Sharing new discoveries and helpful tips

Did you click YES when Outlook Express asked to compact your messages? If you did,  
!!! DON’T PANIC !!!

If you carefully follow these instructions, you may be able to recover them.

1. First CLOSE Outlook Express.
2. Hopefully you haven’t emptied your recycle bin yet. DON’T EMPTY IT.
3. Click to open your Recycle Bin and do check it. Do you see any files that end in .bak, like drafts.bak, sent.bak, and especially inbox.bak. If you do, it’s recoverable. But DON’T right-click and choose restore YET.
4. If you’re not already viewing details, choose VIEW from the top menu, and click on DETAILS. This is so you can see the original file location.
5. The original file location could look something like this:
   • C:\Documents and Settings\Default\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\some weirdo string\inbox.bak
   • (Default could be some other name, some weirdo string is the string that you were given, which is different for different users.)
6. You’re going to have to find that original folder, but you might have to reveal hidden files and folders to do so. Local Settings are usually hidden.
   • Click START, Choose CONTROL PANEL, and Click FOLDER OPTIONS (for Windows 7, you’ll have to click on APPEARANCE AND PERSONALIZATION link first before you can click on FOLDER OPTIONS.) Then click VIEW and look in the ADVANCED SETTINGS Window for SHOW HIDDEN FILES AND FOLDERS. Click that radio button if it isn’t already chosen, then click the OK button.
7. Now you’re ready. Find that folder, and look for an inbox.dbx. That is your current INBOX.
8. Right-click inbox.dbx and rename it inbox2.dbx, just in case
9. Now you can go back to your Recycle Bin, right click inbox.bak, and choose RESTORE.
10. That file inbox.bak should now be in the folder you just found.
11. Right click inbox.bak and rename it inbox.dbx
12. Now open Outlook Express and voila, your inbox messages should be restored.

Click here for more information on compacting messages.

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