Should I reformat then reinstall?

Toni:

I will do all that you suggested. The kids do access the internet, but all email comes through Mom's PC after going through MailWasher as a safety precaution.

Thanks again for all the great suggestions!

OK Toni,

Now how do I restore the .dbx files that I just inadvertantly deleted? :-0

1. Recycle bin is invented for such things. Or did you accidentally use shift-delete?
2. You might have a regular backup of those files? It's a typical example of files one would backup to not lose them in case of catastrophe.
2. Standard 'folders' like Inbox and Outbox are recreated by Outlook Express if non-existant. This is not done for your own folders.

Hope this helps.


Kees

Actually did retrieve them from the recycle bin, but I'm not sure how to make them display in OE again. I know that the files exist, though. Any suggestions?

1. The article [Q295965] states that when OE is started, some existing folders (Inbox, Drafts, and so on) or personal subfolders may be missing and can be caused if the file "Folders.dbx" (the Indexer) is damaged or corrupt. To resolve this issue, rename or simply delete the Folders.dbx file for the impacted identity, and then start OE which rebuilds it.

Hint: You may on occasion be able to save hard drive space simply by deleting this file and letting OE recreate it.

CAVEAT: The Folders.dbx file keeps track of Active News Group Subscriptions too. Should that matter do not delete it. If you do, that information will be lost. Again be advised, the file Folders.dbx is the file which categorizes and maintains the default mail Store (in Outlook Express, click Options, the Maintenance tab, click Store Folder, and then make a note of the path), the user created OE folders, and default OE files. If a certain file or folder is moved or copied into the mail Store inlieu of using the correct Import method, the Folders.dbx would not be aware of this change and therefore consider the replaced ?.dbx file or folder as corrupted. To make sure things are in sync if copying or moving either into the mail Store, delete the Folders.dbx file before starting OE to ensure that a new and accurate one is created. Even afterwards, perhaps simply deleting it and opening OE will fix you right up. Should the system have asked, "Overwrite . . ."? when a copy or move was performed, anything previously at that point was lost.

2. The article [Q233264)] states that when OE is started or an attempt is made to send an e-mail message, you may receive one of the following error messages which can occur if the Folders.dbx file is missing, damaged, or has the read-only attribute:

MSIMN caused an invalid page fault in module Msoe.dll

MSIMN caused an invalid page fault in module "unknown"

MSIMN caused an invalid page fault in module Directdb.dll

Msimn caused an exception C0000006h in module Directdb.dll

Outlook Express: The message could not be sent. There is not enough Disk space.

Unknown error has occurred. Protocol: SMTP Port: 0 Secure: No [SSL] Error: 0x800c0131

3. The article [Q216366] discusses how to download Internet mail messages from the mail server again even though previously downloaded. This method works only if OE was configured to store the mail messages on the mail server and they have not been deleted yet. This happens since the Internet Mail service is configured to leave a copy of messages on the POP3 server which has a unique ID and this information is cached in the Pop3uidl.dat file. When checking for new mail, OE checks the unique IDs in this file. If a message's unique ID is not found in the file, it is retrieved. If the ID is found, the message is left alone.

a. If that file is deleted, OE will downloads all available messages on the host regardless of whether or not they have been retrieved previously. If duplicate messages are seen on a Hotmail or IMAP account however, this solution will not work because these types of accounts do not use the file Pop3uidl.dat -- the reason is, these accounts are configured to open directly to the Inbox (which downloads headers automatically) and check for new messages when starting (which also downloads headers automatically).

b. If the "Leave a copy of messages on server" option is not used (set), two things happen the next time a connection is made to the POP3 server (host):

Previous download mail stored on the server (host) is deleted.

The information in the Pop3uidl.dat file is cleared and reset to its default size of 312 bytes.

4. The article [Q311030] states that when clicking a Web link in a message or a message itself, the response time is slow and can occur if background compaction of stored newsgroup messages is turned on.

a. This feature is designed to wait until OE has been idle for several minutes and then begin compacting newsgroup mail and news folders in the background -- not OE mail, and stores process information in the file Cleanup.log. I do not recommend using this option since anything from a disconnect or any other system anomaly that could happen when compaction is in progress could totally trash the Store folders. However, OE does not remove deleted mail information from the applicable *.dbx file until a user opts to compact a folder or all folders manually -- the longer you wait, the bigger it gets, and the longer it takes processing. To minimize files and disk space, compact a folder or all folders regularly (File, Folders, Compact).

b. OE can save all commands to and from a server in a log file for troubleshooting purposes which a user may never find useful. They not only requires hard drive space but may slow down the mailer operation as well -- Tools, Options, Maintenance tab and in the section titled Troubleshooting, remove any check marks from the four boxes. Click the button labeled Store Folder. When you see the path, click and bold the path to copy it to the Clipboard. Then click the two buttons, Apply and OK. Click Start, Run, and then press the key combinations Ctrl+v to place that path in the box. Press Enter. Upon reaching this folder in Explorer, highlight the files which end with an extension of .log (while holding the Ctrl key). When bolded, press the Del key on the keypad. Remember, should there be any concern about this procedure, those files will reside in the Recycled folder until they are removed and can always be put back should you feel it necessary -- but you will not find it required.

might i suggest a new and bigger hard drive...They are cheap.

I actually think the drive is big enough for what they do, but I think something is just using too much space. Is that the System Resources?

Thanks!

Good question but something you have to tell us since we cannot see the computer from here and if it were, then formatting and reinstalling would not fix it in the least.

1. For any Windows version before Win2K and NT, you will always have to pay attention to what you do in order to conserve system resource usage - there is only so much available. You should study Fred Langa's article, "Resource Leaks, Part One" and descide not only: 1) what the system resources percentage is; 2) what uses them; and then 3) what you can do without to keep the percentage high -- the higher the better.

2. For your reading pleasure and further understanding:

a. "Computer Speed and Performance Decreases (Q259161)."

b. "SmartComputing Editoral - Monitor & Conserve System Resources."

c. "Using the System Configuration Utility:."

d. "System File Checker", and "Using System File Checker."

3. Download and use, "Startup Cop: PC Magazine's, version 1.01."

OK, now that I have my assigned reading for the weekend, I'll get started! Thanks for all the guidance. I'll let you know what the outcome is.

If it wasn't for you and a bunch of other great forum members years ago when I first got to these forums and was terrified to touch the keyboard, I would know nothing. You guys were and are great teachers willing to teach a newbie everything she was willing to absorb like a sponge.

Thank you, my friend.

TONI

you/we first resolve what the basic problem is.

Resource problems are different than simply running out of space on the hard drive.

Have you gone to "My Computer" right clicked on your hard drive, selected properties to see how much space is available???

A resource problem is virtually always caused by having too many programs open at bootup. Go to Start, RUN type msconfig and hit OK, then click on the startup tab to see what programs are opening at boot [they have an X in the box]. Each program that opens consumes reources.

I seem to have lost my links to sites which will tell you what items should remain in the startup tab and which are not necessary. You should understand that removing the X from the item ONLY prevents it from installing at boot AND consuming resources. The program remains available to open if you decide to use it during a session.


This is link to a program that might be useful.[overkill]
http://www.windowsstartup.com/

Meanwhile I'll try to find the other links.

Have you cleaned out folders as in Toni's post ??