Favorites and Emails are Gone After Re-Install of Windows - Can I Still Find Them

[nasttcar]

I had to reinstall WinXP. I did not reformat the drive but the install did a complete wipe of Windows and reinstalled.

Now, all of my favorites are gone and all of my email information.

Is any of that still on the computer?

 

[hjo3]

Did you export any of it? What e-mail client were you using, OE? If so, you're prolly out of luck unless you copied your .dbx files to another place on the drive. Next time, back up your data before doing anything major with your OS.

 

[Calin]

The email programs I know of put all the information (address book, inbox and so on) in the \documents and settings\<my username> folder. If you still have the folder, you can recover them. If not, kiss them good bye
To "recover" them, just reinstall the email program or browser and find where they keep their favorites/inbox, and copy your files (inbox, favorites) over them.

Calin

 

[nanaki333]

as long as you didn't make your docs and settings folders private, just go to where they were before in your old user name folder. it'll be like calin said. then there should be a folder in there called favorites.. your outlook .pst file, which contains all of your old email and you can easily import into outlook should be in: C:\Documents and Settings\(user name)\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

 

[Calin]

If you have other email programs, the files might be in C:\Documents and settings\(user name)\Application Data\... somewhere.
If you can't see the folders reffered, then you should select (in Windows Explorer, Tools, Folder Options, View) Show hidden files and folders.
Also, you might want to unselect (at least temporarily) the "Hide protected operating system files".
If you can't access the "your username" folder, then you should right click, Properties, and in "Security" tab add yourself to the list (set all privileges)

Good luck

Calin

 

[nasttcar]

Thanks for your help on this.

All of this started when I could not get PDF files to be read anymore with any version of Adobe Reader. I also could not get Quicktime files to play. My DVD player would freeze the computer at times. Having owned computers for many years and doing various backups and driveimages, I had not done this for several months.

I have on multiple occasions on various computers running various versions of MS over the years reinstalled Windows by doing an update and not losing any information. Consequently, I didn't give it much thought by popping in the CD, entering my security code, and choosing update. However, part way through that process I would get the blue screen and the memory dump and the computer would continue to cycle, as if in a "do-loop". If I turned the computer off and back on, it would ask for the XP disk and then pick right back up in the install process and then hit the blue screen again. I then opened the computer and removed every board excepting video and then did a reboot. The computer would go farther in the update process than before but still would crash. I went into the BIOS setup and changed a few things and then reboot. I found then that I would then get a message that said to boot from the CD press any key. This had not happened before. I chose to boot from the CD and was then given a chance to exit the setup, continue the setup, or reinstall windows. I chose exit setup, but upon reboot it would go back into the update process. I rebooted again and this time chose new install, and it wiped my current buggy install of WinXp and replaced with a clean copy.

However, because of new registry, I am reloading all programs, setting up new internet connections, etc.

I did find my old favorites but have not located my OE mail info.

Since I will resync with my iPAQ, I will then get a new dump for Outlook and will not worry about the PST file.

The good news is that PDF files work again, *.mov files play, and the DVD player seems to work just fine.

I cannot find the drivers for my Dell 1900 flat panel and I've got USB install issues to take care of. And, lots more programs to get reinstalled. Also, my 2nd hard drive, 200gb WD, shows on boot up, but does not show-up under File Explorer.

The computer does boot up much quicker and is more responsive so I am not really sure I would have wanted to just reinstall the drive image. While this is a pain, it really is the best thing to have done.

 

[hjo3]

Originally posted by: nasttcar
I did find my old favorites but have not located my OE mail info.

Oh, well then there's hope for your OE archives.

Do a find for &quot;*.dbx&quot;. If you find them, just dump the files in Documents and Settings\Administrator (or whatever user you use)\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\(some long code in squiggly brackets, like: ) {B9612971-3AF4-...-5B3997FA66B6}\Microsoft\Outlook Express. Then, when you open OE, all your old folders and emails should be there.