Member Avatar for thirdrail

macafee managed to lock up my computer, and outlook express. When I'd uninstalled it and finally got back into O.E., I found all my folders moved to Windows explorer, and I can't move them back, or open them. Move commands don't do anything. Any ideas?
Thirdrail

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The first priority is to preserve the original mailbox files before any repair is attempted. Make a binary copy of the files onto separate media (USB drive or another folder) so the current state can be restored if a recovery step does more harm. Check the antivirus quarantine/logs for any removed or altered mail files; AV tools sometimes replace originals with zero-byte stubs.

As suggested, use Safe Mode to prevent security software or other services from locking the files while working on them. If Explorer refuses to move or open the files, file-permission/ownership issues are often the cause. On Windows XP this is usually fixed from the file Properties: disable simple file sharing if necessary, open the Security tab, use Advanced -> Owner to assign the current administrator, then grant Full Control. After ownership and permission changes, retry operations from Safe Mode.

There is a difference between the Windows XP mail client and Outlook from Office; was right about using the mail client’s built-in recovery/import mechanism rather than trying to “drop” files back into the running program. If the original profile looks corrupted, create a fresh identity/profile and import the preserved mailbox files into that clean profile — that avoids propagating corruption. Before importing, inspect a copy of a mailbox file with a plain-text editor: if it contains readable headers and message text, the data is likely present; if it is empty or contains quarantine markers, restoration will require AV recovery or backups.

If ownership/permissions adjustments and profile import don’t restore message access, try System Restore to a point before the McAfee incident, check the AV product’s restore capability, and only then consider specialized mailbox-recovery tools. Throughout recovery, work only on copies and keep the originals untouched.

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Member Avatar for Agita

Little more info please. Vista or XP? Xp right?

Also what do you mean be "Windows explorer"?
What is the exact directory?

-AGITA

Member Avatar for thirdrail

Sorry for lack of info. It's XP. I meant that all my OE folders are stuck in My Computer, can't open them, can't move them. And I need 'em! Why Mcafee moved them out, froze O.E. and then my computer, is something else. I've now moved to Spy Dr., which is great.
Thirdrail

Member Avatar for Agita

Can you still get to them or view them? But not move them or copy? Should be c:\docandsets\username\localsettings\applicationdata\identities\*.dbx
or
c:\docset\username\applicationdata\addressbok\*.wab

Or something like that, i really have to look at it to get it right and i will if you want me to. Try taking permissions of them. If your in home go into safemode and move them to your profiles desktop. let me know and I will help as much as I can.

Member Avatar for thirdrail

Agita, I can see all my OE folders in my computer, but can't open [view] them, or move them back to OE. I'll try what you suggest. Thanks for your help
Thirdrail

Member Avatar for bobbyraw

you will not be able to MOVE them back to outlook. you have to open out look them import the setting and files back into the new outlook folder. this can only be done from within outlook. this will allow you to import all the previous email and address into the new outlook you have.

Member Avatar for Agita

bobbyraw is Correct, you would need to go into outlook express and to import and choose mail and account settings. Then you would direct the path to the location of the >dbx files. Same with address book except you would direct its path to the .wab files.

Its a little odd that mcaffee would do that though( even tough I hate it )

Good luck

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