Outlook Express File Repair

cannot read messages in my Outlook Express mailbox. Will SecureRecovery for Outlook Express fix the problem?

We designed SecureRecovery for Outlook to be one of the most powerful file repair utilities available. It can resolve many common corruption issues, sometimes within several minutes, but results will vary.

By running the demo version of the program, you can find out whether your Outlook Express messages are recoverable. The demo will generate a list of recoverable messages (see the next answer for more information), which you can review before purchasing.

Can you explain the differences between the demo version and the full version of SecureRecovery for Outlook Express?

Both programs use the same technologies to access your damaged Outlook Express files. The demo version of SecureRecovery for Outlook Express will not recover your entire mailbox, however, and will only allow access to the earliest and latest messages from the targeted file.

All of the remaining messages will have their headers and bodies replaced by demo strings, and attachments will not be readable. When you purchase a software license, you will be able to access the entire contents of the mailbox.

Note that if demo strings do not appear, it could indicate that a message (or group of messages) is severely corrupted. If the demo output does not show your mail from a certain date or range of dates, that information may not be recoverable.

Will I be able to run this software through the command line?

Both the Enterprise and the Service licenses allow command line functionality. The standard license does not allow access to this feature.

To access the program through the command line or through batch files, use the call below. Before running SecureRecovery for Outlook Express from the command line, you will need to create the directory for the recovered files.

oer.exe “”

You can use the modifiers ‘*’ to replace groups of characters and ‘?’ to replace individual symbols. For instance, *.dbx or ???May.dbx.

Why are there different software license options?

These options provide a slightly different feature set, and the Enterprise and Service licenses are usually a more appropriate option for users who need to recover a large number of Outlook Express files (or users who need to perform Outlook Express repairs on a regular basis).

To select an appropriate license, please visit our Licensing page and review the descriptions of the different options.

I know that the recovered files are smaller than my original Outlook I know that the recovered files are smaller than my original Outlook Express files. Why is this?

Recovered files may appear smaller than your original files because of the way that SecureRecovery for Outlook Express interprets and restores your data. If the application encounters any severely damaged areas, it will reproduce those areas as blank space, and this blank space contributes to a smaller overall file size. This will not always affect the usability of the file (the demo version of the software will allow you to determine whether your Outlook Express mailboxes are recoverable before you purchase a license).

Because the demo version of the software uses a significant number of placeholders, it will also generate smaller files. This is also normal.

How do I back up my original mailboxes before I run SecureRecovery for Outlook Express, and where does the program put its recovered files?

You will need to find the default Outlook Express storage folder. Take the following steps:

Start Outlook Express. Right-click on any folder (for instance, Inbox) and choose the “Properties” item in the drop down menu.

Write down the folder location listed in the ‘Properties’ menu. The standard location is:

C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{alphanumeric ID}\Microsoft\Outlook Express\

Note that “C:” may be replaced by another drive letter, and the path may be entirely different depending on your operating system and Outlook Express version number.

After you have located the default directory, open it. You may need to enable “Hidden Files and Folders.” To do this, select your folder’s service menu, click “Folder Options” and the “View” tab, then check the box next to “Show hidden files and folders.”

You should now be able to see the original mailboxes along with the recovered files.