Thanks, Michael. I solved this by copying the messages to a new folder as you suggested...seems I was making it more difficult than I needed to!

I've been having odd folder problems, most of which I've figured out without losing any messages, thanks to posts here.

Now I have a folder listed twice in my folder list, although examination of the underlying files in the mail directory shows only one copy there.

The data inside seems accessible, at least so far.

It appears that the heading in the PMM is corrupt, showing a long string of accented capital I's where other PMM files have a "unique object ID."

I think this heading should contain "xxxxxxxx:xxxx:FOL00FE8"

Is there a way to reconstruct what the xxxxxxxx:xxxx part is supposed to be and "fix" the file?

I tried looking in my backups, but the file is either already corrupted or did not yet exist. (I created it recently to "rescue" messages from an older file that kept disappearing.)

(Vista 64-bit, problems might have begun when I installed an external HD and started using Seagate Memeo to back up.)

Thanks-

Carol

I have done that and seen that before several times, most often after mounting by add mailbox to list. Often I mistakenly added same folders/user or also when working with same  username on USB stick. I just disconnect the added mailbox and the also close folder manager window and reopen it and the display in folder manager is back to normal again.

Thanks, Jerry, but this didn't come from another mailbox or USB stick. The data inside is actually just ONE folder (PMM), definitely corrupt at least in the heading. There is no other mailbox to disconnect in this case.

[quote user="dmpcarol"]The data inside is actually just ONE folder (PMM), definitely corrupt at least in the heading.[/quote]

Just make sure to create a copy of the folder before trying any of the following (Pegasus Mail being closed while doing so): The header of a folder file is exactly 128 bytes long; IIRC you can simply remove these 128 bytes (and delete the PMI file), then use mbxmaint_ui.exe from Pegasus Mail's program directory. You might even want to try the latter before editing the folder file manually.

Another idea would be - if you can still display all messages from the folder - to just copy them to a new folder within Pegasus Mail, then close Pegasus Mail, delete the PMM and PMI file and rename the (new) folder after restarting Pegasus Mail. It might be required to edit HIERARCH.PM as well (i.e. delete lines containing the broken folder's names) if you still get weird folders after doing so, though. You might also need to adjust any filter rules affecting the broken folder after restoring it.

Thanks! Will try this when I'm more awake!

Carol