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Need to recover deleted Outlook PST file

Greetings -

I was getting a "corrupt profile" in Win XP Pro, and saw that you're supposed to delete the profile and create a new one and then use all the documents. In the admin console I highlighted the 490 MB profile and said "Copy To:" and selected another folder to copy it to. Then I deleted that profile, thinking the documents would all be in the new location.

Unfortunately all the documents under "Documents and Settings/Name" were gone. :(

I was able to recover most - if not all of the documents using a nifty utility called FileRecovery from lc-tech (www.lc-tech.com). Unfortunately it wasn't able to find any PST files... I want to know if there is ANY way that I can recover that file (or if some place like CompUSA might be able to do it).

This is very urgent... thanks!!!!

Thanks,
Steve

hoggs

if your file recovery tool wasn't able to find it, it's most likely been overwritten by another file and is therefore not recoverable.

I believe there are some companies that offer to recover files that have been overwritten, but I imagine this involves removing the platter and analysing it in minute detail, it goes without saying that this is enormously expensive.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

LeeTutor

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dukesnoopy

ASKER

Hi guys...

LeeTutor - you put a ton of links on there, but nothing seems to address PST files directly. I'm checking into it with the LC-Tech people and they say it may be a 'lost file' and they're trying to piece it together. Unfortunately they're only there 9am-6pm.

Does anybody know specifically what happens to a PST file when the profile is deleted, or how you can prevent that space from being overwritten?

Thanks again,
Steve

hoggs

the PST file is treated as a normal file when it's deleted, there's nothing you can do to prevent the space being overwritten, sorry.

SOLUTION

TomLai

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dukesnoopy

ASKER

OK - unfortunately there is no full PST file for all the e-mail, but using File Recovery Pro (the $100 version) I'm able to find a bunch of clusters. Hopefully there will be something in there that I'll be able to salvage. :(

If anybody knows of any of those programs in LeeTutor's list that helps with Outlook (XP) specifically, that would be great - otherwise I guess I'm SOL. Wish I hadn't rebooted after accidentally deleting that profile.

thanks guys,
steve

dukesnoopy

ASKER

Nobody gave me a very good answer, but since I had to award the points, there you have it.

I'm working with the guys at LC Tech to try to recover the data. Unfortunately little can be salvaged.

Thanks,
Steve