Hi Paul, Following our phone call yesterday I continued to delete all e-mails with the word 'collapsed', cutting and pasting the information I needed to keep, into a separate folder and thankfully the problem seems to be sorted. I still am not sure why this happened but it followed a request suggesting I compact messages and I selected, yes. I know I was guilty of keeping a lot of mails in both my In Box and Sent Box recently, and I expect this is not a good idea. I checked all my folders in Outlook Express and was surprised to find, 'collapsed' on several mails even in folders I had not opened recently. By the way, I also sent my request for help to the Vics list and got no response. I had a recollection this problem arose ages ago on the list but my mail never seemed to arrive, as a copy did not return to my deleted folder as it should. Anyway, once again Paul you have come to the rescue and thanks. Noreen M.