Microsoft Outlook Express is is a popular email client, which stores your significant emails and other related data in DBX (Database eXtension) file. It creates separate data file for each personal folder, like Inbox.dbx and Sent Items.dbx. All the DBX files are managed by a master index, known as Folders.dbx. Outlook Express application uses this index to locate and access particular DBX file. In case, this index gets damaged, DBX files cannot be accessed. This behavior may also damage the DBX files and prevent you from preforming general Outlook Express operations. It leads to data loss situations and you have to perform Outlook Express recovery to sort it out.
As a practical instance, the search process stop working or doesn't work immediately after the repeated usage when you attempt to find any message by pointing the Find option and then selecting Message in Edit menu. The results are not affected by the search criteria of message.
Root of the problem
You may run across this problem if there is a damaged Folders.dbx file, or several Search Folder.dbx files. The problem usually occurs by simultaneous, repeated use of Find command. If you quit MS Outlook Express with find threads still running in background or cancel out the Find dialog box, this situation may occur. This problem may also occur due to corrupt DBX files.
Resolution
You can try out the below steps to work around this problem and recover Outlook Express data if it is caused by corrupt Folders.dbx file:
Quit MS Outlook Express application.
Remove all the Search Folder.dbx files on your Windows hard drive.
To address any sort of additional damage, remove Folders.dbx file in particular Identity. You can find out your Identity in Store Folder.
Start Microsoft Outlook Express.
Perform a new search to test for the solution.
On the other hand, if problem is caused by corrupt DBX files, you have to check out your current backup. Restore the damaged DBX file from backup and start Microsoft Outlook Express. But, if you do not have backup in place, DBX recovery tools come for your help.
The DBX recovery software are able to throughly scan the affected DBX files using advanced algorithms and extract all inaccessible data. You need not to have sound technical skills to use these programs as of their rich graphical user interface.