Missing E-mails in my OE Subfolder

Greetings,

I posted my computer problems on another forum and a user recommended that I sign up on here and ask.

I am running a Sony Vaio Desktop, Windows XP Home Edition, with Outlook Express. Computer was bought new, with this software installed.

Aside from my inbox, I have 5 or 6 separate subfolders that I move E-mails into after I get them in my inbox. One of my subfolders is now missing 2 years worth of important e-mails. My 2005 and 2006 e-mails messages are now gone. My other subfolders and my inbox appear to be fine.

This happened when I was moving data from my C drive over to my D drive to clear up space on C. A C drive disk cleanup was then run and that is when I noticed the problem. The computer was taking an abnormally long time to compact the E-mail but I did not interrupt the process. After it finished, I went online with IE and opened up my E-mail and noticed that they were gone from my subfolder.

So far, with help from members on another forum, I have downloaded OE Mail Recovery. I ran a search on my C drive for *.dbx files and an archive, but I do not think I archive my messages.

I also remembered back to unique terms within my e-mails and searched for them by typing in the unique terms on the search function for both the C and D drive. I did not find any of my missing messages by doing this.

I tried to also run a system restore, back to Saturday, before this happened, but I could not select Saturday as a date. I do not think I set my computer up to ahve restore points.

I am a "Beginner ", doing the best I can. I should have backed-up the files. Lesson is SO learned.
The E-mails are very important for my businesses.

Thanks so much for your time and help. Best regards.

 

Did you find any .dbx files?

If you haven't already, in My Computer (or any folder), go to Tools>Folder Options>View tab and make sure "Show hidden files and folders," and "Show protected operating system files" are checked and "Hide extensions for known files types" and is unchecked. Then run the seach on both drives again.

 

Hello Miz,

1. I found a total of 52 .dbx files.

2. I will do this now and then will re-run the search.

 

1. I Un-Checked "Hide extensions for known files types "

2. I ran the search again on the C AND the D drive and found a total of 69 files.

 

The dbx files you're looking for should have the same name as the folders had in Outlook...for example, "sent items.dbx." So look for dbx files with the same names as the folders you made.

When in doubt, check the file sizes. The largest "inbox.dbx" file, for example, is most likely to be the one with your stuff in it.

When you think you've located one of the files, use OE's File>Import>Messages, tell it you want to import from a "store folder" and then point it at the file you want to import.

If you end up importing the wrong one, just delete it in OE and try another. I've done that "trial and error" method trying to find which dbx file is the one with the stuff I'm looking for so I know it can be done.

 

Hello. Thank you for your help.

I have tried re-booting my computer.

I checked my recycle bin. Nothing.

I scanned all my .dbx files and they only reflect what I currently have in my mail folders.


Someone told me I can have my registery files re-built by an expert to get my e-mails back.

How do I have this done and who do I talk to?

Is this the logical next step?

These E-mails are business related and it is as if I am missing 2 years of my life without these e-mails. Only my 2005 and 2006 messages are missing, though some from 2004 may be missing as well. It only took out some of them.


Again, thanks so much.