Inside Outlook Express

This page contains links to every article and section in the InsideOE website. Use this index to jump to a section heading below.

• OE FAQ  What?  Where?  Why?  How?
• OE Files and Settings
• Backup and Restore
• OE Problems
• OE Tips
• OE Resources

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OE FAQ

What...?

• is Catch Up, shown when you right-click on a newsgroup?
• is a message store folder, or store root directory?
• is a WAB file (*.wab)?
• is a WA~ file or WAB~ (*.wa~ or *.wab~)?
• is the little push-pin icon in the lower right corner of OE's download window?
• does the Flag icon mean?
• does Watched mean?

Where...?

• are my OE message files stored?
• is my address book (WAB) stored?
• is the information for all my mail and news accounts stored?
• are my OE settings stored?

Why...?

• can't I open attachments in OE6?
• does OE block downloading of pictures in email after SP2?
• is OE not saving copies of Sent Items?
• can't I print messages correctly?
• does OE delete news messages automatically even with automatic maintenance turned off?
• is the file Folders.dbx so big?
• does OE not add reply characters to some of my replies?
• can't OE insert my signature after quoted text in replies?
• can't I set OE as the default email client?
• can't I Reply to Author in newsgroups?
• do I see a Choose Profile window when I Reply to Author in newsgroups?
• can't I move my OE files and address book to a folder on my network?
• do I receive the error message No Sender Specified even though my name looks right in the account's Properties?
• don't my message rules work?
• does OE try to install another language when I click on certain messages?
• can't I import a *.wab file from another computer?
• can't I delete messages inside OE?
• doesn't OE preview pictures any more?
• does OE show duplicate messages in my Hotmail or IMAP account?
• does OE always open such a small window?

How...?

• do I re-send a message?
• do I delete an email message without opening it?
• do I archive a folder of messages?
• do I backup my accounts information and settings?
• do I delete old newsgroup headers?
• do I import OE4 mail folders?
• do I import OE5/OE6 mail folders?
• do I import a single mail folder (*.dbx)?
• do I move my address book?
• do I move my store folder?
• do I make OE open messages maximized?
• do I change the sound that plays for new messages?
• do I enable the slideshow?
• do I make OE open in a newsgroup when starting?
• do I save a message without its attachment?
• do I view messages using a Fixed-width font?
• can I organize my subscribed newsgroups into news folders?
• do I turn off the OE splash screen?
• do I delete an Identity if I forgot the password?
• do I view attachments in binary newsgroups?
• do I remove the provided by ... branding in the OE title bar?
• can I block messages with a blank FROM or TO field?

Back to index

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OE Tips

• Archive a Folder
• Force Identity Logon
• Binaries Newsgroups
• Create Hyperlinks to Newsgroups
• Move the WAB
• Multiple WABs
• Improving Slow Newsgroup Performance
• Regedit Basics
• Message Rules
• Message Templates
• OE Toolbars
• Online/Offline
• Explorer Toolbars

Back to index

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OE Resources

Communities

• Setting up an account for MSnews in OE
• Reading newsgroups in a browser
• Outlook Express newsgroups on msnews

Other Websites

Tools

• Essential tools
• Useful scripts
• Other tools

Outlook Express 4 (external site)

Outlook Express for Macintosh Computers

 

Back to index

 

 

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OE Files and Settings

OE Store Folder

• How OE stores files on your hard disk
• How to move your store root
• How to maintain your store root
• • Automatic Maintenance (background compaction)
  • How to compact your OE folders
  • How to clean up your OE news folders 
    • How to use Message Rules to delete old news headers
    • How to use Advanced Find to remove old news headers
    • Update: OE after Service Pack 1 now has a working DEL key in newsgroups

  OE Address Book (WAB)

• How OE stores your contacts 
• The standalone WAB and Multiple WABs
• Network issues with WAB
• Sharing the Contacts folder in Outlook

• OE Registry Keys

• The Outlook Express registry key
• The Address Book registry key
• The Internet Accounts registry key
• The Identities registry key
• • Identities Registry Keys Screenshots

  Back to index

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  Backup & Restore

  Simple Backup

  Complete Backup

  Partial Backup

  • Backing up Selected Identity Settings
  • Restoring Selected Identity Settings
  • Backing up Selected Mail Folders
    • Single Folder
    • Multiple Folders

  Back to index

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  OE Problems

  Error Messages

• When OE crashes or won't start
  • Invalid Message Rules errors (older versions of OE5)
• When sending messages
  • No Sender Specified
  • 550 - Relaying not allowed
  • Malformed message ID: Line 3 References too long
    

• Known Bugs and Workarounds

Problems

• Hyperlinks in messages stop working
• Messages in Inbox or other mail folder disappear
• Messages in newsgroups disappear
• Same mail messages continue to be downloaded from POP3 account
• OE keeps trying to send a message but the Outbox appears to be empty
• Toolbar buttons are distorted or black
• Image preview stops working
• Toolbars disappear from Message Composition windows or the main OE window

Bugs

• Strange ~ file in strange places Fixed
• Inserting signature crashes OE Fixed
• Opening a Compose window crashes OE when using signature auto-insert Fixed
• Some messages have nothing in the Account column Fixed
• OE sometimes uses the wrong account when replying to a news message Fixed
• OE sees an attachment where none exists Fixed
• OE signature separator in news messages not RFC compliant Fixed
• Unable to switch Identities after installing WinXP Service Pack 1 Fixed
  

Patches and Updates

Report a bug to Microsoft

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  Performance Problems

• OE very slow when starting, but everything else normal
• OE very slow when starting, and Internet Explorer forms slow
• OE very slow when working in a news account
• • Improving Slow Newsgroup Performance
• OE slow to open, slow to switch mail folders, slow in everything
• • Replace the Protected Storage Service (Pstore)
• OE gradually slows down
• OE won't even start

• Back to index

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