Lost Oulook.pst file

[Willy]

I'm using XP SP3 with IE8, tonight I uninstall a program and it required a
Restart, when it came back up, my Outlook.pst file is missing. I searched
entire hard drive, no file. I then did a System Restore and again file was
missing.
Any ideas or suggestions out there? I mainly use Outlook 2003 for the
calendar feature to keep up with appointments etc.

 

[DL]

You have to search to include hidden for *.pst
System restore has no baring on data files, only your backup restores data

 

[Willy]

I did a search of all files & folders on C: for *.pst, found nothing. Guess
it's gone for ever :-(

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]]

I did a search of all files & folders on C: for *.pst, found nothing.

But did you enable viewing hidden files and folders before searching? If not,
you won't find it.

 

[Willy]

How is that done Brian?

 

[Willy]

I've got Hidden Files Enabled now, still lost pst, however, I've a copy of
Outlook.pst file I had on a CD-RW as backup, copied it to appropriate folder
but it won't let me open Outlook as it says I do not have authority/access
but I'm logged on as Administrator??????????????

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]]

How is that done Brian?

Open Windows Explorer. Click Tools>Folder Options. Select the View tab.
Select the radio button "Show hidden files and folders". It's a good idea as
well to uncheck the box "Hide extensions for known file types".

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]]

I've got Hidden Files Enabled now, still lost pst, however, I've a copy of
Outlook.pst file I had on a CD-RW as backup, copied it to appropriate folder
but it won't let me open Outlook as it says I do not have authority/access
but I'm logged on as Administrator??????????????

Right-click, choose Properties, uncheck "Read only". Now try to open it again
in Outlook with File>Open>Outlook Data File.

 

[Willy]

Brian, this got the backup from month ago working. Original must have got
deleted as a result of my not closing Outlook when deleting other programs.
Lesson learned.

 

[Willy]

Brian, even though I now have my backup outlook.pst in the proper folder and
after doing as you suggested, a search will still not find outlook.pst or
*.pst, and Outlook is Closed when doing this search. I've triple cheeked
spelling, C: drive, etc. Wonder why it's not finding it though I see it? I
wonder now if my up to date outlook.pst is on here but just not being found?

 

[wandong]

If you have problems with pst file, you can try a tool called Advanced Outlook Repair. You can download a free demo version at http://www.datanumen.com/aor/aor.exe . I think it is a useful repair tool for you. It is easy to recover your PST file by using its wizard. It is a powerful tool to recover messages, folders and other objects from corrupt or damaged Microsoft Outlook PST files.

Detailed information about Advanced Outlook Repair can be found at http://www.datanumen.com/aor/

Wangdong

Submitted using http://www.outlookforums.com

 

[Willy]

This found my lost outlook.pst file in another subdiretory where it used to
be. But still don't understand why the search of C; never found it???

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]]

Brian, even though I now have my backup outlook.pst in the proper folder and
after doing as you suggested, a search will still not find outlook.pst or
*.pst, and Outlook is Closed when doing this search. I've triple cheeked
spelling, C: drive, etc. Wonder why it's not finding it though I see it? I
wonder now if my up to date outlook.pst is on here but just not being found?

If Outlook sees it, it is there. Copy the path to the containing folder that
Outlook shows you and insert this path exactly into Windows Explorer's Address
field, then press Enter.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]]

This found my lost outlook.pst file in another subdiretory where it used to
be. But still don't understand why the search of C; never found it???

Perhaps you missed a step in enabling hidden files and folders.

 

[Willy]

Steps not missed Brian, I followed your instructions.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]]

Steps not missed Brian, I followed your instructions.

Then clearly you didn't search properly because first you said you couldn't
find it and now you say you have. It was on your PC and you couldn't find it.
Ergo, you searched incorrectly the first time.

 

[Willy]

Brian, Sorry for confusion but what I found was a backup of my outlook.pst
file on a CD-RW I use monthly to backup critical data files. I copied that
file from my CD-RW to my C:\Documents and Settings\BillG\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook Folder. Then I searched and it
didn't find it using your suggestions though I could see it in the
aforementioned Folder. So it appears my Windows Explorer Search Program is
not working.
FYI, I later found the file in this Folder: C:\Documents and
Settings\BillG\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft(4)\Outlook(2).
Note the "(4) & the "(2)" in the sub-folder names. I've no idea how those
were created and how my pst file ended up in the \Outlook(2) folder & again
why Windows Explorer Search did not find the pst.

In conclusion, the issue of gettiong my pst back is resolved. I just
question now why searching my C: drive would not find any pst ( I even made
a C:\temp\outlook.pst) and search still did not find it, thus an unresolved
issue with Windows Explorer Search exists.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]]

Sorry for confusion but what I found was a backup of my outlook.pst file on
a CD-RW I use monthly to backup critical data files. I copied that file
from my CD-RW to my C:\Documents and Settings\BillG\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook Folder.

When you restore a PST to re-add it to Outlook, you should put it in a folder
other than the folder Outlook uses by default when it creates PSTs. If you
inadvertently overwrite a PST of the same name, you can damage the mail
profile.

In conclusion, the issue of gettiong my pst back is resolved. I just
question now why searching my C: drive would not find any pst ( I even made
a C:\temp\outlook.pst) and search still did not find it, thus an unresolved
issue with Windows Explorer Search exists.

Without knowing how you conducted the search and what parameters you
specified, it would be impossible to say. However, it's moot, since your
problem was resolved.

 

[Willy]

Brian, in your previous Post you stated:
"Open Windows Explorer. Click Tools>Folder Options. Select the View tab.
Select the radio button "Show hidden files and folders". It's a good idea
as
well to uncheck the box "Hide extensions for known file types"." Well, I
did exactly that then I Opened Windows Explorer, Clicked on All Files and
Folders, entered outlook.pst in1st Search Box, got nothing, clicked Back and
entered *.pst again getting nothing. I only have 1 hard drive, C:, so
something is not working with the Windows Explorer Search Engine.
Yes, it is a mute point since I did eventually find my pst file by manually
searching but you did not address my post where it added subdirectories with
a (4) & a (2) in their names. See my previous post to your reply on this.