how do I find email messages lost when I uninstalled Office 97?

[Guest]

I installed Office 2003 over Office 97 several months ago and used it without
problems. Upon uninstalling Office 97 today I appear to have lost all email
messages, folders (including Contacts) from the Outlook 2003 application.
The first hint of trouble was that when I started Outlook 2003 following the
uninstall of Office 97 I was prompted for internet connection parameters
(smtp, etc.). None of my archived or backup pst files contain the missing
emails or contacts. Where might they have gone? Is there a fix? I am
desperate. Thanks in advance.
-Eric

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You did an in place upgrade, then uninstalled the earlier version?
Was there some logic here?
You data will still be fine. Look for your Outlook data file and use it in a
new profile.
The file you need is your Personal Folders file (*.pst) It's where all the
mail, calendar, contacts etc are stored.

Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup or transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx

 

[Guest]

thanks. can't construct the logic as the upgrade preceded the uninstall by
several months; I seem to recall being advised to keep office 97 while
installing office 2003 but I will take the blame in any event. More
seriously, I do know about pst files, I searched in vain among them for the
missing emails and have had no luck whatsoever locating them. thanks again.
-Eric

You did an in place upgrade, then uninstalled the earlier version?
Was there some logic here?
You data will still be fine. Look for your Outlook data file and use it in a
new profile.
The file you need is your Personal Folders file (*.pst) It's where all the
mail, calendar, contacts etc are stored.

Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup or transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx


--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I installed Office 2003 over Office 97 several months ago and used it
without
problems. Upon uninstalling Office 97 today I appear to have lost all
email
messages, folders (including Contacts) from the Outlook 2003 application.
The first hint of trouble was that when I started Outlook 2003 following
the
uninstall of Office 97 I was prompted for internet connection parameters
(smtp, etc.). None of my archived or backup pst files contain the missing
emails or contacts. Where might they have gone? Is there a fix? I am
desperate. Thanks in advance.
-Eric

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Uninstalling Outlook never deletes data. Did you search for all PST files on
your hard drive and open each in Outlook?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

thanks. can't construct the logic as the upgrade preceded the uninstall
by
several months; I seem to recall being advised to keep office 97 while
installing office 2003 but I will take the blame in any event. More
seriously, I do know about pst files, I searched in vain among them for
the
missing emails and have had no luck whatsoever locating them. thanks
again.
-Eric

You did an in place upgrade, then uninstalled the earlier version?
Was there some logic here?
You data will still be fine. Look for your Outlook data file and use it
in a
new profile.
The file you need is your Personal Folders file (*.pst) It's where all
the
mail, calendar, contacts etc are stored.

Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup or transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx


--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I installed Office 2003 over Office 97 several months ago and used it
without
problems. Upon uninstalling Office 97 today I appear to have lost all
email
messages, folders (including Contacts) from the Outlook 2003
application.
The first hint of trouble was that when I started Outlook 2003
following
the
uninstall of Office 97 I was prompted for internet connection
parameters
(smtp, etc.). None of my archived or backup pst files contain the
missing
emails or contacts. Where might they have gone? Is there a fix? I am
desperate. Thanks in advance.
-Eric

 

[Guest]

Indeed. Perhaps you can, therefore, imagine my astonishment to find the
messages AWOL as it were. None of the four pst files on my two hard drives
had the most recent email messages. I fear I've taken more of your time than
the problem merits. The worst case is that I've lost but a couple months of
messages. Thanks for your help.

Uninstalling Outlook never deletes data. Did you search for all PST files on
your hard drive and open each in Outlook?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

thanks. can't construct the logic as the upgrade preceded the uninstall
by
several months; I seem to recall being advised to keep office 97 while
installing office 2003 but I will take the blame in any event. More
seriously, I do know about pst files, I searched in vain among them for
the
missing emails and have had no luck whatsoever locating them. thanks
again.
-Eric

You did an in place upgrade, then uninstalled the earlier version?
Was there some logic here?
You data will still be fine. Look for your Outlook data file and use it
in a
new profile.
The file you need is your Personal Folders file (*.pst) It's where all
the
mail, calendar, contacts etc are stored.

Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup or transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx


--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I installed Office 2003 over Office 97 several months ago and used it
without
problems. Upon uninstalling Office 97 today I appear to have lost all
email
messages, folders (including Contacts) from the Outlook 2003
application.
The first hint of trouble was that when I started Outlook 2003
following
the
uninstall of Office 97 I was prompted for internet connection
parameters
(smtp, etc.). None of my archived or backup pst files contain the
missing
emails or contacts. Where might they have gone? Is there a fix? I am
desperate. Thanks in advance.
-Eric

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

I have no explanation unless there is more to this story.
What do you mean you "kept" Outlook 97? You can't install 2 different
versions of Outlook on the same partition.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Indeed. Perhaps you can, therefore, imagine my astonishment to find the
messages AWOL as it were. None of the four pst files on my two hard
drives
had the most recent email messages. I fear I've taken more of your time
than
the problem merits. The worst case is that I've lost but a couple months
of
messages. Thanks for your help.

Uninstalling Outlook never deletes data. Did you search for all PST files
on
your hard drive and open each in Outlook?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

thanks. can't construct the logic as the upgrade preceded the
uninstall
by
several months; I seem to recall being advised to keep office 97 while
installing office 2003 but I will take the blame in any event. More
seriously, I do know about pst files, I searched in vain among them for
the
missing emails and have had no luck whatsoever locating them. thanks
again.
-Eric

:

You did an in place upgrade, then uninstalled the earlier version?
Was there some logic here?
You data will still be fine. Look for your Outlook data file and use
it
in a
new profile.
The file you need is your Personal Folders file (*.pst) It's where all
the
mail, calendar, contacts etc are stored.

Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup or
transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx


--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I installed Office 2003 over Office 97 several months ago and used it
without
problems. Upon uninstalling Office 97 today I appear to have lost
all
email
messages, folders (including Contacts) from the Outlook 2003
application.
The first hint of trouble was that when I started Outlook 2003
following
the
uninstall of Office 97 I was prompted for internet connection
parameters
(smtp, etc.). None of my archived or backup pst files contain the
missing
emails or contacts. Where might they have gone? Is there a fix? I
am
desperate. Thanks in advance.
-Eric

 

[Guest]

Kept Office 97 = I didn't uninstall it. Rather, I installed Office 2003 over
it. 2003 ran just fine. The recent saga began when I was cleaning up old
files, trashing old programs etc. and ran the Office 97 uninstall via
Add/Remove Programs. Upon launching Office 2003 following the uninstall, I
was prompted to provide settings for my isp service (mail and smtp info).
When Office 2003 launched at that point, it was a tabula rasa -- no mail, no
contacts. You know the rest of the story. I looked in vain for the pst
files that had the most recent emails, they had vanished. Stwange but twoo.

I have no explanation unless there is more to this story.
What do you mean you "kept" Outlook 97? You can't install 2 different
versions of Outlook on the same partition.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Indeed. Perhaps you can, therefore, imagine my astonishment to find the
messages AWOL as it were. None of the four pst files on my two hard
drives
had the most recent email messages. I fear I've taken more of your time
than
the problem merits. The worst case is that I've lost but a couple months
of
messages. Thanks for your help.

Uninstalling Outlook never deletes data. Did you search for all PST files
on
your hard drive and open each in Outlook?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
thanks. can't construct the logic as the upgrade preceded the
uninstall
by
several months; I seem to recall being advised to keep office 97 while
installing office 2003 but I will take the blame in any event. More
seriously, I do know about pst files, I searched in vain among them for
the
missing emails and have had no luck whatsoever locating them. thanks
again.
-Eric

:

You did an in place upgrade, then uninstalled the earlier version?
Was there some logic here?
You data will still be fine. Look for your Outlook data file and use
it
in a
new profile.
The file you need is your Personal Folders file (*.pst) It's where all
the
mail, calendar, contacts etc are stored.

Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup or
transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx


--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I installed Office 2003 over Office 97 several months ago and used it
without
problems. Upon uninstalling Office 97 today I appear to have lost
all
email
messages, folders (including Contacts) from the Outlook 2003
application.
The first hint of trouble was that when I started Outlook 2003
following
the
uninstall of Office 97 I was prompted for internet connection
parameters
(smtp, etc.). None of my archived or backup pst files contain the
missing
emails or contacts. Where might they have gone? Is there a fix? I
am
desperate. Thanks in advance.
-Eric

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

And completely inexplicable. No amount of uninstalling ever removes a PST
file. Only reformatting would do that. Where was your default PST file
stored? How are you searching?

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Kept Office 97 = I didn't uninstall it. Rather, I installed Office 2003
over
it. 2003 ran just fine. The recent saga began when I was cleaning up old
files, trashing old programs etc. and ran the Office 97 uninstall via
Add/Remove Programs. Upon launching Office 2003 following the uninstall,
I
was prompted to provide settings for my isp service (mail and smtp info).
When Office 2003 launched at that point, it was a tabula rasa -- no mail,
no
contacts. You know the rest of the story. I looked in vain for the pst
files that had the most recent emails, they had vanished. Stwange but
twoo.

I have no explanation unless there is more to this story.
What do you mean you "kept" Outlook 97? You can't install 2 different
versions of Outlook on the same partition.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Indeed. Perhaps you can, therefore, imagine my astonishment to find
the
messages AWOL as it were. None of the four pst files on my two hard
drives
had the most recent email messages. I fear I've taken more of your
time
than
the problem merits. The worst case is that I've lost but a couple
months
of
messages. Thanks for your help.

:

Uninstalling Outlook never deletes data. Did you search for all PST
files
on
your hard drive and open each in Outlook?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
thanks. can't construct the logic as the upgrade preceded the
uninstall
by
several months; I seem to recall being advised to keep office 97
while
installing office 2003 but I will take the blame in any event. More
seriously, I do know about pst files, I searched in vain among them
for
the
missing emails and have had no luck whatsoever locating them.
thanks
again.
-Eric

:

You did an in place upgrade, then uninstalled the earlier version?
Was there some logic here?
You data will still be fine. Look for your Outlook data file and
use
it
in a
new profile.
The file you need is your Personal Folders file (*.pst) It's where
all
the
mail, calendar, contacts etc are stored.

Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup or
transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx


--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I installed Office 2003 over Office 97 several months ago and used
it
without
problems. Upon uninstalling Office 97 today I appear to have
lost
all
email
messages, folders (including Contacts) from the Outlook 2003
application.
The first hint of trouble was that when I started Outlook 2003
following
the
uninstall of Office 97 I was prompted for internet connection
parameters
(smtp, etc.). None of my archived or backup pst files contain
the
missing
emails or contacts. Where might they have gone? Is there a fix?
I
am
desperate. Thanks in advance.
-Eric

 

[Guest]

Searched in the standard way for *.pst files via the search functionality in
Win XP. The default PST, I believe, was Outlook.pst located in C: Documents
and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook. All
utterly conventional I'm afraid. Am I correct in thinking that restoring the
computer via XP System Restore will not bring me back to where I was before I
uninstalled Office 97?
-Eric

And completely inexplicable. No amount of uninstalling ever removes a PST
file. Only reformatting would do that. Where was your default PST file
stored? How are you searching?

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Kept Office 97 = I didn't uninstall it. Rather, I installed Office 2003
over
it. 2003 ran just fine. The recent saga began when I was cleaning up old
files, trashing old programs etc. and ran the Office 97 uninstall via
Add/Remove Programs. Upon launching Office 2003 following the uninstall,
I
was prompted to provide settings for my isp service (mail and smtp info).
When Office 2003 launched at that point, it was a tabula rasa -- no mail,
no
contacts. You know the rest of the story. I looked in vain for the pst
files that had the most recent emails, they had vanished. Stwange but
twoo.

I have no explanation unless there is more to this story.
What do you mean you "kept" Outlook 97? You can't install 2 different
versions of Outlook on the same partition.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Indeed. Perhaps you can, therefore, imagine my astonishment to find
the
messages AWOL as it were. None of the four pst files on my two hard
drives
had the most recent email messages. I fear I've taken more of your
time
than
the problem merits. The worst case is that I've lost but a couple
months
of
messages. Thanks for your help.

:

Uninstalling Outlook never deletes data. Did you search for all PST
files
on
your hard drive and open each in Outlook?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
thanks. can't construct the logic as the upgrade preceded the
uninstall
by
several months; I seem to recall being advised to keep office 97
while
installing office 2003 but I will take the blame in any event. More
seriously, I do know about pst files, I searched in vain among them
for
the
missing emails and have had no luck whatsoever locating them.
thanks
again.
-Eric

:

You did an in place upgrade, then uninstalled the earlier version?
Was there some logic here?
You data will still be fine. Look for your Outlook data file and
use
it
in a
new profile.
The file you need is your Personal Folders file (*.pst) It's where
all
the
mail, calendar, contacts etc are stored.

Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup or
transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx


--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I installed Office 2003 over Office 97 several months ago and used
it
without
problems. Upon uninstalling Office 97 today I appear to have
lost
all
email
messages, folders (including Contacts) from the Outlook 2003
application.
The first hint of trouble was that when I started Outlook 2003
following
the
uninstall of Office 97 I was prompted for internet connection
parameters
(smtp, etc.). None of my archived or backup pst files contain
the
missing
emails or contacts. Where might they have gone? Is there a fix?
I
am
desperate. Thanks in advance.
-Eric

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Personally I would never use System Restore for anything. It cannot recover
lost data.
I have no idea how you lost it. This is one of a kind. But then I've never
seen anyone upgrade an installation and then try to remove the pre-existing
version.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Searched in the standard way for *.pst files via the search functionality
in
Win XP. The default PST, I believe, was Outlook.pst located in C:
Documents
and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook. All
utterly conventional I'm afraid. Am I correct in thinking that restoring
the
computer via XP System Restore will not bring me back to where I was
before I
uninstalled Office 97?
-Eric

And completely inexplicable. No amount of uninstalling ever removes a PST
file. Only reformatting would do that. Where was your default PST file
stored? How are you searching?

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Kept Office 97 = I didn't uninstall it. Rather, I installed Office
2003
over
it. 2003 ran just fine. The recent saga began when I was cleaning up
old
files, trashing old programs etc. and ran the Office 97 uninstall via
Add/Remove Programs. Upon launching Office 2003 following the
uninstall,
I
was prompted to provide settings for my isp service (mail and smtp
info).
When Office 2003 launched at that point, it was a tabula rasa -- no
mail,
no
contacts. You know the rest of the story. I looked in vain for the
pst
files that had the most recent emails, they had vanished. Stwange but
twoo.

:

I have no explanation unless there is more to this story.
What do you mean you "kept" Outlook 97? You can't install 2 different
versions of Outlook on the same partition.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Indeed. Perhaps you can, therefore, imagine my astonishment to find
the
messages AWOL as it were. None of the four pst files on my two hard
drives
had the most recent email messages. I fear I've taken more of your
time
than
the problem merits. The worst case is that I've lost but a couple
months
of
messages. Thanks for your help.

:

Uninstalling Outlook never deletes data. Did you search for all PST
files
on
your hard drive and open each in Outlook?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
thanks. can't construct the logic as the upgrade preceded the
uninstall
by
several months; I seem to recall being advised to keep office 97
while
installing office 2003 but I will take the blame in any event.
More
seriously, I do know about pst files, I searched in vain among
them
for
the
missing emails and have had no luck whatsoever locating them.
thanks
again.
-Eric

:

You did an in place upgrade, then uninstalled the earlier
version?
Was there some logic here?
You data will still be fine. Look for your Outlook data file and
use
it
in a
new profile.
The file you need is your Personal Folders file (*.pst) It's
where
all
the
mail, calendar, contacts etc are stored.

Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup or
transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx


--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I installed Office 2003 over Office 97 several months ago and
used
it
without
problems. Upon uninstalling Office 97 today I appear to have
lost
all
email
messages, folders (including Contacts) from the Outlook 2003
application.
The first hint of trouble was that when I started Outlook 2003
following
the
uninstall of Office 97 I was prompted for internet connection
parameters
(smtp, etc.). None of my archived or backup pst files contain
the
missing
emails or contacts. Where might they have gone? Is there a
fix?
I
am
desperate. Thanks in advance.
-Eric