Missing Files Due to Compacting
Sometimes compacting email in Outlook Express may result in missing emails or folders. This can happen if the files are corrupted during the compacting process.
Trouble shooting problems in Windows applications usually require enabling viewing features Microsoft does not have set by default. So before you start problem solving first follow the instructions to enable viewing the file extensions and the hidden files and folders. Once your problem has been fixed, you can turn this viewing off if you share your computer with folks who might abuse your system.
Microsoft has a page for this problem and following the instructions may solve your problem.
Another site has simplified instructions for restoring you missing files, ehow.
An example of a missing folder after Outlook Express has compacted your email is as follows:
The missing or empty folder is named John. Since this folder contains many needed business emails, the user must get it back.
First open Outlook Express and click on the Tools menu.
Select Tools and Options from the drop-down list. Click the Maintenance tab and then click the Store folder button.
Locate the name of the folder where your files were stored by highlighting the location in the field for the path.
Screenshot Copy the path by highlighting the entry and press the Ctrl key and the C key at the same time.
Click the Start button in Windows (the lower left corner of your Windows desktop) and select Run from the menu. Screenshot
Screenshot Paste the path name into the Run field by pressing Ctrl and the V keys at the same time. Click OK.
Screenshot Now the location of the Store folder is revealed, showing you the folders. If you have created a lot of folders they will be listed with a .dbx extension. (Example: Mary.dbx, Inbox.dbx, etc.) Look for the missing folder named John.
Close Outlook Express and open the Recycle Bin.
Highlight the .bak file or files for your missing folders, right click and select Restore. Close the Recycle Bin.
Go back to your Store folder. You should see folders named 'John.dbx' and 'John.bak'. (Remember we are using as an example the folder 'John'.)
Rename 'John.dbx' to Johnold.dbx. Rename the folder 'John.bak' to 'John.dbx'. Open Outlook Express. Your messages should be restored.
Sometimes this will not work depending on how corrupted the folder was during the compacting process. If you still do not have your missing messages you can try another method.
Follow the instructions provided by Bruce Hagen MS-MVP Outlook Express.