Outlook Express deletes news messages even though I've told it not to

Michael Santovec

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Jun 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM6/26/00

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OE deletes news messages whenever the server does. You cannot override this regardless of any
settings. So if your news server deletes messages after a few days, so will OE.

If you need to keep messages longer, you need to copy them to mail folders.

--

Mike - http://pages.prodigy.net/michael_santovec/techhelp.htm

Jonathan Carter wrote in message ...
>Real simple question - how do I stop Outlook Express (5.00.2314.1300)
>deleting news messages? I've done the obvious things, like going to
>Options->Maintainance and unchecking the 'delete read message bodies' and
>set 'delete read messages' to 365 days, and turned off the background
>compacting, but STILL it insists on removing messages older than a few days
>old (if it's any help, the total number of messages in the group never seems
>to rise above 400, and it's quite an active group with aroung 100
>postings/day).
>
>The funny thing is that the .dbx files keep growing, and if I look at them
>in a text editor I can read portions of stuff that it's 'deleted' - so
>perhaps it isn't deleting them at all, just hiding them from me?
>
>Anyway, hope someone can help,
>
>--
>Jonathan Carter
>j...@KILLTHECAPSaepyceros.co.uk
>
>

Jonathan Carter

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Jun 27, 2000, 3:00:00 AM6/27/00

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Gerry Cornell

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Jun 28, 2000, 3:00:00 AM6/28/00

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Jonathan

Messages deleted from the server are automatically deleted from your
newsgroup folder when you next connect and download. The Microsoft
server holds messages for 90 days but other servers hold for lesser
periods. If you wish to retain messages you need to move them to a mail
folder where the process will not affect them.

You can copy messages but it is better to move them as you avoid
duplicating messages. The process is involved but you may only need to
do it monthly if messages are taken from Microsoft direct.

You first need to create Archive Folders to hold your messages. These
should be sub-folders of Local Folder. I have an Archive News with
sub-folders for each newsgroup and sub-folders below. To create the
Folders place the cursor on Local Folders select File, Folder, New etc.

To move messages you place the cursor anywhere within the newsgroup list
of messages and select File, Work Online but do not connect. Then select
Edit, Find, Find Message and check the box "Received before", change to
required date and click on Find Now. Next select Edit, Select All, then
right click on any message and select Move to Folder. From the window
which appears navigate to the appropriate archive folder and then click
on OK. All the messages will be moved to the archive folder and deleted
from the newsgroup list.

The technique described only works if the message has a body. If
therefore you only have a header you will have to download the body to
remove it. Also it only works Online ( if Offline it copies and does not
remove ). If during the process you cannot avoid going Offline the
remedy is simple. Minimise the Find Message Window and select Work
Online. Restore the Find Message Window and continue with the procedure.

If you are interested there is a modified procedure for deleting single
or a limited number of messages such as spam.

--
Hope this helps.

Gerry

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FCA
gc...@yesit.co.uk
Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jonathan Carter <j...@KILLTHECAPSaepyceros.co.uk> wrote in message
news:dtR55.2547$Di7.3...@nnrp4.clara.net...

Frank Saunders MS-MVP

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Jun 29, 2000, 3:00:00 AM6/29/00

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The others answered your first paragraph.

For the question of the file continuing to grow, the space that was used by a deleted message is not recovered until the file is compacted. Go to File | Folders | Compact All and leave the computer alone until OE finishes. Do this on a regular basis.

--

Frank Saunders MS-MVP MPS-D
Please reply in newsgroup. I don't answer email
http://members.home.com/dts-l/goodpost.htm