How to Restore an Outlook Express Lost Inbox

Microsoft Outlook Express allows you to download all your emails from your email server and then store them on your computer. You can read and then type a reply to the stored emails offline, and send them when you want by going online again. If the Outlook Express Inbox file has been corrupted or if you have permanently deleted the emails from your Inbox and want to get them back, then you can do so by first deleting the Outlook Express configuration file Inbox.dbx from your computer and then downloading all the emails from the server again. The Inbox.dbx file will be recreated on your computer when you download the emails again.

Instructions

1. Click on the "Tools" menu on the Outlook Express Window and then click on "Options."

2. Click on the "Maintenance" tab on the Options dialog box and then click on the "Store Folder" button. Note down the location of the Outlook Express folder displayed on the Store Location dialog box that opens.

3. Click once on the "OK" button on the Store Location dialog box and then again on the Options dialog box to close them.

4. Click on "Start" and then click on "My Computer."

5. Navigate to the Outlook Express folder location you noted down in Step 2 and then delete the file named "Inbox.dbx."

6. Press "Ctrl+M" on the Outlook Express window. This will download all your emails from your email server and restore your Inbox.

References

• "Basic & Respectful E-mailing Using Outlook Express"; Stephanie Keller; Aug. 2004

Resources

• Microsoft: The Other E-Mail Threat: File Corruption in Outlook Express