Outlook Express inbox gone AWOL

[Catalpa]

I've lost my inbox. Always an embarassing thing to admit.

I've got Outlook Express

I've got wanadoo.fr

It's been set up and operating nicely for about 10 months

Suddenly, this afternoon, the contents of my inbox have vanished and the local folders with filed and saved messages.

My sent items are still there

My contact list is still there

I can send and receive new stuff... but existing stuff is hiding from me.

Any ideas anyone?

Edit:

btw, I don't have McAfee - and apparently inbox disappearances can be a problem with McAfee - but I do have AVG and ZoneAlarm. Oh and the Scotty dog patrol thing. And Onspeed.

[Ecossais]

I’m not sure if this will help – but it can’t do any harm and the action can be reversed!

 

If you have Windows XP, you can restore your PC to the way if was working on a previous date and undo any changes using “System Restore”.

 

System Restore is in Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | System Restore – choose “Restore my computer to an earlier time” and select  a recent date.

 

Just another thought, you have logged into Windows as a different user?

 

You might also find this article useful http://www.sitedeveloper.ws/tutorials/outlook.htm

 

Hope you get your emails back!

 

[ChezShells]

Sounds like the location where the mail are kept may have been changed or changed the name of a folder (ie. My Documents to My Docs), have a look in outlook, Tools/Options and click the maintenance and click the Store folder.
One way to try and find your lost email is in windows, search for any files and type inbox.dbx, if it does find them put the location of the inbox.dbx into the Store Folder section in outlook.

Lee

[Catalpa]

for anyone interested...

having googled manically, I came up with the information that anti-virus email scanners can corrupt Outlook Express and the .dbx files.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx

I got a free download at:

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,23383,00.asp

but I followed the instructions at the microsoft site first.

I have all folders and messages back - albeit a bit randomly.

 

Thank you Ecossais and Chezshells for your suggestions.