OUTLOOK Express recovery!

pdb1961,

Unfortunately, the answer is no.

Denny's probably right as usual but you could try this program - there's a free trial download - nothing ventured, nothing gained?

If Outlook Express suddenly  just removed exactly 6 mos. of emails , both read and unread, from the Inbox, are they still located somewhere on the computer? 

It had been opening "hiding " recent emails when I would switch to draft folder and then return to inbox.  IN order to "show " the current emails i would need to restart the computer, not just switch identities and return to main  identity.  But now it has actually reduced the number of unread emails on the start up page, even before opening Outlook Express.

I did not have OE backed up.   Can I recover somehow   3/29 - 9-29 emails? 

Thanks for any help.

Hi fellunii

Using XP Restore is not going to work for email files - it doesn't restore data files. Try my earlier suggestion.

Thanks gudgeon.

I had already purchased OE Mail Recovery program    www.oemailrecovery.com

but because I am NOT a computer person, I was concerned that I might mess up my chance of actual recovery by trying something that I don't know what i'm doing. 

I would hate hearing,  "I could have helped you if you had not already .... "

I will not try to run the program until tomorrow sometime... and that is IF I can translate the instructions.

Thanks again,

Marti (phylmart)

Hi Marti

A good idea might be to make a backup your email data store before you attempt recovery. If you're using OE6, go to Tools / Options / Maintenance - click the Store Folder button and this will reveal the location of your email. Navigate to that location and make a copy the Outlook Express folder so that if things do go wrong you've got a way back.

Good luck!

When OE shows you the location of the data store, try copying it then pasting to the Start, Run dialogue box. Shoul open the OE folder in explorer - with luck. If that doesn't work, I'm out of ideas, I'm afraid.

Thank you gudgeon.

I am unable to navigate to the location !!

I might  have done that once as I somehow backed up some of the folders the other day !!  I am currently unable to find the folders to navigate to it .  The path includes  documents and settings\ name of  user \  Local Settings\Application Data\ Identities\ #### \Microsoft\OE 

I cannot even find Local settings or Application Data anymore but I only know 2 ways to go - one through explorer and one by clicking on computer and going to c: ...

   I have "two users" or two id's so that comes after used id but it does not show under either name. 

Is this hopeless?  :((

 

 

OK, gudgeon, one step closer.  Found a way to at least back up the OE messages that are available.  Although it won't help find the missing ones, it DOES let me locate them in order to access them.

There is a box to uncheck in order to find the "hidden files" .   I was unable to get to my outlook express even though I had the path. Could not find "LOCAL SETTINGS" or "APPLICATION DATA"  as is req'd for making back up files ( or at least to do it the only way I know how.)   Now I can at least get to the visible files in the  inbox to back up before trying the recovery program.   (

Thanks for all your help (patience.)  Guess you mostly gave me courage and focus to advance.

Marti

p.s.  I am still trying to locate where the computer would put the missing messages.

phylmart,

The viewlet here demonstrates the method of locating the OE files and copying them to removable media (CD) as a backup prior to working with them on the hard disk. When you search for *.dbx files on the hard disk, the search will show all locations of those files. It is highly unlikely that six months' worth of files will be located somewhere on the hard disk other than the "standard" location.

To see Local Setting and Application Data open Windows Explorer and go to Tools|Folder Options|View tab. Select "Show hidden files and folders."

OH m'gosh Denny, thank you.  I am going to back up now to a disk before i do anything else.  Thank you so much.  THEN I'll hit your hyperlink regarding THIS SITE.

Thanks,

Marty