Ooops - deleted all the head's outlook express emails.

[eean]

Disclaimer: Our admin network is really badly set up. I neither set it up nor maintain it! (e.g. The Windows XP computer, is using FAT32 and only has 256mb ram!).

Head having problems downloading his profile (650MB, so I'm not surprised). Windows is saying that the files are corrupt. So I take a copy of the network profile and delete the local and network profiles and get windows to recreate the profile.
Forgetting, of course, that the hidden folder 'Local Settings' contains his outlook express emails - oops.
I'm not sure if I deleted them or if outlook express overwrote the dbx files when it started after the new profile was created.
I've tried using PC Inspector File Recovery. It can't find the dbx files either as deleted files or as lost files - this is a bit odd as it seems to bring up almost everything else!

Is there anything else I can try or is it game over?

For the future: I can move the Outlook Express files so they are saved in another local folder but is there anyway of making them save to the network so they are included in the backup (when it runs )

[Midget]

have you considered using Thunderbird or Outlook 2003? *runs*

BIG whoops, but you wont be easily able to find them as new files with the same name are now in the same place, but there should be some residuals somewhere.

Best bet? Lie through teeth and blame the shite system, if the profile was corrupt, then so was Outlook's datafiles, nothing you could do. In future he should consider using a less shite system.

[Geoff]

Depending on what/where the server is, what about using IMAP?

That way his mail/folders are kept on the server and out of harms way (or at least, backup up).

[NetworkGeezer]

Depending on what/where the server is, what about using IMAP?

That way his mail/folders are kept on the server and out of harms way (or at least, backup up).

Horses and stable doors

[accura2000]

I have successfully used "getdataback for fat" to recover almost a whole server. You should be able to use this for getting back the heads email data file.

[Grommit]

Run mate Run....

[Midget]

how DID this turn out?

[webman]

Outlook and it's Express counterpart are a PITA, we have problems with about 5 members of staff who insist on using the damn apps which makes rebuilding workstations a very delicate operation.

[eean]

how DID this turn out?

I don't know. After seeing a grown man break down to his knees and cry I decided it was time for a career move. I now work at McDonnalds.

No seriously, the information contained was so vital that the head had to phone up some colleagues to get their email addresses. The emails are now stored on the server via IMAP (although it is Easymail so they are still at RM's peril!)