Outlook lost all my files

[Guest]

Hi;

My computer was running fine this afternoon. I checked my email as usual
and then closed outlook. Agout an hour later, I came back to check messages
by clicking the envelope on the toolbar. The program opened as if it were
installing and asked me for my pop and smtp server information. It also lost
all my emails (deleted, active, sent) and my address book.

I had left the machine on and the internet explorer was functioning fine.
There were no power surges. It just seems to have forgotten everything. WTH?

Thanks, Skip H

PS There is a possibly related problem. Despite anything I have done so
far, when Word boots up it brings up the message about enabling macros with
this file:

C:\Program Files|Mocrosoft Office|Office11|Startup\TBR
UN97.Dot

It is now giving me this message when I bring up outlook and word opens
unstably (blinking and not responding) This is especially a problem when I
install automatic updates.

 

[Guest]

Do a search for *.pst (make sure your searching hidden files & folders).
It should be there.

 

[Guest]

It was in the hidden files. Two questions: Why did it do that and what is my
next move. Clicking on the files brought a warning message.

Thanks, SH

 

[Guest]

Have no clue why it did that.
Next move:
Start/Setting Control Panel/Mail
Choose Data Files and direct it to your *.pst
Then it should work.
If it doesn't a few questions:
1) Outlook version
2) Names of PST files
3) Size/Date of PST files

 

[Guest]

It didn't work. There are two pst files. One is dated a month ago and is 15
megs. the other is 250k and is dated yesterday - about the time Outlook
crapped out.

Here are the two names (the first is the small one)

C:\Documents and Settings\Skip.SKIP-4R447QSHWD\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook

C:\Documents and Settings\Skip\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Microsoft\Outlook

 

[Guest]

There's the problem. One is Skip and one is Skip.-4R44etc..
You lost your windows profile it sounds like. Is your desktop and documents
all in the normal spots?

 

[Guest]

The skip one is correct. All the files are there and intact. Don't know
where the -4R44etc came from. There are a few folders in it but no files.

 

[Brian Tillman]

The skip one is correct. All the files are there and intact. Don't
know where the -4R44etc came from. There are a few folders in it but
no files.

Open a command prompt window and enter:

echo %userprofile%

Does the result you see contain "Skip" or "Skip-4R447QSHWD" ?

 

[Guest]

It opens Skip-4R447QSHWD

Open a command prompt window and enter:

echo %userprofile%

Does the result you see contain "Skip" or "Skip-4R447QSHWD" ?

 

[Brian Tillman]

It opens Skip-4R447QSHWD

That means your original Windows profile, "Skip", is broken and Windows has
created a new Windows profile for your username. If you want it back, log
in with the Administrator username and make copies of "C:\Documents and
Settings\Skip" and "C:\Documents and Settings\Skip-4R447QSHWD" and delete
the Skip account entirely from Windows, telling Windows to delete the files
as well. If either of the original folder trees remain after that, delete
tem manually. Then create a new Skip user. This should give you a new,
clean "C:\Documents and Settings\Skip". You can then log in and copy from
the original "Skip" folder tree your documents, PSTs, and any other data you
wish to retain.

 

[Guest]

Hi Brian;

The 4R4 version won't copy to anything. I keep getting a message that the
NTUSER file is in use and the programs it is in must be closed. The only
program I had going at the time was windows explorer. NTUSER is in the
Documents and Settings/all users file.

 

[Noel All]

Longshot If you have Windows XP you might want to see if a system restore
helps.

 

[Guest]

I have tried that with three different dates ranging from a week to two weeks
ago. It keeps coming back and saying it cannot restore to that date and no
changes have been made on the computer.

 

[Brian Tillman]

The 4R4 version won't copy to anything. I keep getting a message
that the NTUSER file is in use and the programs it is in must be
closed.

That's why I told you to log in using the Administrator username.

The only program I had going at the time was windows
explorer. NTUSER is in the Documents and Settings/all users file.

Why are you copying the All Users folder?

 

[Guest]

I'm not. The only files I am copying are the Skip and the Skip evil twin. I
actually found the NTUSER file in the all users and hid it in the recycle
bin. Got the same message that all programs using the file had to be closed.
A search of all computer files showed it wasn't in the system and it still
screwed up the transfer. Another strange thing is that the evil twin folder
wouldn't copy to a number of other holding files stating that it was part of
the source file. I got the same message when I tried to copy it to the CD.
You've seen the system restore results in the other post. I would be happy
to save the docs I need and blow the whole thing out with a reinstall.
Please advise.

Skip

 

[Guest]

I checked my usernames. There is a limited one, a guest one and the Skip one
which is listed as the administrator. This is my home laptop and I am the
only who uses it. I've only ever used the Skip login.

SH

 

[Brian Tillman]

I'm not. The only files I am copying are the Skip and the Skip evil
twin. I actually found the NTUSER file in the all users and hid it
in the recycle bin. Got the same message that all programs using the
file had to be closed. A search of all computer files showed it
wasn't in the system and it still screwed up the transfer. Another
strange thing is that the evil twin folder wouldn't copy to a number
of other holding files stating that it was part of the source file.
I got the same message when I tried to copy it to the CD. You've seen
the system restore results in the other post. I would be happy to
save the docs I need and blow the whole thing out with a reinstall.

Minimally you'll need the C:\Documents and Settings\{skipxxxx}\My Documents
folder (if you have anything there - it's not related to Outlook) and the
PST file you've been using, which is, by default located in one of the
folders C:\Documents and Settings\{skipxxxx}\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook . Log on using the built-in Administrator account,
copy just the files you need instead of the entire folder trees, and delete
the Skip account, allowing Windows to remove the Skip profile from disk.
Reboot, log in as Administrator again and delete anything remaining under
the C:\Documents and Settings\{skipxxx} folders, as well as those folders
themselves so that all that remains under C:\Documents and Settings\ are
Administrator, All Users, Default User, LocalService and NetworkService.
Then create a new Skip account. Log in as Skip and copy the files you saved
above to wherever you want them. Set up Outlook for yourself from scratch.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I checked my usernames. There is a limited one, a guest one and the
Skip one which is listed as the administrator. This is my home
laptop and I am the only who uses it. I've only ever used the Skip
login.

Reboot and right away begin pressing F8 until you see an option screen that
allows you to boot to Safe Mode. There should be an Administrator account
available there. When you set up your Windows system you should have been
asked to give this account a password. Use that password. If you didn't
set up your PC, try an empty password.

 

[Guest]

Hello;

I have done all of the above and cleaned up a lot of duplicate files. To
get the Skip stuff out I created a new user name , Luthier, and placed the
files in it. I am still not able to get Outlook to recognize my pop server
or SMTP server. Also, the address book doesn't show in this user profile but
it is saved with the documents and settings. BTW, I can get emails at my
ISP's home page so all is well there.

Thanks, Skip

 

[Brian Tillman]

I have done all of the above and cleaned up a lot of duplicate files.
To get the Skip stuff out I created a new user name , Luthier, and
placed the files in it. I am still not able to get Outlook to
recognize my pop server or SMTP server.

Exactly what happens?

Also, the address book
doesn't show in this user profile but it is saved with the documents
and settings.

The address book is just a view of your Contacts folder. It isn't a file
you can save in Documents and Settings. To add the address book to your
profile, click Tools>E-mail Accounts>Add a new directory or address
book>Next. Select Additional Address Books and click Next. Select Outlook
Address Book and click Next, then Finish. Stop and restart Outlook,
right-click on your Contacts folder, choose Properties, click the Outlook
Address Book tab and check the "Show this folder and an e-mail Address Book"
box.