PLEASE HELP Inbox and subfolders have disappeared-OMG

[Rosabelle]

I am not particularly techy so please excuse me. I have been searching for
answers online for the past 3 hours.

was using outlook express 2002 email opening and composing a few emails. It
locked up, I got the control panel up and ended all tasks and shut computer
down and restarted.
When I went back to outlook express emails they were all gone!!!
My inbox and all its subfolders were gone. The deleted and sent items are
still all there but anything in my inbox and all the business related
subfolders are missing!!!!!!!!
I restarted 3 times hoping it would come back.

I live in an isolated town so I phoned a technician place where last had
computer serviced. They suggested doing error check on c drive. Did this,
restart. Nothing. Then suggested doing a system restore. I did this but at
the end it said nothing changed. I just restored to yesterday morning.

Now what!?
There is no computer shop for 450km! There is a guy in town who can do some
servicing so I guess I will have to take it to him and hope he knows what he
is doing.
Can anyone suggest anything else I can try?
They must be somewhere right!?

I am getting a message when I restart "Backweb client: backweb is unable to
access its data directory. either the directory is invalid, unreachable or
there is another instance of backweb accessing it"

I have run a virus scan, spot thingy, and restarted numerous times.

I feel like my head might explode with the possible stress of loosing
everything.

I found something that suggested to delete backweb. It was part of my
logitech webcam updates. I dont need it so deleted it.....I think?

Any one suggest anything else to try except sit here and sob.....please!

 

[Vince Averello [MVP - Outlook]]

First & foremost, don't panic... there are a lot of helpful people around
here...

Next thing I need to ask is are you using Outlook or Outlook Express? You
mention Outlook Express 2002, which doesn't exist. There's an Outlook 2002
or an Outlook Express 5 or 6.

Next, if you're using Outlook 2002 (OL2002), try to find your PST file. If
you're using WinXP it should be in the C:\Documents and Settings\<your login
ID>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook folder. You may have
to turn on the viewing of hidden folders to navigate down to there.

If you find the file (a file with a PST extension), check the size. Also,
try running ScanPST.EXE on it and see what happens.

 

[Rosabelle]

Vince-thank you for your reply. I am taking deep breaths.

Ok, sorry as mentioned I am not at all technical. I am using windows
xp...how do I find out what year? I use outlook express and thought it was
2002? Obviously it isnt. I know there is a way to find out by looking at
something on start but I dont know how to do it now.
When I loaded on Microsoft Office 2007 I opted to keep using outlook express
as I knew it better.

I tried following the instructions you gave but after \<your login ID>\....
I didnt find local setttings.
I had the option of : housecall, phillips, contacts, desktop, favourties,
windows, start menu, shared, incomplete or my documents.

Still very lost.

 

[Vince Averello [MVP - Outlook]]

OK, sounds like you're using Outlook Express not Outlook. In that case you
might want to check in one of these newsgroups:
microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6_outlookexpress for OE 6.x
microsoft.public.windows.live.mail.desktop for Windows Live Mail

If those groups aren't carried on the news server that's carrying this group
try using msnews.microsoft.com (MS's public news server that's the source
for all the microsoft.public newsgroups).

Another good source of info can be found here:
http://www.insideoe.com/