Outlook Express outbox problem

**hansi** · July 4th, 2009, 03:03 AM

I cannot send emails in OE. When I create an email (eg. to myself) it shows in the Outbox but when I click Send, nothing happens and OE just crashes. I had a look in the Identities folder and it shows outbox.dbx(1) which to me means that there is a message in there but which hasn't been sent. I deleted this Outbox,and the Sent Mail folder and rebooted. Tried to send the email again, but the same thing. Didn't send and still showing as (1) in Identities even after I had deleted the message from the Outbox! I can't reply to emails I have received and I have run scannow which ran normally. Really don't know what to do now

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**Steve R Jones** · July 4th, 2009, 04:46 AM

FYI - the file name outbox.dbx(1) doesn't mean it has one mail waiting to be sent...OE crested the file when the original Outbox.dbx became corrupted...

Are you getting an error message with important infomation that can be googled

**hansi** · July 4th, 2009, 05:03 AM

Thanks for the reply Steve. No, there is no error message. In fact, nothing happens except that I can from then on longer access OE unless I reboot.

**Welshjim** · July 4th, 2009, 01:03 PM

hansi--As Steve R Jones has said, you have a corrupted Outbox.dbx. But it is Outbox.dbx which is corrupt, not Outbox.dbx(1). Do you find Outbox.dbx in the OE Store Folder? You should. (See OE Tools|Options|Maintenance tab for location of Store Folder.)
If so delete it and reboot. A new, fresh, empty one should have been created and you should be able to Send now.
You may be interested in this article.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/...orruption.mspx
P.S. Your Sent Items.dbx folder may also be corrupt or too full. How many bytes is it?

**hansi** · July 5th, 2009, 01:34 AM

Thanks.There is no Outbox.dbx in the list, only Outbox (1).dbx. And it won't create one. I have tried a few times to no avail. The article is good, but I have done that and still can't solve the problem.

**hansi** · July 5th, 2009, 02:30 AM

Ok. This is what I've tried. I deleted Outbox (1) but it keeps re-appearing when I reboot, but if I close msimn.exe I can send mail at that time, but only once than I have to reboot. Is there a way to totally restore the OE programme, because i really can't think of anything else it could be unless it's a conflict with another programme, and that's like looking for a needle in a haystack!. Repeat, there is no outbox.dbx shown.

**Welshjim** · July 5th, 2009, 02:45 PM

hansi--

but if I close msimn.exe I can send mail at that time

Well, that could be a different issue. OE Tools|Options|Send tab|check the box "send messages immediately".
If that does not fix things, where are you looking to find outbox.dbx? The Store Folder or the Folder List? (You keep referring to a "list".) If the Folder List, go to the Store Folder.
The PC should not be recreating an Outbox(1).dbx after deleting and rebooting unless the same folder already has an Outbox.dbx. Outbox.dbx is what you want to delete.
You could also try running a Search for Outbox.dbx.
What version of Internet Explorer are you using?

**jdc2000** · July 5th, 2009, 02:55 PM

When searching for outbox.dbx, make sure to enable the options to search for hidden and system files.

**hansi** · July 5th, 2009, 02:57 PM

OK. In order of your comments.

The "send mail immediately" is ticked
All my OE files are stored in OE Identities via Local Settings/Microsoft/OE/Identities
I do not have an outbox file there, only an outbox (1) which I keep deleting but it keeps re-appearing on reboot.
I have done a search for Outbox and deleted them all before re-booting
I am running IE8 SP3
I have also moved my folders file and no difference.

**jdc2000** · July 5th, 2009, 03:12 PM

The following test is a long shot, but worth trying:

What happens if you try to rename your Outbox(1).dbx folder to outbox.dbx - do you get an error message, and is so, what is it?

**Welshjim** · July 5th, 2009, 07:49 PM

hansi--

Local Settings/Microsoft/OE/Identities

Is that the location of your Store Folder?
Mine is C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\GUID number\Microsoft\Outlook Express

**hansi** · July 6th, 2009, 01:13 AM

Yes, the same. I just shortened it for convenience.

**hansi** · July 6th, 2009, 01:16 AM

Originally Posted by jdc2000

The following test is a long shot, but worth trying:

What happens if you try to rename your Outbox(1).dbx folder to outbox.dbx - do you get an error message, and is so, what is it?

No error message. Outbox shows again as two files i.e. outbox and outbox (1)

**Welshjim** · July 6th, 2009, 12:06 PM

hansi--

Outbox shows again as two files i.e. outbox and outbox (1)

Well, now I am thoroughly confused. I thought you could not find an outlook.dbx file.

**hansi** · July 6th, 2009, 12:22 PM

Sorry, I'm confusing myself now. Shows only one: outbox (1)

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