How to repair your outlook express mailbox files

Created: Jul 1, 2005
Updated: Aug 16, 2005

:: Introduction [#intro]
:: Locate your file(s) [#locate]
:: Move mailbox file(s) [#move]
:: Import [#import]
:: Done [#done]
:: Remarks [#done]

> Introduction

[#intro]

In some situations your mailbox file of outlook express could get corrupted in a manner that outlook itself is unable to repair it.
If this is the case outlook express might hang on opening the file.

It is often possible to overcome this problem by following the next steps.

> Locate your file(s)

[#locate]

To be able to find the location where outlook express stores its files you should start the registry editor.
Do NOT make any changes in the registry as this could have unpredictable results !

Start the registry editor by typing regedit in the Run item in your Start menu.

In the left pane:

Open the HKEY_CURRENT_USER section
Open the Identities section
Open the {.....} section
Open the Software, Microsoft, Outlook Express and 5.0 sections

In the right pane:

Locate the Store Root setting and double click on it

You will now see the path where outlook stores its files. Select the full path and press CTRL+C to copy the value

> Move mailbox file(s)

[#move]

If outlook express is open you should close it now.
Open the directory by selecting Start/Run... in your windows taskbar, then press CTRL+V to insert the path found and press ENTER.
Copy or move all the files in the directory found in the previous step to a new location (for example c:\backup) and delete (after a succesfull copy) the old files in the original location.

> Import

[#import]

This step will import the old (corrupted) data into outlook express. Outlook Express will import these file in most cases without any problems.

Start outlook express.
From the file menu select Import.
Select the outlook express version to import from (if unsure, select version 6).

For outlook express 6 you select "Import mail from on OE6 store directory.
Browse for the directory where you moved the files in the previous step.

In the next screen select All folders or select the folders you wish to import.

> Done

[#done]

Start outlook express. You should now see your mailbox folders again.

> Remarks

[#done]

THIS PROCEDURE IS PROVIDED "AS IS," WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!