I accidentally permanently deleted a folder from Outlook Express - any chance of getting it back?

[Nataku X]

Start Menu --> Run --> type "Wordpad" (no quotation marks)

Then go to the Open File dialog box in Wordpad.

Next to the "Files of Type" caption, select the "All Documents (*.*)" option in the pull-down menu.

Then browse through the folders to where "Deleted Items.dbx" is in and open that file. There'll be a lot of gibberish but you can do searches for certain names/words.

[Neets]

Make sure you have opened all of the files, within your outlook..you may have moved it accidentally to another folder, hence, created a subfolder within a folder..I have done that spazamataz a few times.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I've only got these two: Deleted Items.idx and Deleted Items.mbx. I opened both of them, and they are essentially empty. A few letters followed by a row of tiny boxes.

[Neets]

And I am NOT a GEEK...just BAD, and dont you forget it.

[Nataku X]

BTW, the text of emails themselves are very readable. There should be only little code between emails. An attachment will create a lot of gibberish; just do a search for dates, names, words, whatever, that are in your most important emails by pressing Ctrl-F.

[Silvertip]

Call microsoft, they certainly have a copy if you've ever been online.

[Nataku X]

hmm... search for *.dbx and see if you come up with anything.

[b4its2late]

I'm going to save your God Bless America jpg if you don't mind....

Don't mean to take advantage of the situation or anything..... as he sneaks out of the post....

[b4its2late]

And I am NOT a GEEK...just BAD

You're not a BAD geek either..... :-)

[Buckeroo]

Agreed. What do you think of pine?

[b4its2late]

I have done that spazamataz a few times.

No! {snicker}

[b4its2late]

I'm getting paged by my 11 year old. She says "Hi", but doesn't know how much deep doo dah you are in... Good luck. Microsoft might be able to help.. I'll try to check out progress later. I hope you find them... SYL.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I did. It's not there.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Okay, I found Wordpad. I've used it before; I don't know what I was thinking.

[asneditor]

Use Eudora email program from now on. You will be much much much better off and it can also save you from virii by not automatically opening attachments. It is very easy to use. I suggest this proggy to all my network cutomers. You can download it free here Eudora Mail Program
Good Luck!

[spycatcher]

You can find all your deleted Outlook files here in Microsoft's secret file cache

[Harrison Bergeron]

If you had "autoarchive" activated in your advanced Outlook Options, then all you have to do is look for a file called "archive.pst" in your Outlook folder - the last saved version of your deleted folders will be enclosed therein. You can rename the archive.pst folder to something other than your main e-mail file and include in in your "Services" list as a second "Personal Folder." Then you can drag te old foder into the personal folder to restore it. When you're done, you can delete the renamed archive.pst file and the second Personal Folder.

[floriduh voter]

This is just my personal commentary. Outlook express is one big pain. It's not Bill Gates' best work. Word Perfect's sidekick program is much better. Outlook express is very confusing to use even if it is working. The manuals are confusing.

[jwalsh07]

If you can't find it in explorer or any other folders its a goner. But for future check OPTIONS in the TOOL menu and make sure you haven't selected the Deleted Items folder to be purged every time you log out.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Both of my Deleted Items files are completely empty. However, in the Drafts mbx file, there is "The Lady of Shalott" poem, perfectly intact and set apart, followed by yards and yards of gibberish. Interesting!