Outlook Express - refusing to receive email, using POP3
Problem:
A client called in today - email was refusing to download in to Outlook Express, using POP3.
I replicated the email setup on one of my office computers and it worked fine. Then he brought his laptop to my office and we tried downloading email using my Internet Service Provider. It worked for a few minutes and failed again. The error was: “An uknown error has occurred. No error number: 0×800C0133″
After confirming with my server admins that nothing was causing a fault on the servers, I decided to do a little research. Here’s what I found out:
Solution:
Outlook Express stores all email in a folder. On a Windows XP machine, it is typically in C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{<hex>}\Microsoft\Outlook Express.
In here are files with file extentions of DBX - Inbox.dbx, Outbox.dbx, Sent Items.dbx - you get the drift. Now, apparently, Outlook Express doesn’t like email database files being larger than 2 GB or so. My client’s Inbox.dbx file was 1.99 GB.I shut down Outlook Express, renamed Inbox.dbx to Inbox Backup.dbx.
- Then I restarted Outlook Express.
- Outlook Express automatically re-creates the missing Inbox.dbx file.
- The Inbox folder is now empty in Outlook Express.
- Then, I right-clicked on Local Folders and created a New Folder called “Old Inbox“.
- Close Outlook Express again.
- Delete the Old Inbox.dbx file and rename Inbox Backup.dbx to Old Inbox.dbx
- Start Outlook Express again.All your old email will be in the Old Inbox folder and fresh email will be received in the empty Inbox folder.
Additional Notes:
If this post helps you in resolving a similar issue, do post a comment!
October 12th, 2008 at 10:15 am (IST)
Thank You, Thank You………………It was great help to me. Today morning , My Boss faced same problem and asked to me solve this. Really, I was not aware of this problem. I checked this Blog and solve the my Boss Outlook problem. one again Thank’s.
October 28th, 2008 at 1:35 am (IST)
Thanks a lot, the info was very usefull.
Best,
Jano
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:27 pm (IST)
The same trouble. Thanks for solving:)
January 8th, 2009 at 2:48 am (IST)
I experienced the error number 0×800C0133 when using my Outlook Express. No email was received nor sent. I ten accessed your website and followes the respective instructions step by step. It worked perfectly. Your help was just outstanding!! Many thanks,
Otto
Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
March 24th, 2009 at 10:28 pm (IST)
Fixed it! But the problem occurred just aftr I had allowed OE to do a “file compaction” and I seem to have lost about 3 months of the most recent mail. Any ideas? (it vanished before I realised I had a “2Gb problem”)
April 14th, 2009 at 6:41 am (IST)
you saved my life. I am a PhD candidate and I teach at the university - you saved all my old emails and resuscitated my Outlook Express back from the dead - thank you 100 times!