Hello,

I can't delete any items from my inbox. Right click delete, the delete
button on the toolbar, Edit=>Delete doesn't work, and the delete key on my
keyboard doesn't work. It's OE 6 with XP Pro.

Everything else seems to work fine. Any thoughts?

Thank you.

Rich

Does Shift +Del work? That combination bypasses the Deleted Items folder
which could well be where the problem is.

In Outlook Express ascertain the file path to the Store Folder -Tools,
Options, Maintenance, Store Folder. Close Outlook Express.

Go to Start, Control Panel, Folder Options, View, Advanced Settings and
verify that the box before "Show hidden files and folders" is checked
and "Hide protected operating system files " is unchecked. You may need
to scroll down to see the second item. You should also make certain that
the box before "Hide extensions for known file types" is not checked.
Next in Windows Explorer make sure View, Details is selected and then
select View, Choose Details and check before Name, Type, Total Size, and
Free Space.

Next in Windows Explorer using the file path obtained earlier locate
Deleted.Items.dbx and delete the file. Exit from Windows Explorer and
reopen Outlook Express. A new Deleted Items folder will have been
automatically created by the system.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

rich wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I can't delete any items from my inbox. Right click delete, the delete
> button on the toolbar, Edit=>Delete doesn't work, and the delete key
> on my keyboard doesn't work. It's OE 6 with XP Pro.
>
> Everything else seems to work fine. Any thoughts?
>
> Thank you.

Rich

Does Shift +Del work? That combination bypasses the Deleted Items folder
which could well be where the problem is.

In Outlook Express ascertain the file path to the Store Folder -Tools,
Options, Maintenance, Store Folder. Close Outlook Express.

Go to Start, Control Panel, Folder Options, View, Advanced Settings and
verify that the box before "Show hidden files and folders" is checked
and "Hide protected operating system files " is unchecked. You may need
to scroll down to see the second item. You should also make certain that
the box before "Hide extensions for known file types" is not checked.
Next in Windows Explorer make sure View, Details is selected and then
select View, Choose Details and check before Name, Type, Total Size, and
Free Space.

Next in Windows Explorer using the file path obtained earlier locate
Deleted.Items.dbx and delete the file. Exit from Windows Explorer and
reopen Outlook Express. A new Deleted Items folder will have been
automatically created by the system.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

rich wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I can't delete any items from my inbox. Right click delete, the delete
> button on the toolbar, Edit=>Delete doesn't work, and the delete key
> on my keyboard doesn't work. It's OE 6 with XP Pro.
>
> Everything else seems to work fine. Any thoughts?
>
> Thank you.

Excellent. Worked just as you described. And Shift-Delete did work. Do you
know what would cause this to happen?

Thanks Gerry.


"Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:OMt6uz3VIHA.1164@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Rich
>
> Does Shift +Del work? That combination bypasses the Deleted Items folder
> which could well be where the problem is.
>
> In Outlook Express ascertain the file path to the Store Folder -Tools,
> Options, Maintenance, Store Folder. Close Outlook Express.
>
> Go to Start, Control Panel, Folder Options, View, Advanced Settings and
> verify that the box before "Show hidden files and folders" is checked
> and "Hide protected operating system files " is unchecked. You may need
> to scroll down to see the second item. You should also make certain that
> the box before "Hide extensions for known file types" is not checked.
> Next in Windows Explorer make sure View, Details is selected and then
> select View, Choose Details and check before Name, Type, Total Size, and
> Free Space.
>
> Next in Windows Explorer using the file path obtained earlier locate
> Deleted.Items.dbx and delete the file. Exit from Windows Explorer and
> reopen Outlook Express. A new Deleted Items folder will have been
> automatically created by the system.
>
>
> --
>
>
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Gerry
> ~~~~
> FCA
> Stourport, England
> Enquire, plan and execute
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> rich wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I can't delete any items from my inbox. Right click delete, the delete
>> button on the toolbar, Edit=>Delete doesn't work, and the delete key
>> on my keyboard doesn't work. It's OE 6 with XP Pro.
>>
>> Everything else seems to work fine. Any thoughts?
>>
>> Thank you.
>
>

The most common cause is interrupting automatic compaction which occurs
every 100 times you close Outlook Express. If you shut down whilst the
computer was still compacting that would do it. It's more often the
dramatic loss of the contents of the Inbox that catches the headlines.

Here's Uncle Bruce's canned response <G>:

General precautions for Outlook Express:

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.

Turn off e-mail scanning in your anti-virus program. It is a redundant
layer
of protection that eats up CPUs and causes a multitude of problems such
as
time-outs and account setting changes. Your up-to-date A/V program will
continue to protect you sufficiently. For more, see:
http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#3

In Tools | Options | Maintenance: Uncheck Compact messages in background
and
leave it unchecked. {N/A if running XP/SP2}.

And backup often.

Backup & Restore:
http://www.insideoe.com/backup/

This is a great two click program:

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB)
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx

Source: Bruce Hagen

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

rich wrote:
> Excellent. Worked just as you described. And Shift-Delete did work.
> Do you know what would cause this to happen?
>
> Thanks Gerry.
>
>
> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:OMt6uz3VIHA.1164@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Rich
>>
>> Does Shift +Del work? That combination bypasses the Deleted Items
>> folder which could well be where the problem is.
>>
>> In Outlook Express ascertain the file path to the Store Folder
>> -Tools, Options, Maintenance, Store Folder. Close Outlook Express.
>>
>> Go to Start, Control Panel, Folder Options, View, Advanced Settings
>> and verify that the box before "Show hidden files and folders" is
>> checked and "Hide protected operating system files " is unchecked.
>> You may need to scroll down to see the second item. You should also
>> make certain that the box before "Hide extensions for known file
>> types" is not checked. Next in Windows Explorer make sure View,
>> Details is selected and then select View, Choose Details and check
>> before Name, Type, Total Size, and Free Space.
>>
>> Next in Windows Explorer using the file path obtained earlier locate
>> Deleted.Items.dbx and delete the file. Exit from Windows Explorer and
>> reopen Outlook Express. A new Deleted Items folder will have been
>> automatically created by the system.
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>>
>> Hope this helps.
>>
>> Gerry
>> ~~~~
>> FCA
>> Stourport, England
>> Enquire, plan and execute
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>
>> rich wrote:
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I can't delete any items from my inbox. Right click delete, the
>>> delete button on the toolbar, Edit=>Delete doesn't work, and the
>>> delete key on my keyboard doesn't work. It's OE 6 with XP Pro.
>>>
>>> Everything else seems to work fine. Any thoughts?
>>>
>>> Thank you.

Deleted Items is probably corrupt. In the off chance that you are keeping
messages you want to save in Deleted Items, (a garbage pail), move them to a
local folder you create and then do the following.

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 WinXP, Win2K & Win2K3, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default
marked as hidden. To view these files in Windows Explorer, you must enable
Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder Options
Icon | View, or in Windows Explorer | Tools | Folder Options | View.

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

General precautions for Outlook Express:

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.

Turn off e-mail scanning in your anti-virus program. It is a redundant layer
of protection that eats up CPUs and causes a multitude of problems such as
time-outs and account setting changes. Your up-to-date A/V program will
continue to protect you sufficiently. For more, see:
http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#3

In Tools | Options | Maintenance: Uncheck Compact messages in background and
leave it unchecked. {N/A if running XP/SP2}.

And backup often.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB):
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA


"rich" <richweilREMOVE SPAM@pipeline.com> wrote in message
news:OY3yp92VIHA.5160@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
>
> I can't delete any items from my inbox. Right click delete, the delete
> button on the toolbar, Edit=>Delete doesn't work, and the delete key on my
> keyboard doesn't work. It's OE 6 with XP Pro.
>
> Everything else seems to work fine. Any thoughts?
>
> Thank you.
>

Thanks everyone. OE seems sensitive to the files getting filled and when
they are large OE doesn't seem to work too well. Every time I've had a
problem I am instructed to delete the file, which I do, and the problem is
solved. I've learned the lesson and from now on will back up and then delete
the specific file. They do get large; the sent file had 4.1 gigabytes.

Thanks again.


"Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message
news:ey9aYk4VIHA.4896@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Deleted Items is probably corrupt. In the off chance that you are keeping
> messages you want to save in Deleted Items, (a garbage pail), move them to
> a local folder you create and then do the following.
>
> 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 WinXP, Win2K & Win2K3, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default
> marked as hidden. To view these files in Windows Explorer, you must enable
> Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder Options
> Icon | View, or in Windows Explorer | Tools | Folder Options | View.
>
> With OE closed, find the DBX file for Deleted Items and delete it. A new
> one will be created automatically when you open OE.
>
> General precautions for Outlook Express:
>
> 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.
>
> Turn off e-mail scanning in your anti-virus program. It is a redundant
> layer of protection that eats up CPUs and causes a multitude of problems
> such as time-outs and account setting changes. Your up-to-date A/V program
> will continue to protect you sufficiently. For more, see:
> http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#3
>
> In Tools | Options | Maintenance: Uncheck Compact messages in background
> and leave it unchecked. {N/A if running XP/SP2}.
>
> And backup often.
>
> Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB):
> http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
> --
>
> Bruce Hagen
> MS-MVP Outlook Express
> Imperial Beach, CA
>
>
> "rich" <richweilREMOVE SPAM@pipeline.com> wrote in message
> news:OY3yp92VIHA.5160@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Hello,
>>
>> I can't delete any items from my inbox. Right click delete, the delete
>> button on the toolbar, Edit=>Delete doesn't work, and the delete key on
>> my keyboard doesn't work. It's OE 6 with XP Pro.
>>
>> Everything else seems to work fine. Any thoughts?
>>
>> Thank you.
>>
>

General OE Caveats:

- Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
folders created for this purpose.

- Empty Deleted Items folder daily.

- Disable Background Compacting [not available in SP2] and frequently
perform a manual compact of all OE folders while "working offline". More at
http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm

- 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.

- Your anti-virus application's email scanning feature can also cause such
corruption. Disable it. It provides no additional protection.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

rich wrote:
> Thanks everyone. OE seems sensitive to the files getting filled and when
> they are large OE doesn't seem to work too well. Every time I've had a
> problem I am instructed to delete the file, which I do, and the problem is
> solved. I've learned the lesson and from now on will back up and then
> delete
> the specific file. They do get large; the sent file had 4.1 gigabytes.
>
> Thanks again.
>
>
> "Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message
> news:ey9aYk4VIHA.4896@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> Deleted Items is probably corrupt. In the off chance that you are keeping
>> messages you want to save in Deleted Items, (a garbage pail), move them
>> to
>> a local folder you create and then do the following.
>>
>> 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 WinXP, Win2K & Win2K3, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default
>> marked as hidden. To view these files in Windows Explorer, you must
>> enable
>> Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder
>> Options
>> Icon | View, or in Windows Explorer | Tools | Folder Options | View.
>>
>> With OE closed, find the DBX file for Deleted Items and delete it. A new
>> one will be created automatically when you open OE.
>>
>> General precautions for Outlook Express:
>>
>> 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.
>>
>> Turn off e-mail scanning in your anti-virus program. It is a redundant
>> layer of protection that eats up CPUs and causes a multitude of problems
>> such as time-outs and account setting changes. Your up-to-date A/V
>> program
>> will continue to protect you sufficiently. For more, see:
>> http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#3
>>
>> In Tools | Options | Maintenance: Uncheck Compact messages in background
>> and leave it unchecked. {N/A if running XP/SP2}.
>>
>> And backup often.
>>
>> Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB):
>> http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
>> --
>>
>> Bruce Hagen
>> MS-MVP Outlook Express
>> Imperial Beach, CA
>>
>>
>> "rich" <richweilREMOVE SPAM@pipeline.com> wrote in message
>> news:OY3yp92VIHA.5160@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I can't delete any items from my inbox. Right click delete, the delete
>>> button on the toolbar, Edit=>Delete doesn't work, and the delete key on
>>> my keyboard doesn't work. It's OE 6 with XP Pro.
>>>
>>> Everything else seems to work fine. Any thoughts?
>>>
>>> Thank you.

Bruce

You're a bit slow today Bruce <G>. All done and dusted with a copy of
your canned response passed on before the birds woke you <G>.


--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bruce Hagen wrote:
> Deleted Items is probably corrupt. In the off chance that you are
> keeping messages you want to save in Deleted Items, (a garbage pail),
> move them to a local folder you create and then do the following.
>
> 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 WinXP, Win2K & Win2K3, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by
> default marked as hidden. To view these files in Windows Explorer,
> you must enable Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start | Control
> Panel | Folder Options Icon | View, or in Windows Explorer | Tools |
> Folder Options | View.
> With OE closed, find the DBX file for Deleted Items and delete it. A
> new one will be created automatically when you open OE.
>
> General precautions for Outlook Express:
>
> 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.
>
> Turn off e-mail scanning in your anti-virus program. It is a
> redundant layer of protection that eats up CPUs and causes a
> multitude of problems such as time-outs and account setting changes.
> Your up-to-date A/V program will continue to protect you
> sufficiently. For more, see: http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#3
>
> In Tools | Options | Maintenance: Uncheck Compact messages in
> background and leave it unchecked. {N/A if running XP/SP2}.
>
> And backup often.
>
> Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB):
> http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
>
> "rich" <richweilREMOVE SPAM@pipeline.com> wrote in message
> news:OY3yp92VIHA.5160@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Hello,
>>
>> I can't delete any items from my inbox. Right click delete, the
>> delete button on the toolbar, Edit=>Delete doesn't work, and the
>> delete key on my keyboard doesn't work. It's OE 6 with XP Pro.
>>
>> Everything else seems to work fine. Any thoughts?
>>
>> Thank you.

Yep. I'm slow. I didn't read your first reply all the way through to
deleting Deleted Items, but in your second reply you mentioned that not
being able to delete messages was caused by disrupting the compaction
process, and that had nothing to do with it.
--

Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP Outlook Express
Imperial Beach, CA


"Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:e8KyYv5VIHA.5160@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Bruce
>
> You're a bit slow today Bruce <G>. All done and dusted with a copy of your
> canned response passed on before the birds woke you <G>.
>
>
> --
> Regards.
>
> Gerry
> ~~~~
> FCA
> Stourport, England
> Enquire, plan and execute
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Bruce Hagen wrote:
>> Deleted Items is probably corrupt. In the off chance that you are
>> keeping messages you want to save in Deleted Items, (a garbage pail),
>> move them to a local folder you create and then do the following.
>>
>> 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 WinXP, Win2K & Win2K3, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by
>> default marked as hidden. To view these files in Windows Explorer,
>> you must enable Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start | Control
>> Panel | Folder Options Icon | View, or in Windows Explorer | Tools |
>> Folder Options | View.
>> With OE closed, find the DBX file for Deleted Items and delete it. A
>> new one will be created automatically when you open OE.
>>
>> General precautions for Outlook Express:
>>
>> 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.
>>
>> Turn off e-mail scanning in your anti-virus program. It is a
>> redundant layer of protection that eats up CPUs and causes a
>> multitude of problems such as time-outs and account setting changes.
>> Your up-to-date A/V program will continue to protect you
>> sufficiently. For more, see: http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#3
>>
>> In Tools | Options | Maintenance: Uncheck Compact messages in
>> background and leave it unchecked. {N/A if running XP/SP2}.
>>
>> And backup often.
>>
>> Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB):
>> http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
>>
>> "rich" <richweilREMOVE SPAM@pipeline.com> wrote in message
>> news:OY3yp92VIHA.5160@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I can't delete any items from my inbox. Right click delete, the
>>> delete button on the toolbar, Edit=>Delete doesn't work, and the
>>> delete key on my keyboard doesn't work. It's OE 6 with XP Pro.
>>>
>>> Everything else seems to work fine. Any thoughts?
>>>
>>> Thank you.
>
>