Accidentally deleted pst file with all archived email

[Guest]

Hi - while copying files off my current hard drive to move to my new hard
drive, I accidentally deleted my Personal Folders file (.pst) that contained
all of my email. It was "hard deleted" from my computer (ie not in the
Recycle Bin), and searches for "*.pst" only returns the Archive.pst and
Outlook.pst which do not contain any of my archived email. (I am searching
for hidden files/folders.) Is there any hope in recovering this file? I have
seen Undelete software, but I'd like to stay away from that expense if
possible. I'm on Windows XP with Office 2003.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In Clueless about Computers <Clueless about
(e-mail address removed)> typed:

Hi - while copying files off my current hard drive to move to my new
hard drive, I accidentally deleted my Personal Folders file (.pst)
that contained all of my email. It was "hard deleted" from my
computer (ie not in the Recycle Bin), and searches for "*.pst" only
returns the Archive.pst and Outlook.pst which do not contain any of
my archived email. (I am searching for hidden files/folders.) Is
there any hope in recovering this file? I have seen Undelete
software, but I'd like to stay away from that expense if possible.
I'm on Windows XP with Office 2003.

Undelete software is your only hope, and try it NOW if you want any hope at
all....don't use the PC in the meantime. Or take the hard drive to a service
center that may be able to recover it for you.

Time to start doing regular backups!

 

[Brian Tillman]

Clueless about Computers <Clueless about

Hi - while copying files off my current hard drive to move to my new
hard drive, I accidentally deleted my Personal Folders file (.pst)
that contained all of my email. It was "hard deleted" from my
computer (ie not in the Recycle Bin), and searches for "*.pst" only
returns the Archive.pst and Outlook.pst which do not contain any of
my archived email. (I am searching for hidden files/folders.) Is
there any hope in recovering this file? I have seen Undelete
software, but I'd like to stay away from that expense if possible.
I'm on Windows XP with Office 2003.

Lanwench mentioned using an undelete program. If you don't have one, here's
a pointer to a free one: http://www.officerecovery.com/freeundelete/