Profile files deleted, even on backups!

Hi everyone,

Got this problem: I have 2 Win2k OS'es on different partitions of my first HD. Today I installed Mozilla on the second one, after having used it satisfactory on the first since I don't know when.

Since I wanted to be able to see all my mail no matter which partition I booted, I directed Mozilla's profile manager to use the same folder I already used. After starting the mail component, I didn't see my collection being listed.

So I went back to the profile manager and deleted the profile which I created with the same name I also used on the first OS.

I confirmed the deletion with clicking te 'delete files' button, which I in hindsight shouldn't have done...

But I thought I was safe in doing this, since I had copied the entire Mozilla structure, which I keep on my data partition, to 2 different locations, on two different partitions and even 2 different physical hard drives.

As I was about to copy the structure from one of the backups back to my intended mail folder, I discovered that all files and folders hanging under copy of the xxxxxxxx.slt (in this case 7ndmwo4j.slt) folder were gone, except for the Cache and Cache.Trash folders.

Upon checking my second backup (on the second hard drive) I discovered that here it was the same!


You can guess my exasperation, as I feared I had and have lost all my mail since august 2004 (of everything up until then I've got a copy on Outlook).

I was even more surprised that even 2 renowned undelete tools couldn't recover the deleted files and folders!

So, if anyone has a suggestion as to how I could possibly still rescue my mail, this would be highly appreciated and I'd be happy to try.

Also I would be very interested in knowing how it is possible that Mozilla deleted all files and folders of my profile over 3 different locations, and seemingly deleted them in an secure manner to boot!

Thanx, Eric

 

I know that Mozilla, or Netscape will delete all files within a profile name, although I never thought that they would be gone in other directories.
I do have one former profile with only the two useless folders, too, but also half a dozen with a different name. I don't trust these programs.

 

Welcome to the Forum, EricGee!

Eric,

You surely shouldn't have selected "Delete files ". Your Mail is gone, poof, exists no more, unless the backup you mention is current. I know you will back up every day, hereinafter...

1. Because you were sharing a Profile
2. Mozilla deleted all files and folders because you opted to have them deleted

Once the files are deleted, I know of no way to recover with third party software if you have exited the program and PC.

 

Ramona, thanks for answering.

I should clarify that I *did* backup my folders. The other two locations where I put my backups were unknown to Mozilla, just copies i made with powerdesk, which is why I'm so mystified as to the reason those backups were gone too.

Greetz, Eric

 

Eric,

Sorry, I see now that your backups went missing! Yikes, that is most unusual, and I'm sure you've done a "Find" looking for anything related to Profile data. In what folder did you store your backup? I have never seen anywhere, that Netscape Profile Manager would delete any files other than in the Profiles folder location.