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OE6-IE7 lost mails

Discussion in 'Microsoft Mail (Outlook / OE / Windows Mail)' started by midatlanticys, 2007/08/13.

  1. 2007/08/13
    midatlanticys

    midatlanticys Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hi, First, A Big Thanks to all those providing so much incredible help on this forum - you seem to have saved a lot of lives here!!

    I'm trying to restore 14 months of missing mails to my default OE Inbox, everything since June 2006 disappeared, but all other folders seem untouched and function normally.

    I've done some homework and NOW know I should have kept default OE folders nearly empty as well as compacting and b/up OE folders regularly - which I WILL do, I promise, but in my ignorance I'm afraid to overwrite the mails I want to restore with these maintenance tasks.

    I have *imported* all messages (4 times!!) with the File>Import command from the default OE store folder and this only serves to give me 4 copies of ALL mails minus the 14 months of Inbox!! and I'm unsure of the file renaming or copy/paste sequence for importing just the inbox.dbx.

    I have an inbox.bak file in the OE store folder, but it's dated Jan 2007, so assume this is a backup file with mails up to that date. No inbox.bak file was found in the recycle bin. There are 73 other foldername.bak files there, but the folders they point to seem to function normally. There is also a deleteditems.dbx in the Recycle bin!!?? which may have ended up there as a result of having the "empty deleted items upon OE exit" active.

    I would greatly appreciate help to prioritize the issues here!!

    With kind thanks!
     
    midatlanticys,
    #1
  2. 2007/08/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    midatlanticys - Welcome to the Board :)

    The current version of OE compacts the messages automatically after OE has been opened 100 times and places a backup file .bak for each folder in the Recycle bin so there is no need to compact manually.

    Are you completely up to date with Windows Updates patches? - the current version of OE is 6.00.2900.2180

    You have discovered that OE starts to behave badly when individual folders become bloated - although the theoretical maximum size is 2 Gb a 100 or less Mb is a safer bet to avoid corruption.

    If you have .bak files in your Message Store something went awry somewhere and I would think that corruption of the file is the most likely answer.

    However as you have an Inbox.bak file there it may contain emails prior to the date you gave.

    The instructions for recovering mails from .bak files are given here....

    http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...&tid=a09a0021-e423-4ce9-ab08-37900a7d951e&p=1

    As you presumably already have an Inbox rename it to InboxOld otherwise the contents may be lost when you recover files, hopefully successfully from the bak file as indicated in the URL above. You can drag the files from InboxOld to Inbox later.
     
    PeteC,
    #2


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  4. 2007/08/14
    midatlanticys

    midatlanticys Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thank You v. much PeteC
    . . . in your instruction, " . . . rename it to InboxOld" you mean the inbox.dbx in the default OE Store folder? supposedly to make way for "if the folder is missing, create a folder with the *exact* same name as the bak file you want to restore" in Bruce Hagens *restoring from a .bak folder*?

    Cheers
     
    midatlanticys,
    #3
  5. 2007/08/14
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I was not thinking quite straight when I posted that instruction - you cannot rename Inbox to InboxOld directly in OE.

    What you need to do is create a New Folder in OE (Right click on Local Folders > New Folder) and name it InboxOld. Then highlight the existing mails in Inbox and drag them to InboxOld, leaving Inbox empty. Then proceed with the instructions for recovering mails from the .bak file. As Inbox will already exist there will be no need to create another.
     
    PeteC,
    #4
  6. 2007/08/14
    midatlanticys

    midatlanticys Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks PeteC - well done!! I have an empty Inbox and an Inbox-old OE folder. . . but no Inbox.bak in the recycle bin to restore to the OE Store folder.

    Can I safely delete the OE Store folder copy of Inbox.bak to the recycle bin and then get it to *restore* to the same folder and have the messages magically appear back in the now empty OE Inbox? with your guidance, of course!

    I've tried importing messages to the empty OE Inbox from the OE6 Store directory, but stumble on "No messages can be found in this folder or another application is running that has the required files open" . . which I don't fully comprehend.

    so . . . as usual . . . its clear as mud for me!!

    Cheers!!
     
    midatlanticys,
    #5
  7. 2007/08/14
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I don't see any point in that - the folder is already in the message store. I would follow the bolded part of the instructiond from the URL, but first I would copy that .bak file to another location on your drive as insurance ....
    No guarantees that this will work as the file should not be in the Message Store anyway, but you have nothing to lose by trying :)
     
    PeteC,
    #6
  8. 2007/08/15
    midatlanticys

    midatlanticys Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thank You PeteC - After dragging Inbox.dbx to the desktop and I try to rename Inbox.bak to Inbox.dbx I get, "Cannot rename Inbox: A file with the name you specified already exists. Specify a different file name." . . . even though there is no Inbox.dbx in the OE store folder, but now sits quietly on the desktop.

    Does it make a difference if I drag the Inbox.dbx file into another folder rather than onto the Desktop?

    Many thanks for your time and patience!!
    Cheers,
     
    midatlanticys,
    #7
  9. 2007/08/15
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    This scenario is not following the script so we are flying by the seat of our pants here :)

    One reason for your inability to rename the Inbox.dbx may be that it is a default OE folder and not a user created folder as illustrated in the URL instructions.

    I think there are four options here (with OE closed) .....

    To minimise any risk to the remainder of your email folders it would be wise to copy them to a folder on your hard drive as a backup.

    1. Rename Inbox.bak to, say Saved.dbx - assuming you do not have a Saved folder already - if so choose another name. If the rename is accepted open OE and see if the folder is there - if it is mission accomplished :) - drag the files to the Inbox - otherwise ....

    2. Move the Inbox.dbx folder from the desktop to a folder on your hard drive - better one you create than using My Documents, which is a default Windows folder and then try renaming the bak file. If that fails ....

    3. Delete the Inbox.dbx file from the desktop and leave it in the Recycle bin and try to rename the bak file.

    4. If neither of those methods work move the Inbox.bak file to a folder on the hard drive and try renaming it there. If successfull move it back to the message store where OE should recognise it when opened.
     
    PeteC,
    #8
  10. 2007/08/22
    midatlanticys

    midatlanticys Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    PeteC - Many Thanks & pls excuse my silence - just too many balls in the air . . . but really appreciate the thought and energy given to this puzzle and seat of the pants is OK by me.

    I did the full OE copy onto another PC as per your suggestion and MS's instructions.

    I was able to do the *Rename Inbox.bak to Saved.dbx* and the rename was accepted but OE did not create a new folder. . . then I took the initiative to try and drag/drop both the *copy* and *move* versions of the new Saved.dbx from the default OE Store folder to a new folder in OE, but that just popped up a new mail message with a 600mb saved.dbx attachment.

    I assume I need to reverse the above before trying your #2 or #3 suggestions; i.e. rename Saved.dbx back to Inbox.bak in the OE Store folder.

    I also tried to tried to *move* a copy of the Inbox.bak to my Recycle Bin, and it asked me to confirm if I wanted to delete this file, I clicked *yes* but it did NOT appear in the Recycle bin as hoped.

    This will only serve to confirm the *. . . 2 bricks* theory about my PC skills. Anyway - my thanks and gratitude are overdue and heartfelt!!

    Thank You!!!!!!!!!
     
    midatlanticys,
    #9
  11. 2007/08/23
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    No problem with time scale :)
    Maybe because it was not registered within Folders.dbx which 'oversees' the folder structure.
    Yes and I have another idea to pursue before you pass on to #2 onwards....

    In OE create a new folder Saved - close OE

    Go back to the dbx files and rename Saved.dbx to SavedOld.dbx - then rename Inbox.bak to Saved.dbx open OE and see what happens.
     
    PeteC,
    #10
  12. 2007/08/23
    midatlanticys

    midatlanticys Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    PeteC - hmmmmm - I'm not sure *another idea to pursue....* will work as the current Saved.dbx used to be Inbox.bak before it was renamed.

    I've put things back so I now have the Inbox.bak sitting quietly in the OE Store folder.

    I like the sound of your *rename Saved.dbx to SavedOld.dbx & Inbox.bak to Saved.dbx* idea . . . . can I accomplish that by creating a new folder Saved in OE, then close OE then in the OE Store folder renaming Inbox.bak to SavedOld.dbx and then copy/paste a new Inbox.bak to the OE Store folder that I can rename to Saved.dbx ? ?

    . . . as usual, many many thanks for your time and thoughts with this 'clear as mud' puzzle. It continues to amaze me how you and the other incredibly talented people on this BBS are able to grasp, visualize and comprehend some of the VERY archaic and naive situations presented here . . . and then with mountains of caring and insight, handhold us idiots back towards a resolution. . . simply amazing!! Cheers
     
    midatlanticys,
    #11
  13. 2007/08/23
    midatlanticys

    midatlanticys Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Not wanting to confuse the issue further, but I just noticed a Deleted Items.dbx in my recycle bin that is dated 8/9/2007 - on or very close to the date of the original loss of 14 months of my default OE Inbox. The Deleted Items.dbx is bigger than the Inbox.bak which until recently had a date of Jan 22 2007, which could be the last time I let OE compact folders.

    Could the missing 14 months of Inbox be masquerading as the bigger Deleted Items.dbx?

    Cheers + thanks from 2 bricks
     
    midatlanticys,
    #12
  14. 2007/08/23
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I started a reply to your last but one post and gave up - my befuddled brain - later here than it is with you in the Azores/Cape Verde Islands (?) - at least that's your time band - can't think logically at the moment and some experimenting I did in OE did not work as expected and confused me further.

    I'll have to pick this up again in the morning ..... in the meantime .....
    No - that should contain items that you deleted from the Inbox and elsewhere. However no harm in trying to restore although I have a feeling that it will not unless you first delete the DeletedItems.dbx in the message store. This is not risky as OE will recreate the DeletedItems.dbx if it goes totally AWOL as it is an OE default file.
     
    PeteC,
    #13
  15. 2007/08/24
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    New day - fresh thoughts :)

    I've reviewed where we've been and where we are now and think that this is where you went wrong (?) .....
    That is not exactly what the instructions in the URL state, IMO.

    So, with things back as they were, that is with Inbox.bak in amongst the .dbx files in the Message Store try this .....

    In OE create a folder Saved - open it and close OE

    In the Message Store drag Saved.dbx to the Desktop

    Rename Inbox.bak to Saved.dbx, minimise the Message Store and open OE - is the Saved folder still there and does it contain anything?
     
    PeteC,
    #14
  16. 2007/08/24
    midatlanticys

    midatlanticys Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    BINGO - Well Done PeteC!! - WOW!! As mentioned earlier -Simply Amazing!!

    so . . . that brought back the Inbox messages up to the Jan 22, 2007 date stamp on the Inbox.bak file we've been trying to lasso.

    What are the chances of locating the Inbox messages between Jan 22, '07 and the recent meltdown? Using the MS default > search > all files > *.bak & *.dbx doesn't locate anything with an appropriate size or date. Are there other non-MS options for *deeper* file searches?

    Full kudos and hats off to you PeteC! Not sure how I'd have managed this w/o your input!!

    Cheers,
     
    midatlanticys,
    #15
  17. 2007/08/24
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Great - we hit the jackpot:) Got it right in the end! You have no idea how much pleasure it gives me to have a successful outcome in a situation which was seemingly lost.
    Very slim to non-existent if you want an honest answer
    Did you enable Search Hidden Files and Folders - I suspect you did.
    You could make see if any files are recoverable using a File Recovery program. When a file is deleted it is only the entry in the drive's file table which is erased and the file remains on the drive tagged as being available for overwriting. Given the time scale I would think that any files relating to your loss would have been overwritten by now.

    However download and run File Recovery - a freebie and see what it comes up with.

    I am away for a few days as of tomorrow and will not be on the Board until I return.
     
    PeteC,
    #16
  18. 2007/08/24
    midatlanticys

    midatlanticys Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks Much PeteC - wishing you a fine and much deserved sojourn away from the madding crowd.

    Cheers,
     
    midatlanticys,
    #17

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