Recover

Contributor Icon Contributed by katy8439 Date Icon December 6, 2005  
Tag Icon Tagged: Microsoft Outlook

Did you mean to delete that important email from your boss? No? Whoops! Never mind, here’s how you can get it back.


I had a bit of a blonde moment earlier on today and decided that in order to get into a productive frame of mind I should clear out my inbox… and deleted items. Great, then I realised I’d deleted two important emails with attachments I needed but hadn’t saved – muppet!

So, “Restore deleted items or folders” to the rescue!

1. Click on the deleted items folder in the navigation pane
2. Go to Tools > Recover Deleted Items
3. Select the item(s) you want to restore to the deleted items folder
4. Click the restore button – – and the selected items will be back in the deleted items folder

Genius!

I’ve only tested the above with Outlook 2003 but I’m assuming it’s the same for other versions.

Microsoft’s notes:

    This feature requires you to use a Microsoft Exchange Server e-mail account. In addition, your administrator must have enabled this feature on Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.5 or later.

    Some items or folders may not be recoverable because the length of time that deleted items are stored on the server is set by your administrator. For public folders, expiration dates take precedence over the length of time set by your administrator.

Looking at my items they do go back a couple of weeks which is nice as I don’t have to panic about deleting something or look stupid for asking for an item to be resent.

I wouldn’t like to rely on it though!

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  • kderby2000
    "Permanently deleted" items has a distinct connotation in Outlook.

    Using shift+delete will permanently deletes items, and they are unrecoverable (even with the trick you state above).

    Emptying the Trash folder is not the same as permanently deleting something.
  • risherz
    <ul id="quote"><h6>kderby2000 wrote:</h6>"Permanently deleted" items has a distinct connotation in Outlook.

    Using shift+delete will permanently deletes items, and they are unrecoverable (even with the trick you state above).

    Emptying the Trash folder is not the same as permanently deleting something.</ul>

    Oh... good point... never noticed that
    Well... when you use shift+delete files will permanently get deleted, thats true for sure... however according to my knowledge many people might not use shift+delete to delete mails, they probably just delete it using the normal way... which they assume will permanently delete the mail. That's why katy8439 probably added "permanently" deleted items part.

    Besides... if people always use shift+delete items permanently delete e-mails this recipe (http://www.tech-recipes.com/microsoft_office_tips321.html) wouldn't have been created, or atleast that's what I think anyways... lol
  • katy8439
    Hello :) the "Permanently" (in quotes) was meant to stress that they're not really permanently deleted at all.

    We know that they're still residing on the server until they get overwritten etc. but people like my Dad would have a massive panic and think that they've lost the file/email forever as to him once something's left the deleted items folder (or recycle bin for that matter) it's gone bye-bye. This article was aimed at people like that.

    Good tip about Shift+Delete - didn't know that one!

    Katy
  • Anonymous
    I would highly recommend to use the SHIFT-Delete command to advanced users, that are cautious about what they determine is trash. But for those like my self, who manage and rely on my Blackberries to stay in-sync with their desktops, using the trash bin is the preferred method of deletion. :)
  • Anonymous
    Please can someone help me?javascript:emoticon(':P')Razz
    I was going through my emails this evening and found that my address book was not working, therefore I clicked on tools/email accounts/ add new address directory. Of course it then said that I would have to close Outlook an restart it, Well, I did and when I returned to my email, I found that not only did I not have my address book, but all my contacts had been removed!!! javascript:emoticon('8O')ShockedI do not have to tell you how angry javascript:emoticon(':evil:')Evil or Very Madthat made me; so much so that I havn't gone to bed yet; been up all night trying to fix the stupid thing. With all the volunteer work that I do, these contacts/addresses are hugely important. I even tried the system restore, but it refused to do so. I am desperate. With out my contacts/email addresses, I am totally up a creek with no paddle, and I can't swim! javascript:emoticon(':D')Very Happy lol Okay, I can swim, but righ now it's too cold. Thought a little humor was needed right then :) I even searched through all my files and folders in hopes of finding the info, but again, I was not that lucky. I am grateful for any and all help that can be provided. I look forward to hearing from someone soon. Not trusting of my current email, please feel free to contact me via my hotmail as well as this forum. (riahna@hotmail.com)
    Totally Stressed,
    Rbecca<font color="darkblue"></font> 8O 8O :P
  • risherz
    Well, the first thing is that it is always risky to keep all your contacts, emails etc only on Outlook and so on, basically it isn't good to keep anything on your hard drive because you never know when disaster might strike.

    Hopefully, you have those addresses in the autocomplete addresses list, so you might want to see if you can use that. Just take a look at http://www.tech-recipes.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=226

    And just incase... just do a search on "wab" (your address book application) and then open it, and see if you can see the addresses there (well probably won't work but you can always try). Then you can also try searching for .pab files.

    Along with that you can try running scanpst.exe to make sure that there are no damaged stuff. Just search for it and run it.

    Oh yeah and don't forget to back-up all your information from now on, or export it onto the web. Like Davak says, "Back up those files." Take a look at http://www.tech-recipes.com/microsoft_office_tips846.html if your not sure how.

    Hope this helps :D
    Risherz
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