Restore pointers to deleted email in PST

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dave O
  • Start date Start date
D

Dave O

I deleted email in a PST file, and also deleted them from the "Deleted
Items" folder. Searched this group and found a post that said "Fill
the first 0x140 bytes in your PST with zeros, then start scanpst".

How do I fill the first 0x140 bytes with zeros?

Thanks!
 
I've never seen that advice before (but I've never looked for it). To do it,
I'd download a hex editor from your favorite shareware site. Sounds
dangerous so I'd definitely only play with a backup copy of your PST
 
BTW, Vince, do you know of another way to recover deleted email?
Everything I've read seems to indicate it can't be done, but I'm
willing to consider all options.
 
Thanks again, Brian and Vince- both techniques worked.

The process:
1. As soon as possible after the erroneous deletion, close email,
locate your PST file, and MAKE A BACKUP COPY. DO NOT risk permanent
damage to your remaining email by performing this technique on your
active PST file.

2. Open the BACKUP COPY of your PST file with a hexadecimal editor.

3. In the hex editor, replace the characters in columns 7 through 13
(inclusive) with a "20" (no quotes). Save the file.

4. Locate a file called Scanpst.exe on your hard drive. This is a
Microsoft utility that ships with MS Outlook. Double-click this file
to run it; and scan the PST file that you just saved. Follow on-screen
instructions. On a large PST file processing time is 5 - 10 minutes.
When you get the "Repair complete" message, you should be able to
view the deleted email from MS Outlook.

Alternatively, you can replace step 3 above with this one:
3. In the hex editor, replace the first 320 characters with "00"
(no quotes). Save the file.
 
Change to step 3:
3. In the hex editor, replace the characters in columns 7 through 13
on the first line
(inclusive) with a "20" (no quotes). Save the file.
 
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