Lost my email and tasks

[offwego]

I'm running XP Pro SP3

I spent a little time re-sorting the folder structure in the start menu.
The idea was make things a little more logical after I had XP re-loaded and a
back-up reinstated after a hard drive crash. I had quite a few duplicate
folders.

After moving a few folders around I looked in my Outlook where I used to
have a few email and some 'tasks' that I had set up, there was nothing there!

I'm happy with my new folder 'tree' but would like to find and reinstate my
lost email and tasks. Is there an easy way to do this?

 

[DL]

Right group, but you still failed to mention version of Outlook and type of
account

 

[offwego]

....ahhhh! There are eyes everywhere!

Sorry! Is this the version (I'm not sure what I'm looking for!)
10.6838.6845 SP3. What do youmean by 'type of account' please?

 

[offwego]

...and I think it's '2002.'

...ahhhh! There are eyes everywhere!

Sorry! Is this the version (I'm not sure what I'm looking for!)
10.6838.6845 SP3. What do youmean by 'type of account' please?

 

[Gordon]

...ahhhh! There are eyes everywhere!

Sorry! Is this the version (I'm not sure what I'm looking for!)
10.6838.6845 SP3. What do youmean by 'type of account' please?

POP, IMAP or Exchange.

 

[DL]

Its not eyes everywhere, its simply that your previous post was to a winxp
group.

Search to include hidden for *.pst, what does it return?

 

[offwego]

....sorry! POP

POP, IMAP or Exchange.

 

[Gordon]

...sorry! POP

Then do a search for files called *.pst. (You may have to enable Hidden
Files in your search). When you have found it, add it to your Mail Profile
in Control Panel-Mail-Data Files

 

[offwego]

....many thanks. I'll give it a go and report back.

 

[offwego]

I’ve done the search and it has shown a list of paths (one line is coloured
blue not black incidentally). Most are given as ‘office data files’ in the
‘type’ column and they are all various sizes and dates ‘modified.’ Some are
for other users on the PC which I don’t want to change.

I did control panel>mail>data files and I was given a path to an
‘outlook.pst’ file, which when I looked for it on the folder tree under
‘explore’ could be found. However, I looked for ‘outlook’ files following
the other paths resulting from the search and I couldn’t find them.

Please will you explain (for a simple person) how I ‘..add it to your Mail
Profile
in Control Panel-Mail-Data Files’ as you say in your reply.

Many thanks.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I did control panel>mail>data files and I was given a path to an
‘outlook.pst’ file, which when I looked for it on the folder tree under
‘explore’ could be found. However, I looked for ‘outlook’ files following
the other paths resulting from the search and I couldn’t find them.

The folder containing the PST is usually a hidden folder to which Explorer
won't allow you to browse unless you enable viewing hidden files and
folders. However, if you enter the complete folder path into the Explorer
address bar and press Enter or click Go, Explorer will show you the contents
regardless of the hidden files and folder setting.

Please will you explain (for a simple person) how I ‘..add it to your Mail
Profile
in Control Panel-Mail-Data Files’ as you say in your reply.

See this: http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/newprofile.htm

 

[offwego]

Brian,

Many thanks! OK that worked. I seem to be able to locate these files now!
How can I copy them into Outlook so that I can see my email and tasks again?
Can I drag and drop them? Where do I drop them? What if it asks me if I
want to 'replace' an Outlook file with another?

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Many thanks! OK that worked. I seem to be able to locate these files now!
How can I copy them into Outlook so that I can see my email and tasks
again?
Can I drag and drop them? Where do I drop them? What if it asks me if I
want to 'replace' an Outlook file with another?

If you want to allow Outlook to see them, either add them to the mail
profile with the Mail applet in Control Panel or start Outlook and use
File>Open>Outlook Data File.

Never overwrite one PST with another. If the overwritten PST was a part of
a mail profile you'll have corrupted the profile.

 

[offwego]

...sorry to be dense but can you spell it out as to how I 'add them to the
mail profile' in Control Panel! Control panel>Mail> then what ?!!

Thanks.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

..sorry to be dense but can you spell it out as to how I 'add them to the
mail profile' in Control Panel! Control panel>Mail> then what ?!!

If you had opened the Mail applet, you wouldn't need to ask this question
because the very first page you'd see contains a "Data Files" button.
Clearly if you want to add a data file, you'll use the Data Files button to
do so.

 

[offwego]

I had got a little further Brian but needed some more help. Let me tell you
how far I got:

When I clicked the data file button a window came up headed 'Outlook files
data' so I clicked 'add' and then 'OK.' This allowed me to browse files and
add them to a list in the 'Outlook Data Files' window. However, I expected
the contents of this file that I had added to appear in Outlook but it
didn't. Where did I go wrong?

Some of the file paths that I found in my search just don't seem to have the
*.pst file in them when I look either!

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I had got a little further Brian but needed some more help. Let me tell
you
how far I got:

When I clicked the data file button a window came up headed 'Outlook files
data' so I clicked 'add' and then 'OK.' This allowed me to browse files
and
add them to a list in the 'Outlook Data Files' window. However, I
expected
the contents of this file that I had added to appear in Outlook but it
didn't. Where did I go wrong?

If you ass a PST that way and then start Outlook, it will show in the Folder
List view of the Navigation Pane. Did you use the Folder List view?

Some of the file paths that I found in my search just don't seem to have
the
*.pst file in them when I look either!

If search finds a PST in a particular folder, then that folder must contain
one. When you browsed, had you enabled viewing hidden files and folders?

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

If you ass a PST that way

I meant to type "add". My finger went too far left.

 

[offwego]

Thanks for getting back.

1 I've turned 'folder list view' on and a few long lost emails (in an
'outbox') showed up under a new 'personal folders' file, which was good! I
just need to find the rest now!
2 I did have 'hidden files and folders enabled.

Where I'm not understanding is that: I can do a search (with hidden files
and folders enabled), which shows me a file path to a pst file. When I
follow the sequence you described to 'add', I cant find some of the files by
browsing! The paths just don't seem to match the paths that my search gives!
Is there a way round this? I did type these paths into explorer as you
suggested and they are there (as you reminded me!). Can I cut and paste these
files found in this way to a place where they will become visible in Outlook
or is there another method.?

Stick with me Brian, it goes into my head slowely but I think we are making
progress!

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

2 I did have 'hidden files and folders enabled.

Where I'm not understanding is that: I can do a search (with hidden files
and folders enabled), which shows me a file path to a pst file. When I
follow the sequence you described to 'add', I cant find some of the files
by
browsing! The paths just don't seem to match the paths that my search
gives!

You can include hidden files and folders in the search options without
turning then on in Windows. If you do that, search can find them but
browsing cannot. Turn them on in Control Panel's Folder Options, if you
haven't done so.