database corruption

when i signed in to windows live mail, i got a message that the database had
to be recovered. after getting the program opened i lost all my emails form
inbox, deleted and sent folders. i had important email messages in my inbox
that i was saving as well as a few years worth of saved sent messages. is
there any way to recover them?
if not then this program really isn't ready for prime time. it still seems
like a beta. this isn't microsoft bashing. i've been a sharehoolder for 15
years. i just need help.

You will find your messages within sub-folders of a folder called 'Recovered items' under 'Storage folders'. If you don't see 'Storage folders', go: View->Layout...->Folder pane-> [check] "Show Storage folders".

To expand 'Storage folders', just double-click on it.

--
Cheers,
Peter
(Windows Vista Home Premium with Windows Live Mail 12.0.1606)
"There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." - Shakespeare
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"btblue" <btblue@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:BCB27429-B503-4B07-B9D8-2A5F95BE2054@xxxxxx

I checked that first and the storage folder is also empty. i guess i'm out of
luck. i'm really not very happy with this program and might have to go back
to outlook express.

"Peter.R" wrote:

Not good. So it does pay to keep a backup of the entire Message Store.

Also check in your Windows Live Mail Message Store and look for a "Recovered items" folder in the folder called "Storage Folders".

To find the location of your Message Store, go Tools->Options...->Advanced [tab]->Maintenance->Store Folder (the default location is a hidden folder, so ensure "Show hidden files and folders" is checked under Folder Options in Windows Explorer).

The default locations of the Message Store are:

Vista: %localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail
(C:\Users\<Windows user account>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail)

XP: %userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail
(C:\Documents and Settings\<windows user account>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail)

--
Cheers,
Peter
(Windows Vista Home Premium with Windows Live Mail 12.0.1606)
"There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." - Shakespeare
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"btblue" <btblue@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:8AD08470-5FCA-4CB2-8381-383558F7E9E9@xxxxxx

Thank you Peter R.
Based on what you wrote, I found the missing folders. When I try to move
them back into the program I hit another roadblock. I ask it to move to the
sent folder and nothing happens. There are over 300 messages to move. All I
want is for them to be back in my regular sent folder. They also don't show
up in the recovered folders. They seem to stay in (C:\Documents and
Settings\<windows user account>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail)
Thanks again for your help. I'm encouraged that the answer is very close.
Lloyd

"Peter.R" wrote:

Ok, at least you found them.

If I understand correctly, you found a folder called 'Recovered items' in your Message Store within the folder called 'Storage folders'. And a few sub-folders deep within that 'Recovered items' folder, you found your missing messages.

By default, the folders under 'Storage folders' in the Windows Live Mail interface are 'Drafts', 'Sent items', 'Deleted items', and 'Outbox'. Those folders cannot be deleted. But after a database recovery, a folder called 'Recovered items' should appear under 'Storage folders', within which recovered messages might be found a few sub-folders deep.

Now, you generally shouldn't move files/folders about in the Message Store, as that will mess up the database. Also, you shouldn't delete files/folders or move files/folders out of the Message Store for the same reason.

So start off by opening the folder in your Message Store that contains your missing messages. Then create a folder on your Desktop and place a *copy* of those messages into that folder for safe keeping.

Now, I suggest you manually compact your WLMail database by going to: Tools->Options...->Advanced [tab]->Maintenance [button]->check the option "Compact the database on shutdown every 'n' runs" and change the value 'n' to '1'. Then exit WLMail and select "Yes" when asked to "Recover unused disk space". When the compaction process is complete, open WLMail again and change the 'n' value from '1' back to '100'.

There is a possibility that the compaction of the database will cause the missing folders/files to appear in WLMail under 'Storage folders'.

So if compacting the database does not cause the missing folders/files to appear in WLMail under 'Storage folders', you can then drag all the messages from your Desktop folder onto the WLMail interface into whatever folder you prefer. If all goes well, you can then delete the "Recovered items" folder in your Message Store.

By the way, in trying to understand what went wrong in the first place, what antivirus program are you using, and what version of Windows Live Mail is installed (Help->About Microsoft Windows Live Mail)? I am assuming your OS is Windows XP since you mentioned Outlook Express.

--
Cheers,
Peter
(Windows Vista Home Premium with Windows Live Mail 12.0.1606)
"There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." - Shakespeare
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"btblue" <btblue@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:7E8AB560-8861-44DF-878E-25F931517308@xxxxxx

Hi again,
i can't thank you enough. I havenn't tried the last step yet but wanted to
give you the requested info. I'm using Avira anti virus personal edition and
live mail ver. 2008 build 12.01606. I'll let you know how the fix goes when I
get to it.
Thanks again

"Peter.R" wrote:

Ok, I haven't heard of Avira antivirus causing problems with WLMail, but some antivirus programs are known to have caused problems with Windows Mail and Windows Live Mail in the past, in particular the email scanning functions of McAfee and Norton, although possibly others.

I don't think Avira AntiVir Personal has an e-mail scanning function though.
--
Cheers,
Peter
(Windows Vista Home Premium with Windows Live Mail 12.0.1606)
"There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." - Shakespeare
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"btblue" <btblue@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:CFCD4530-9B04-46AA-A444-883AEEADBB61@xxxxxx