Deleted files in Outlook Express

Help!

I got a little carried away when deleting some virus infected files (shift +delete) from my wife's Outlook Express folder and ... ummm ... deleted her entire folder. I am pretty desparate. There was quite a bit of mail she wanted to hang on to and I would be MUCH obliged for any help.



Thanks,

 

Hi jerryc
Welcome to the boards!
In the View menu option of Outlook Express, click on 'Folder list'. This should create a tree diagram of your OE configuration. One of the branches of this "tree" is a folder called 'Deleted Items'. If you click on the little cross next to the name, the folder will open, and you should see any folders that you accidentally deleted. You can then click and drag this folder back into your Inbox (another branch on the tree), and it will re-appear there.
Note: You can only retrieve deleted items if you haven't cleared your 'Deleted Items' folder, which is where your trash is sent after you have hit the delete button on your PC. To clear this folder, go to Tools - Empty Deleted Items folder. Your trash will then disappear into cyberspace.

Blatantly ripped off of here.

Daizy

 

shift + delete

Uh ... I hit 'shift + delete' , not delete ... (the ever popular permanent delete) There is no entry in the deleted items (mail) folder. This is why I'm having trouble. I know it was a dufus thing to do, but is there any way out?

 

Sorry about that jerryc. None that I am aware of?
Unless you've chosen to keep a copy on the server...and your ISP can restore them for you. (highly unlikely)?

Daizy

 

Never tried....but worth a look?
Drive Rescue

Or this?

 

No. You're doomed.

Unless ...

Open OE (under your wife's identity) and click Tools - Options - Maintenance - Store Folder. Make a note of the path to that folder. Once you are armed with this information, hot-shoe it to that folder and use the DBXtract thingymajiggy (to which Daizy linked) to try to recover some of the messages.

Alas, this may not work and the messages could well be gone, gone, gone whoaohoh. If this is the case, I can recommend a few good divorce lawyers