[Resolved] Can't delete messages in Outlook Express 6

Thats not an uncommon glitch. Most typically, the cause is a damaged Deleted Items folder. Try, with Outlook Express NOT RUNNING, going to:

C:\Documents and Settings\<Your User Name>\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{<Long Random Key String Here>}\Microsoft\Outlook Express.

Locate Deleted Items.dbx, delete it, exit back to your desktop, launch Outlook Express, and see what happens. When OE is launched, Windows should rebuild the .dbx file you deleted.

If that doesn't do the trick, with Outlook Express NOT RUNNING, navigate back to:

C:\Documents and Settings\<Your User Name>\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{<Long Random Key String Here>}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Locate Folders.dbx, delete it, exit back to your desktop, launch OE, and see what happens. You prolly will need to reset your OE preferences after doing either of these.

A good article on Outlook Express glitches and fixes can be found at Microsoft: An Outlook Express basic repair kit, with a related article, The Other E-Mail Threat: File Corruption in Outlook Express offering more troubleshooting tips and techniques. Another useful resource is the MVP website of the author of those 2 articles, Tom Koch's Inside Outlook Express

Mustang

how the heck are you? where ya been?

timber, I'm glad I decided to check my email before turning in for the night. I was able to delete some messages from my Inbox. I then went to 'An Outlook Express basic repair kit' and did a couple of things recommended in that article. I did a 'Compact All Folders' which, surprisingly to me, took almost 15 minutes. He also said deleting Temporary Internet Files would help. This was something new to me. Didn't know they'd have an affect on OE. This also took almost 15 minutes. Had time to write two thank you notes during the time I waited for the computer to do its thing.

Earlier today in an effort to clear out some of those messages in my Inbox, I made a new folder entitled 'TRASH', moving a bunch to the new folder. I also deleted that one, too.

Thank you so much for your help. I know we're supposed to be moving further into the paperless society but I printed off your answer and put it in a 3-ring notebook I have for 'Keepers.'

Further proof of how electronically challenged I am: My niece has been after me for ages to get a DVD player as she said soon I won't be able to rent videos. I've had one for about four months, but couldn't get it to work. Last night my 16 year old Godson was visiting and he hooked it up in about 10 minutes! These kids...

husker, so nice to hear from you. I've been around all the while but don't check in too often. I'm certainly not thin-skinned but I find attitudes are so strong on A2K. They seem to be divided into two groups: The 'elites' or the 'rabble-rousers' and I don't consider myself to be either. Wish they all were down to earth and humorous as you and timber--I'd probably be spending two hours a day here.

Thanks again for the help, timber. It's really time to turn in for the night. It's 2:00AM for me.

Glad we rabblerousers were able to help ya, Mustang.

u r the man,did Deleted Items.dbx,worked like a charm

Yeah, he was really terrific.

timerlandko, You are a genius! The first step you listed worked like a charm!!!!

I fixed mine by making more space in my Delete file. I permanently deleted a few months.

Outlook does not allow to have Deleted folder more then 2 Gb, to solve the problem delete Deleted.dbx and Folders.dbx files (search for them) when Outlook is closed. Then launch Outlook and it will recreate this folders. This solved the problem for me.

don't know how old this post it, but found your tip on a Google search today and it worked perfectly - Thank You!

Thanks for posting that, Rachel. Timberlandko passed away a while ago now. We still miss him a lot.

Made it to these directions without resolvement but these directions don't work. First here they are:

[ If that doesn't do the trick, with Outlook Express NOT RUNNING, navigate back to:

C:\Documents and Settings\<Your User Name>\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{<Long Random Key String Here>}\Microsoft\Outlook Express ]

I did the following and got the following:

Start
My Computer
C drive
Documents and Settings (after this it doesn't follow above at all)

I got two icon folders, one was "ALL USERS" and the other was "OWNER"

I presumed I should go to "OWNER" but from there I got the following choices:

File Accela. , Desktop, Favorites, My Documents, Start Menu, Windows

(all these were file folders that I could click on) (by the way I have Windows XP, and I can't delete emails and now my 'log in box keeps popping up'. Things are slowly breaking down, earlier couldn't 'compact' old emails etc.

Well great news, through your mental Hmmmmmmmmmsssssss, I can now delete emails. It appears that the only problem I have left is my logon keeps coming up and I keep clicking "ok" and it keeps coming back .... has the front part of my email address in it and password (coded w/ dots) and I re-entered that too but still comes back up over and over. Any suggestions?