I am trying to get my old "sent emails back, the "out" history dates back to 17 March 2006 but the "sent" only goes back to 03 July 2008! can anyone help?

Assuming you're referring to Outlook Express...Why it happens:http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/problems/bugs.htm#mailgone http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx Recovering the missing data: http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx (#2 and #4) andhttp://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=918069 (see Notes section under Resolution section; Please note that you do NOT need to install KB923694 or KB918766 if your computer is fully-patched at Windows Update!)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~DBXpress (faster, more powerful, with even greater functionality than DBXtract)http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/Default.aspx~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Avoiding Such Corruption in Future:- Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local folders created for this purpose.- Empty Deleted Items folder daily.- Frequently perform a manual compact of all OE folders while "working offline". More athttp://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm- Do not cancel Automatic Compacting, should it occur, and do not attempt to close OE via Task Manager or shutdown your machine if Automatic Compacting is taking place.- Disable email scanning by your anti-virus application. It can cause corruption (i.e., loss of messages) and provides no additional protection: Why you don't need your anti-virus to scan your email http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft