[InCOREigible]

I can't believe I did this!
I was very diligently going thru my old email messages, deleting the unwanted messages one at a time, when suddenly everything below the last one I highlighted disappeared!!
I realize now that I must've mistakenly hit a 2-key or multiple key command (that I have no idea what the heck it was) that removed everything below where I was working.
Some of the messages mistakenly deleted (including family pics) are very important to me and I'm very upset at myself for this stupid mistake.

Here's what I've already tried to no avail;

* Checked my Deleted Items folder but nothing there.

* Used the System Restore feature to a previous restore date (this morning) but apparently that doesn't include emails because they weren't restored.

* Checked my Recycle Bin but the folder is empty.

My OS is XP-Home. My version of Outlook Express is OE-6.
Is there any solution to this mistake?

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.
Message was edited by: InCOREigible

[mphenterprises]

Hi InCOREigible. When I say what I have to offer, you will pinch yourself for not thinking of it. :D




Okay, you are using Outlook Express, correct? Well, Outlook Express is not your email provider. It's only an email server. You use Outlook Express to access your email locally. So, that means that your emails come into Outlook Express from another location......you got it, the original email provider. :-)

So, all you have to do is go back to your email provider and access the original emails from that location. Now, the only hurdle will be if you elected not to keep a copy of emails in this account. If that is the case, or if you already deleted the original email from this location, then you are out of luck. If you do have a copy in the original location, you haven't lost a thing.

For example, I use GoDaddy and Gmail for my three email addresses. I use Outlook to access my email addresses in one place. However, if I ever want to, I can access my emails from either my godaddy.com account or my gmail.com account.

[InCOREigible]

Hi mphenterprises,

Thanks for quick response.

You're right. I never thought to check my email client's server. Imagine my excitement of the prospect of actually getting these back when I was going thru the process of accessing it then the gut wrenching realization that all my accounts are empty once I got there. I obviously have it set not to save.

AAARRRRRGGGGHHH!! (sounds of trying to kick myself hard in the posterior) :_|

Is that it? Gone forever?? No fancy-schmancy recovery software out there?

Now I'm really going to reveal my computer ignorance!

In times past I thought someone had told me, or I read somewhere, that when you delete something on a Windows OS, it really sits there on your hard-drive until the system needs the space it occupies (I know these aren't the right techy terms but best I can do), then it over-writes it, or uses up that space as needed.

True? If so, and if it's still sitting on the C drive, is there no way to get to it and get it back?

I know I'm struggling and reaching here but was hoping there was more than one way to skin this cat. Aggrevation really brings out the stupid questions in me!

Thanks for your help. I really appreciated it.

[mphenterprises]

Well, I would like to formally welcome to you PCWorld's, "I should have backed up my personal data" club LOL :D




Okay, here is the long and short of it. Short answer, yes, when data is deleted from the hard drive, it is not really "deleted" until another file overwrites it in the sector of the hard drive in which the deleted file resides. However, I am not sure if that applies to individual emails. I know the Personal Data File (not .pdf) is a collection of all of your Outlook, or Outlook Express settings, including all emails.

Now, there are applications, and companies, that claim to be able to recover any deleted files. This is where you must be very careful. Smax013 recommends one particular application, for the life of me I cannot think of the name of it, that will allow you to test whether or not a Data Recovery process would be successful. However, to actually run the recovery process, you would have to buy the full version. I believe it is $99.

There are many other applications that operate along the same lines. However, please understand that there is absolutely no guarantee of recovery and the more activity your computer does, the less likely any recovery process would work.

Also, there are companies that claim to be able to recover data from any drive. Now, the majority of these companies will charge you upwards of $300-$500 dollars. Again, there is no guarantee of recovery. Most of these companies will refund at least a portion of your money if the recovery process is not successful.

Personally, I refuse to recommend either an application or a company simply because there is no substitute for a proactive approach. Once the data is lost, the lesson to potentially recover the data is costly and valuable.

What is the lesson? Backup, Backup, Backup. As you are well aware, emails are just as important as data. Once an email is lost, unless you are under an exchange server, the chances of recovery are slim at best. Now, going forward, I would strongly recommend you set up your email account to keep a copy of the original email.You can actually do that within Outlook Express:

- Open Outlook Express

- Click on Tools -> Accounts...

- Click on the "Mail" tab

- Select your mail account and click Properties

- Click on the "Advanced" tab

- Under Delivery, put a check next to "Leave a copy of messages on server"

- I would recommend not checking either "Remove from server..." option

- Click Apply -> OK




Also, you should be able to back up the Personal Data File as if it were any other file. Since I do not use Outlook Express, I am not exactly sure of the steps; however, you should be able to export the data file directly from within Outlook Express.

As I was looking around, I found something that you may be able to use. You can search for an Outlook Express Mail Message:

- Open the Windows Search feature (Right Click on the C: drive and click "Search")

- Click on the "More Advanced Options" double arrow

- Click on the down arrow under "Type of file"

- Once the field populates, look for "Outlook Express Mail Message"

- Put check marks next to:
1) Search System Folders
2) Search Hidden Files and Folders
3) Search Subfolders

- Click Search




This may find every single Mail Message, including the ones that were accidentally deleted.

[InCOREigible]

I followed your search suggestion but ran aground when I opened the Type Of File down arrow and found no "Outlook Express Mail Message" option on the pop down list. I tried other "Outlook" options while I was there but to no avail.

I did a search on the net for Outlook Express Mail Recovery software programs and as you said, there are many, and of course, all claiming immediate & 100% success.

I don't mind spending the $$ but would feel better with a "been there, done that" recommendation even if it was just with moderate success.

Again, thanks for your help mphenterprises.

[mphenterprises]

My Pleasure :-)




I have sent a message to Smax013. I think he mentioned that his brother, I think, used an application with some success. I will keep an eye on this Discussion. Good Luck

[InCOREigible]

Yes, I checked Smax013's profile and did a search for that particular post or recommendation but couldn't find anything specific to OE email recovery.

I also browsed through your "How To Recover (Almost) Anything" articles (I, II & III) which popped up in my search here. Great stuff. Had to smile when I saw your "back-up, back-up, back-up" mantra preceeding each document. Lesson learned.

One more related question. Would you recommend shutting the computer down until a recovery program is selected? The thought being to lessen the chance of that portion of the drive being over-written, hence lost for good?

Thanks again for the follow up.

[mphenterprises]

InCOREigible said:

One more related question. Would you recommend shutting the computer down until a recovery program is selected? The thought being to lessen the chance of that portion of the drive being over-written, hence lost for good?

That is a very good question. My gut is telling me yes. Everything that occurs within your computer affects the hard drive:

- Scans
- Access of Files
- Saving Files
- Deleting Files
- etc

Now, if you need the computer, obviously, it may be futile to shut it down until a resolution presents itself. I will stick to my gut and say, use the computer as little as possible. If anyone has anything to add to this, please do so.

[InCOREigible]

Thought that might be a safe assumption but I'm way out of my element here so I needed and appreciate the input of an expert.

No, this computer is not vital to our existance here. It happens to be one of three on a home, wireless network. No problem with shutting it down until I can make a (hopefully) intelligent desicion. I can always access the email sent to that sub-account on the ISP's server from one of the other two machines.

I'll keep watching this thread for any further input.

Many thanks as always.

[mphenterprises]

I received a response from Smax. Here is the application that he recommends:

Data Rescue Full Version - $99

Data Rescue Demo Version





You can get the demo version to see if a full recovery is possible. If it is, click on the first link and buy the full version. Now, he was not able to immediately jump in and provide any other information; however, this won't hurt until he can jump in and give his opinions.

[InCOREigible]

Understood.

I'll persue this recommendation as soon as possible. (Always hate it when work inteferes with the fun stuff).

I'll post back accordingly with the results.

In the meantime, mega-thanks to you both.