Permantly deleting emails - Windows Office Outlook 2007

[Dave1948]

I empty my Deleted Emails Folder. But I understand that "somewhere" in the
computer the emails still exist and can be retrieved. Is this true? And if
it is true, is there a way that I can permanently delete them so that they
can never be recovered?

 

[M]

I empty my Deleted Emails Folder. But I understand that "somewhere" in the
computer the emails still exist and can be retrieved. Is this true? And if
it is true, is there a way that I can permanently delete them so that they
can never be recovered?

Putting the hard drive in a microwave should do it. Other options are
strong magnets, sledge hammer, very large truck, etc.

M

 

[NAS]

http://ask-leo.com/are_deleted_emails_really_deleted.html

As said in the above, while it is possible to sometimes retrieve deleted
emails, it usually requires someone who is VERY good with computers, or some
form of 3rd party software. But if you have email traffic that is so
sensitive to the point of wanting to delete them into oblivion, then M's
solutions might work (all of them at once, just to be sure).

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

What type of account? Generally speaking, if you use a pst, they are not
easily recoverable without expensive 3rd party software as soon as you empty
the deleted items folder. Once you compact the pst they are gone.

It's different if you use an Exchange server mailbox.

See http://www.slipstick.com/emo/2009/up090423.htm#1

--

Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Let's Really Fix Outlook 2010
http://forums.slipstick.com/forumdisplay.php?f=34

 

[Ben M. Schorr, MVP]

Sort of depends upon whom you're trying to hide them from.

"Permanently delete" means different things if you're trying to hide them
from a non-computer savvy spouse versus trying to hide them from the NSA.

As a general matter, if you empty the deleted items folder, don't keep a
bunch of old backups hanging around, regularly compact your PST file, and
regularly defrag your hard drive then you will deter most casual efforts to
recover your deleted items.

Keep in mind that your mail server may well have traces of your old e-mails,
as might any other devices (other computers, PDAs, mobile phones, etc) that
you check your mail on. Not to mention the sender/receiver of the message
may still have one or more copies on their end. If you have an Exchange
server you may have Recover Deleted Items enabled - and that means your
deleted items may be stored on the server for some period of time (typically
between 7 and 30 days). Not to mention server backups...

So...it's pretty hard to totally scrub any trace of an e-mail message from
the world. But if you just want to keep a snooping girlfriend from finding
them while you're in the shower, there are some reasonable steps you can
take.

--
-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, MVP
Roland Schorr & Tower
http://www.rolandschorr.com
http://www.officeforlawyers.com/outlook.html
Author: The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Outlook 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/ol4law-amazon

 

[wangdong]

If you want to find these deleted item, you can try the data-recover
tool called Advanced Outlook Repair. It can help to undelete the
emails you delete by mistake. You can download a free demo version at
http://www.datanumen.com/aor/aor.exe .

And visiting http://www.datanumen.com/aor/ can get detailed
information about Advanced Outlook Repair.

To permanently delete them, you should find the pst file, then
completely destroy it.

Wangdong

 

[wangdong]

If you want to find these deleted item, you can try the data-recover
tool called Advanced Outlook Repair. It can help to undelete the
emails you delete by mistake. You can download a free demo version at
http://www.datanumen.com/aor/aor.exe .


And visiting http://www.datanumen.com/aor/ can get detailed
information about Advanced Outlook Repair.


To permanently delete them, you should find the pst file, then
completely destroy it.


Wangdong