deleted user name and lost all the emails

[marshall1956]

Vista Home Premium, began getting message that c:\users\(user name)\AppData\Roaming is corrupt and unreadable. Used Dell online technical support. They copied all the files under the username to a backup location, created a new username, and then copied the files back in. Basically copied the directory C:\users\(user name) to C:\users\(user name2). Then deleted the user name that wasn't working in the control panel. Looks great except all my wife's emails are now gone - and she had multiple folders with emails stored in them and thousands of deleted emails she referred to. Mad as a hornet!

Is there any way of recovering the deleted email files and then getting them back into Mail? I am trying Pareto Logic Data Recovery Program to search for the directory that was deleted that stores the emails C:\users\(user name)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\Local Folders. So far it is only finding folders with (user name2).

I realize now I should have exported all the mail to a backup file before deleting the username, but the tech guy didn't tell me to do that before we deleted the old user name.

 

[rive0108]

Vista Home Premium, began getting message that c:\users\(user name)\AppData\Roaming is corrupt and unreadable. Used Dell online technical support. They copied all the files under the username to a backup location, created a new username, and then copied the files back in. Basically copied the directory C:\users\(user name) to C:\users\(user name2). Then deleted the user name that wasn't working in the control panel. Looks great except all my wife's emails are now gone - and she had multiple folders with emails stored in them and thousands of deleted emails she referred to. Mad as a hornet!

Is there any way of recovering the deleted email files and then getting them back into Mail? I am trying Pareto Logic Data Recovery Program to search for the directory that was deleted that stores the emails C:\users\(user name)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\Local Folders. So far it is only finding folders with (user name2).

I realize now I should have exported all the mail to a backup file before deleting the username, but the tech guy didn't tell me to do that before we deleted the old user name.

You can try a system restore, that may work. Shadow copy could have restored previous versions of the User folder-alas, Premium lacks that function.


Two things-

Do weekly file data backups with vista's Backup utility. Had you did this, you would have had the emails available for retrieval.
Make a image of your Hard drive and all partitions. Coupled with the file backup you can restore your PC in the event of data loss or drive failure.
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express/

 

[rive0108]

If a backup of the User folder was made- the emails should be recoverable. Perform System restore to a point before you added/deleted the User folder. Backup the AppsData Folder, then "undo" restore. Create the Windows Mail User Account again, then copy the AppsData folder (replacing it).


Windows Mail/Outlook stores emails is appsdata:

C:\users\(your user name)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\

Windows Mail\Local Folders
Outlook

They are the ones with the ".eml" file extension
http://www.vistax64.com/vista-mail/91626-where-emails-stored-my-computer.html

To view/access the hidden appsdata folder:
open User folder>click "organize">click "Folder and search options">click "view"> click "show hidden files and folders"

 

[SIW2]

Hi marshall,

You might d/l the free Shadow Explorer , so you can explore any shadow copies and copy anything back.

I don't believe that the shadow copies contain emails, as only certain filetypes are backed up, sadly.

Nevertheless, it is a very useful app. to have

ShadowExplorer.com - Downloads

ShadowExplorer.com - Manual

Another thing you might try is the Free Glaryutilities, and use the Disk Analysis module to locate .eml files, and /or the Undelete module if they have been deleted.

Glary Utilities | Glarysoft

Hope it helps

 

[marshall1956]

The system restore seems like a good idea. I don't have any backups of files made. When I try to do system restore, I get
The disk OS (C has errors. Windows has detected file system corruption on OS (C. You must check the disk for errors before it can be restored. Check the disk for errors.
This is the orignal problem with the corrupt file.
When I chose Check the disk for errors.
Check Disk OS (C Check disk options: Automatically fix file system errors, Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors. Start,

Windows can't check the disk while it's in use. Do you want to check for hard disk errors the next time you start your computer? Schedule disk check.

I shut down computer (whole way down to power off). Restart and it boots into a dark screen, message about doing something, deleting a file with extension .scr, then boots into Vista.

Back to system restore, get the same message, go through it again.
This time boots straight to Vista.
Back to use system restore. Control Panel behaving a little odd. When I chose Backup and Restore Center/Use System Restore to fix problems and undo changes to Windows I get the system message to run the program, but then nothing happens. I open up Windows task manager and applications list none running. Open control panel/backup and restore center/Use system restore.. Message pops up System Restore Wizzard is already running. In the time it took me to type the above, the system restore window finally shows up (and appears in task manager as a 2nd System Restore application). Have to exit out of the first so the 2nd will run.

Again I choose to restore and the disk has errors message appears!@
Chose the option to just check for system file errors. Shut down, turn on. Boots straight into Vista.
Agin contol panel/backup and resore center/use system restore - but this time I wait. After 3 1/2 minutes I send the window to the task bar (miniturize with the _ button) and up pops Syster Restore window. Choose to restore and bam same message disk has errors/can't fix it because it's in use/fix on start up.

So let's try Safe mode boot? Same thing.

Boot menu for my Dell Studio Laptop has a repair option. Booted to a log in screen that looked like a primitive log in without the graphics. Then to a screen System Recovery Options with several options: Startup Repair, System Restore, Windows Complete PC Restore, Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool, Command Prompt, Dell Factory Image Restore.. Tried system restore - gave me a message that it was already running! So I chose command prompt.
Ran chkdsk and got:
CHKDSK is verifying files <stage 1 of 3>...
11648 file records processed.
File verification completed
1 large file records processed.
0 bad file records processed.
0 EA records processed.
0 reparse records processed.
Chdsk is verifying indexes <stage 2 of 3>...
16354 index entries processed.
Index verification completed.
0 unindexed files processed.
CHKDSK is verifyiing security descriptors <stage 3 of 3>...
11658 security descriptors processed.
Security descriptor verificatio completed.
2353 data files processed.
Windows has checked the file system and found no problems.
10485759 KB total disk space.
8250072 KB in 9114 files.
5712 KB in 2355 indexes
0 KB in bad sectors
66871 KB in use by the system
54480 KB occupied by the log file
21631054 KB available on disk

4096 bytes in each allocation unit
2621439 total allocation units on disk
540776 allocation units available on disk
Failed to transfer logged messages to the event log with status 50.

Now try chkdsk /r (locates bad sectors and recovers readable information (implies /F fixes errors on the disk)
Get the message Cannot lock current drive. CHKDSK cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)

I'm tired of this loop. Try N and use option /x forces the volume to dismount first if necessary. All opened handles to the volume would then be invalid. Try chkdsk /x /r and get the same message!

Then I noticed the window for System Restore had opened behind the command window. So I chose to do system restore, got the error message, chose check system for errors - and surprise it began to run! Checking disk OS (C!!!

Some problems were found and fixed.
CHKDSK is veifying files (stage 1 of 3)...
deleting corrupt attribute record (160, $130) from file record segment 46507
156192 file records processed
File verification completed
125 large file records processed.
0 bad file records processed.
0 EA records processed.
82 reparse records processed.

CHKDSK is verifying indexes (stage 2 of 3)...
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 46507
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 46507
Sorting index $I30 in file 46507
218182 index entries processed.
Index verification completed.
CHKDSK is recovering lost files.
9 unindexed files processed.
CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (stage 3 of 3)...
176192 security descriptors processed.
Security descriptor verification completed.
20996 data files processed.
CHKDSD is veifying Usn Journal...
36977976 USN bytes processed.
Usn Journal verification completed.
Correcting errors in the master file table's (MFT) BITMAP attribute.
Correcting errors in the Volume Bitmap.
Windows has made corrections to the file system.

233566207 KB total disk space
87237780 KB in 114436 files
63712 KB in 20999 indexes
287551 KB in use by the system
65536 KB occupied by the log file.
145977164 KB available on disk

4096 bytes in each allocation unit
58391551 total alocation units on disk
36494291 allocation units available on disk
Failed to transfer logged messages to the event log with status 50

(I don't know why the difference in total disk space from the first running of chkdsk above to the 2nd running, unless the corrections freed up some space or there is another partition the first one didn't check. Dell apparently has a restore partition on the disk seperate from the operating one so they can return the system to the factory level).

Now try System Restore again from the system recover options - takes a full minute to start. Now it works! Doing a system restore - but I'm afraid it won't restore my emails.

 

[rive0108]

Well that explains why you had User file corruption. (usually this is a result of User error/Reg Cleaners/Malware)

Regarding system restore- You need to use a restore point from before you deleted the User Acct. If this restore fails to return the original User Folder, then I dont know what to tell you. This is why it is important to perform weekly backups, and at least a six month image of the drive. (see post #2). If you are unable to access the backup Dell made, then the data is gone, and most likely unrecoverable- unless you Take the HDD to a data recovery specialist.

note- if you plan to do this, DO NOT continue to use the drive. The only way to truely "delete" data is to overwrite it.

 

[marshall1956]

System restore did not work - even up to 1 month ago, way before any problems surfaced. Gives me error message about corrupt files. I downloaded 'free' data recovery program called Pareto Data Recovery. Scanned drive and found > 1000 old emails. Interrupted the scan to see how it would work. When I choose option to restore files - oh, sorry, you have to buy the Pro version for $49.95. Being late at night and wife still angry, I finally decided to swallow my pride, admit to being duped, and just pay the $50 for domestic tranquility. Was able to restore most of the emails but noticed they were from 2-3 months ago and earlier. Run it again, finds another several hundred (I presume the more recent ones), but even when left to run overnite never finishes. Now when I hit cancel scan to restore what it's found, the program hangs up. I have to use Task Manager to kill the program. I sent email to customer support and got a generic reply to "General Problems". Worthless. Now I'm trying to watch it and cancel out when it finds some emails so I can recover in blocks.

Any free programs to undelete emails? Really free, not the sucker kind.

 

[rive0108]

What happened to the backup Users folder tech support created?

I think you are just gonna have to bite the bullet. Next time make a 6-month image and use Vista's file backup utility weekly. (see post #2)


Your only other option (if the data hasnt been overwritten) is a data recovery specialist. Remove the HDD in question or you will overwrite the data and it will be irretrievably lost forever.

search the net for "data recovery"