I have just loaded Outlook on a new notebook, Outlook 2002. I've used this version of Outlook since 2002, but alas that notebook did a big crash. The good news, I had all but the last two days of message folders on a back up drive, in a folder called "Exchange". Now, on my old XP home there was a folder called "OutlookFolders" which had "Exchange" and other details in it. So, all I need to do is copy the back-up data into the new computer's "OutlookFolders", but I can't find them, nor can the XP search. I do have folders maked to shoe hidden. Any help would be appreciated.

The compress feature is really no big deal and by default is set to act every 100 times your e-mail client closes. The action can be stopped or the numeric changed. I'm on a Vista system with Windows Mail right now. I don't recall if the location is the same for OE. Activate the mail client>Tools>Options>Advanced Tab> on the bottom of the tab click Maintenance button> make adjustments close>Apply. If this is not exactly correct for OE it will give you a general approach for finding the feature. As Owbist reports it removes nothing. The action is exactly the same as the option provided in the Disk Cleanup utility. When used more data is put in less space. I would leave it alone. DA

Hallelujah......I deleted the temp files and compacted the email folders......seems to be working. At least I only got my test message once. thank you so much....... let me know when your next wedding is and I'll come and sing Rosie

Update: I just called her on the phone. She does not use Outlook. She uses something like ATT Yahoo for her email. When she goes into Programs....and tries to open Outlook Express, she gets some message that mentions there is an error....and goes on to talk about a POP server....and other things way over my head. I suggested that she call her provider for some help. It was over my head. I thank you raven and Bob for your messages. Larry