Think I've found a possib le answer - if computer crashed during compacting deleted e-mails then folders are deleted - see http://email.about.com/od/outlookexpresstroubles/qt/et_compact_oe.htm Apparently we can get them back by: "Even if you had not yet installed the patch, message recovery could be...

Sorry I can't help but that happened to me about a week ago - I wonder is there a virus about!