be done in a way that you understand what and where the files are, how long you want to retain them, etc. Two different forms of backup (others may have additional plans): 1) Make a backup of the current data. (Backup1) The next time you backup the data, put it in a separate folder. (Backup2) The next time you backup the data, put it in a separate folder again. (Backup3) The next time you backup, overwrite Backup1 The next time you backup, overwrite Backup2 The next time you backup, overwrite Backup3 The next time you backup, overwrite Backup1 The next time you backup, overwrite Backup2 The next time you backup, overwrite Backup3 &c. You always keep the last three backups for that just in case problem. 2) Make a backup to a different folder for each backup, never overwriting the previous. One idea: I've got several clients doing now for backing up their messages is to create a folder within OE and name it the month (March2004) of the backup. They can easily copy just that one DBX file and put it on CD then delete it from within OE. When they need it, they can easily then make a new folder of the same name, open it to create the dbx file required to get it in the Folders.dbx file), close OE, then copy the backed up dbx file over the existing one (removing the read only attribute) then restarting OE. Their messages are there waiting on them then and when they finish, all they have to do is delete the folder in OE. They won't be adding messages to that dbx file so it's no big deal when they delete it. </paste> Signature~PA Bear > A1: With the box checked, you get a backup of all your dbx files as they > currently appear. With it unchecked, you select the dbx files that you [quoted text clipped - 159 lines] >>>>> >>>>> Jo-Anne Ah. I remember you posting this long ago, but how do you tell OEQB /which/ folder you want to back up to? I never saw an option for this. That's why I drag the backup from the destination folder to a secondary folder. No such thing as overkill when you're trying to safeguard Outlook Express. <eg> SignatureBruce Hagen MS-MVP Outlook Express Imperial Beach, CA > Ooo! I just remembered that I'd saved... > [quoted text clipped - 220 lines] >>>>>> >>>>>> Jo-Anne You'd have to ask Majik. He posted that before he pulled OE-Freebie Backup (which still works, if you've got it). > Ah. I remember you posting this long ago, but how do you tell OEQB /which/ > folder you want to back up to? I never saw an option for this. That's why [quoted text clipped - 242 lines] >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Jo-Anne Hi, again, Well, so far, I've just kept absolutely everything in my OE folders (with the exception of projects so ancient that I don't mind getting rid of them). That explains why I couldn't back up to a CD even if OEQB allowed that kind of backup. It takes two CDs to work for me. Maybe it's time to rethink my methods and try archiving material. For now, however, I'll follow your suggestion below and copy each backup folder somewhere else, such as to My Documents, using the date of backup as the name. I'll begin deleting the old backups as new ones (after three or four) are created. Thank you! Jo-Anne > Ooo! I just remembered that I'd saved... > [quoted text clipped - 220 lines] >>>>>> >>>>>> Jo-Anne Consider archiving your older messages in a separate identity. > Hi, again, > [quoted text clipped - 255 lines] >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Jo-Anne Archiving OE folders and files under a new identity sounds like a great idea! Thank you! As always, however, I have questions (I looked in all three of my Windows XP books and in OE Help and didn't find answers): 1. I can see where and how to add an identity, but what happens when I do so? For example, how would I get old messages into the new identity? Would I be able to re-create my entire folder tree under the new identity? 2. My current identity is Main Identity. Presumably I can change that name. Would I screw up anything if I did? 3. A related question: If I changed the name Main Identity in an old OEQB backup to match a name change in OE, would I be able to restore the messages that are in the OEQB backup? If this hasn't come up before, maybe I'll try what seems reasonable and report back. At this point I have three OEQB backups that should all be the same. (I kept backing up to figure out how to create new folders in that program.) And two compacting questions: 1. Last night I compacted all my folders in OE--offline. When everything was done (nothing on-screen to show anything happening), I went online and then clicked on a folder. It took forever to open. In fact, everything was molasses slow, even exiting the program. I finally did a restart (and it took a long time for the computer to shut down). What probably happened? I did another compacting today just to check, and things seem to be a little slower since it finished, but not as bad as last night. 2. What is the box that shows "copying" at times during the compacting? It comes and goes. Thank you so much for your patience! Jo-Anne > Consider archiving your older messages in a separate identity. > [quoted text clipped - 276 lines] >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Jo-Anne Working backwards somewhat: IDENTITIES & ARCHIVING: A2 & A3. Do NOT ever rename the Main Identity! Do NOT ever rename any identity in your OE-QB backup set(s)! If you don't want to use the default Main Identity (which is more prone to corruption than other identities), replace it with a new "named identity." Tip: To avoid confusion, do not name a new identity "Main Identity" (or variations thereof) and do not even use the word "main" in the name. A1. The only thing that happens when you add a new identity is that you end up having a new identity. You would have to configure your Mail or News accounts in the new identity if you wanted to be able to use one of them in it. Assuming you don't want to import everything in your other identity into the new one: Create one or more new folders in your original identity, move the messages you want to archive into this/these new folder(s), then import [1] this/these new folder(s) into the new identity you've created for archiving. COMPACTING: [These questions should have been asked in a separate thread.] A1. Unless you've not been heeding my caveats (e.g., the size of your message store [2] is enormous), compacting all OE folders would not have caused the slow response. If running Disk Cleanup (checking Temporary Internet Files and Temporary files options, at minimum; empty the Recycle Bin manually [see below]) and then a Defrag session doesn't help, your current identity (Main Identity) may be damaged (most likely by NAV's Email Scanning!) and teetering on the brink of collapse (i.e., loss of messages), which is a sign that you need to replace the Main Identity with a new named identity ASAP (after making sure Email Scanning has been totally disabled). A2. The Copying box you see when compacting is Windows automatically backing up your message store's DBX files in Recycle Bin [3]. Should messages in a given folder ever go missing after compacting (another sign of a corrupt identity), the BAK files (e.g., Inbox.bak) in Recycle Bin may offer a way to recover them. Empty your Recycle Bin (as well as the Norton Protected Recycle Bin, if present in NIS 2008) from time-to-time, but it'd be a very wise idea NOT to delete the most recent set of BAK files in case you should need them. ============================= [1] In the new identity: File | Import | Messages | select OE6 | select "From an identity" | Point the import wizard to the folder(s) you wish to import. Importing OE Data http://www.insideoe.com/faqs/how.htm#importOE5 [2] http://www.insideoe.com/files/store.htm#storemain [3] OE MVPs lobbied Microsoft for nearly a decade for this functionality. It was finally released as a Hotfix in May-06 and was included in one of the last comprehensive Cumulative Updates for OE (Aug-06), shortly after all further OE development ceased. [Security-related updates for OE will continue until 2014 but that's all.] PS: You should get to know www.insideoe.com inside & out: It's the OE user's bible. Signature~PA Bear > Archiving OE folders and files under a new identity sounds like a great > idea! Thank you! [quoted text clipped - 341 lines] >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Jo-Anne Thank you, Bruce! I did manage to create a new folder for backing up within OEQB, but it took some work--and the first time didn't work at all. I found "Make a New Backup Folder" under "File" in OEQB, and after several tries I actually succeeded not only in creating the folder but in having OEQB back up to it. (With the first try, OEQB overwrote my earlier backup even though I had renamed the folder.) The main thing I discovered is to make sure I've double-clicked on the name of the new folder to open it within OEQB. Otherwise, the program will probably overwrite what's in the old folder. It might be easier, in the long run, just to copy the earlier backup to another spot entirely and let the program overwrite the folder that's where it thinks it should be. Jo-Anne > A1: With the box checked, you get a backup of all your dbx files as they > currently appear. With it unchecked, you select the dbx files that you [quoted text clipped - 144 lines] >>>>> >>>>> Jo-Anne Sub folders only appear as sub folders. Every folder has a separate dbx file. Filtering to a sub folder is keeping the message out of the Inbox. SignatureRonald Sommer > [You're right! Seems like we're seeing each other everywhere...] snipped> > 3. You mention below that messages shouldn't be stored in the Inbox and > Sent Items folders. What about subfolders to the Inbox? That's where I > initially filter my incoming messages, and they might stay there a few > days or even longer. If that's a bad idea, I'll create another folder for > filtering incoming messages. snipped Thank you, Ron! Jo-Anne > Sub folders only appear as sub folders. > Every folder has a separate dbx file. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >> > snipped |
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