Screen flashes and stops typing when outlook is open

My screen sort of "flashes" and stops my typing and everything freezes for a half a sec. This is quite annoying. It happens every 5- 15 secs when outlook is open.



Here is a little background on the issue.



So my external HD was getting full and it had all of these old backups on it, I went to delete some and then outlook was not working properly. I 1st wasn't able to even open outlook, but then it prompted me to select some files (I really don't know what I did here) and then it opened. When it opened all of my sub folders were gone and all of my emails that are older than 2 weeks are gone as well.

I thought that the external HD was just for backups, I had no idea that it was used for outlook as well. The files that were deleted were labeled "Back up set" so I thought that it was just an old back up. The file was around 45 gb, there were 2 other back up sets that totaled about 300 gb, I thought that I would be safe deleting the smaller one and go from there but I was not.

I use file scavenger to recover the files, but I don't know what I am doing with these files. The files that I need are not all in 1 convient folder labeled "Back up Set".

I had tons of info that was lost and I was hoping that someone here would be able to help me get this back together. I would just hate to have just lost all of that info...
I tried opening outlook and went to file, then open, then selected one of the recovered pst files and it said that this file is not a personal folder. I don't know why it didn't work, the file extension was .pst.

Out of the 60 or so pst files that were recovered only one worked and it didn't recover any data (that I noticed)

First use the computer as little as possible until we get back your stuff
First try to recover with Shadow Explorer
http://www.shadowexplorer.com/downloads.html
if that does not work try with recuva
http://www.piriform.com/recuva

Everytime you use the compter it will make it more difficult to recover the documents.

I really don't know what I am doing.
I ran shadow explorer but I don't see the drive that the info was deleted from (My external HD, :J) all I see is the c drive.

Maybe this will help
How to Recover a File in Vista Home | eHow.com

and this
http://www.technospot.net/blogs/recover-deleted-or-old-versions-of-files-in-vista-shadow-explorer/

I recovered the files a few days ago but never got them to work. I ran scanpst and it said that no info was recovered. I also tried to open the file in outlook and this is what I got

Use shadow explorer as explained. You will get an exact copy of what you had on the date that you choose to return to.

The drive that the data was on is not listed...am a missing a step somewhere?
I am looking for drive J

My understading or Shadow Explorer is the same as in the documents that I showed you. I have Windows 7 and Shadow Explorer is not required to restore documents.
Use the last article that I gave you go step by step and compare the results to what the aricle shows.
When you have a discrepecy let me know and maybe we can sort it out.

Is the drive recognized, if youeft click on the computer icon on desktop?

I see the J drive (the external HD) when I click My Computer. I wonder if Shadow Explorer doesn't recognize external drives.

*Edit*
It didn't recognize my thumb flash drive...

I think that the more important point is whether or not Shadow copies were making copies of the external.
The only thing that Shadow copy does is to take images on certain days. Then to restore you can use those images.
May I suggest this. Pick a date that you see and you know that your documents were present. See if you can find them on those dates, if not I think that they are gone.

If they are gone try recuva.

It doesn't go back far enough...
I'll try recuva.

Recuva is very good. I am still hopeful.

I'll let you know what I find, eta is 3 hrs

Take your time, go slow and I think you will be rewarded.

Well it looks like a bunch of them got written over.
There are a ton of other zipped files that are not dated so I don't know when they are from that I am recovering.

There were no pst files, just compressed files and some misc docs and photos.

Never having used the software myself, I have to go by what others tell me. Your problem seems to have been experienced by others. Depending on how many are there you can just try to open and see what they are.

I have come to the conclusion that I will not be able to recover my pst files. I can live with that, what I can't live with is this screen flashing that stops me from typing.

When I bought the computer it came with office 2003 products and I was wondering if I removed the programs is there a to uninstall the office products and reinstall them without having to purchase office 2003 again?

Do you have the key number?

If not maybe even better or at least just as good (subjective)
The free office live.

where can I find the key #?

I would like to stay with the regular office, just because it is what I know.

I also heard that this could be a power supply issue, is there any way to know before I start throwing parts at it?