ALL of our read files in the Inbox disappeared for whatever reason. One minute they were there, and after a glitch of some sort they disappeared. Also a folder with saved files disappeared. All the other folders remain intact, just one major folder disappeared.

I do not know the version of Outlook Express we have. Is there a way to recover these lost files and folder? Can you help me with this issue?

It's always possible Mike deleted a folder. When you lose a message or a folder, it's always a good idea to take a look in all the other folders to see if you can find the folder you're missing. Mike doesn't have Views and Rules, like Outlook 2003 and 2007 have, so he doesn't need to worry about that.

Another thing to look at is IMAP, which means your mail is stored on a server. Read "Eight things you need to know about your Outlook configuration". Items 1-6 apply to you as well as Outlook users. If you're looking for the actual files, read OLEXP: How to Back Up the Outlook Express Address Book and Mail Folders. This article describes how to back things up, but it also explains where OE stores its data.

Good luck!

David Gewirtz is the author of How To Save Jobs and Where Have All The Emails Gone? For more than 20 years, he has analyzed current, historical, and emerging issues relating to technology, competitiveness, and policy. David is the Editor-in-Chief of the ZATZ magazines, is the Cyberterrorism Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals, and is a member of the instructional faculty at the University of California, Berkeley extension. He can be reached at david@zatz.com and you can follow him at http://www.twitter.com/DavidGewirtz.